"[Minecraft] is the first 'sandbox game' that actually lets you dig up sand at the beach, build a giant sandbox, build a sand castle in it, smelt the sand into glass with a furnace you built yourself, rebuild it into a giant glass pyramid with a moat of lava, and then blow it all up with TNT while riding a pig."
Those are the words of Brett Walton, the owner of VG Chartz, which is a video game sales tracking website.
As Walton so eloquently put it, Minecraft is a 3D sandbox game, which means it has no required goals to accomplish. This allows players the freedom to play the game however they wish – a format that has made it one of the most popular games in the world.
Comprised of three different worlds, the game, (which is also celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this month), can also be very collaborative. Minecraft allows participants to work together in competitive ways, which creates a sense of community and helps players develop problem-solving skills.
Minecraft is also popular with teachers, who use it in classroom settings. This is because the game teaches concepts like ratios, proportions, and critical thinking, and can be used as a tool for students to write and create their own stories.
Here at Airdrie Public Library (APL), we like anything that supports literacy and learning, which is why we’re hosting a virtual Minecraft Party on Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Supported by Chinook Gate and for ages eight to 12, we’re celebrating Minecraft’s 10th anniversary with five separate hour-long sessions where participants get to play and strategize together in a private realm doing themed build challenges. Private Minecraft realms are by invite only.
Each participant can register for just one session, but there’s also a grab bag with Minecraft-themed crafts for use at home, which can be picked up from the library beforehand.
Minecraft Java 1.17 is required to participate and must be previously installed with access to realms. (Java Edition only).
For more information on this event and all APL programs, visit airdriepubliclibrary.ca
