Why is Minecraft so addicting?

I bought minecraft while eating a large loaf of bread that was cut open so you can slurp tomato soap from the inside of it. My interest in Minecraft, however, managed to make this wonderful delicacy of mine grow cold, as I continously kept rebuilding world after world. Why is such a simple game have a addicting formula? Why do people have a equal or greater passion to this then almost any MMORPG or Action Shooter? I hope to have the ideas of fellow minecrafters into this discussion, as I am writing down a essay detailing the elements of Minecraft and why it is incredible. I am joined by fellow TV Tropers...

Main Minecraft thread is here, bud.

I know that, but the thread is mainly about the experiences of minecraft in a descriptive sense. I would prefer if this thread be dedicated on why we play minecraft.

Well it's not. I just wasted money: I can't force myself to play this game anymore.

I've taken a bit of a break from it lately, due to simple busyness, but seems pretty simple to me- it taps into humans' creative streak in a non-intimidating way.

And if you aren't feeling creative, you can just kill stuff, so the less noble instincts are covered too.

Yeah, but I think Minecraft makes us work for the creativity in a way that seems benifical I would prefer to play minecraft, than say, Paint a portrait.

I'm not really sure. If you want real creativity you could just build things on Roblox. You can create things all the way down to the coding if you want. As a matter of fact, it would be incredibly easy to build your own Mincraft using Roblox. For some reason I just like Minecraft.

I think it's just the philosophy of conquering the world around you. I find it's not that satisfying if you have it on the lowest difficulty setting, as it it removes the challenges and tension of finding and building shelter before the sun falls.

I'll try Roblox then, because I play on Peaceful. I don't see the appeal of Combat in it :/

A good 50% of Roblox games are combat-based.

And a good 90% is shit, due to it being all user-created.

edited 6th Jul '11 1:58:28 PM by 707ruz

Eh, if I could actually think of anything impressive to build in Minecraft I'd play with Mobs. All I do is mine and I find it too pointless having combat in, it just makes it annoying to me and I just want to give up before I get anywhere.

Back on topic: Because it's fun.

meh.

Minecraft was good while it lasted.

Now I considerate it as a fail game since it just got old already, and Notch betrayed me too but that isnt so bad... he still have win with the 1.8 update...

But thats pretty much the last chance I am giving to Minecraft. IMO Terraria beats and with quite the difference.

STILL...

I will never forget the ambient stuff. Like, ESPECIALLY, the dark caves. Those were epic. I loved the feel you get, you have to light up EVERYTHING or else a random mob may come and scare the crap out of you. I dont know why but I liked how it worked, intentional or not.

Creepers are overrated, thougt.

Seeing as I rarely go all-out creative and do giant monuments to myself in the game, I guess it's the desire to amass loot.

Which is why I like branch mining, despite it being horribly boring - it is a good way to find good stuff. Well, it's boring until you crash into a fountain of lava. But then I get over my initial surprise and thing "wow, all the potential obsidian I could ever need...!"

Exploring is pretty fun, too.

It depends, some people don't find it addicting. At the moment the only thing you can do if build, all the rest is just a momentary distraction. But that'll hopefully change soon. If you liked playing with Lego then you'll be addicted to Minecraft.

^ Yep, I wish to buy lots of Legos for my daughter so I can play with them again at age 34 and not look like an idiot.

She likes Minecraft, too, especially making little houses all over the place.

Minecraft is kinda like legos, only you have a infinite amount of blocks and you need to first build them with tools you have made yourself.

I liked Legos but I'm kinda old for them (17 Years old) so I installed minecraft.

You can never be too old for legos just move onto larger more complex projects. (1.5k piece death star anyone?)

Too easy. Give them a challenge.

Yeah buying 1.5k legos isn't weird at all, besides you need some space to put your creations in Minecraft you don't!

For me the exploration aspect is the biggest draw. It's so incredibly fun to open up caves, climb mountains, and look out of your window to see the sun rise over miles more terrain waiting to be explored.

The fact that Everything Is Trying to Kill You only makes it more exciting.

For these reasons, I am really looking forward to the adventure update. I also really hope that at some point they will add ultra-rare mobs and ores that aren't part of the main crafting set but are there to be hunted and mounted on walls. One thing that is currently missing is a motivation to travel long distances from your spawn point, and if you knew that other regions would have different game to hunt it would give a reason to branch out.

edited 10th Jul '11 1:18:38 PM by EdwardsGrizzly

ARISE THREAD LONG SINCE DEAD!

Since Minecraft has finally been fully released, it wouldn't hurt to revisit this.

Honestly, I think it's appeal boils down to three things(In no particular order):

• Infinite Exploration: I won't lie, Most of the worlds qualify as pure Scenery Porn. It doesn't matter if you are scaling a giant mountain, or exploring a deep canyon; There is almost always something interesting to see. With 1.8, there are now strongholds and abandoned mine shafts to explore. With the seed generator, you can always start and see what another world has to offer.

• Constant updates: Even though the game has been released, Minecraft still has a very good development team working on new and interesting features. For example, In one of the current Pr-release snapshots, they added Jungle biomes, and cats! Some of the later ones include things such as improved AI, and a greater world height. Most games will stop adding new features after release, but with this you really can't expect what will be next.

• You are truly in charge: I will repeat what was said in the previous posts, the only limit to what you can build is yourself. Giant palace, working computer, if you can think it you can build it. Also, Minecraft has one of the largest modding communities I know of. There are mods for just about anything you could possibly want.

edited 19th Feb '12 7:25:52 PM by pokedude10

Probably the same thing that makes Terraria so damn addictive: You can play any way you want. It doesn't require much experience with games in general either: just basic knowledge of how the menus work, and then getting used to the controls, and you're all set. No worries about a competitive community or annoying trolls either, it's just your own world and your own rules. Though Terraria's combat and crafting system is definately better though.

Minecraft is OK as long as you don't run into any Creepers.

Basically, regular new content, infinite sandbox with little limitations. Also, nerds everywhere finally have the chance of building whatever passed through their mind.