[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On the bottom floor of the Medfield Library, a young boy sat in front of a computer asking, “Are you under a tree?” Of course, the boy across from him was not under a tree, but also in front of a computer screen.
He answered, “Yeah, I am – oh, I see you!”
The two were playing an online game called Minecraft.
Kim Tolson, Head of Youth Services, explained how this scene came to be. “It’s kind of a creative game where the kids decide what their goals are, unlike other games where the goals are set out already for them. It’s a game that’s very popular right now with kids, and we thought we’d just give them a place to come and make it a more social experience where they can actually play with other kids and collaborate with each other.”
For those not familiar with the game, Tolson gave a basic explanation: “The game name tells you what it is, so ‘mine’ - they can mine for different things, so they have to go around and collect different materials in the world and use their materials to craft different objects that they can use to build other things. It’s really very flexible in terms of how to play. The goal is whatever their goals are.”
Originally released in 2011, the game has taken on recent popularity with a younger audience. The library has its own server space, so the kids who participate are able to play in a multiplayer mode with other kids sitting right in the room with them. “The kids can teach each other,” Tolson said. “Some are more experienced, while some are new to the game. They can share their skills with each other.”
This was only the second week the Medfield Library had hosted a Minecraft session. They hope to spread the word further, and to encourage other kids in the area to come and play.
