FYI... Tekkit is the multiplayer variant of the Technic Pack for Minecraft. It includes over 40 mods, mainly industrial mods (Industrial craft, Buildcraft, Redpower and Railcraft) but also has a magical side to it (Equivalent Exchange)and many other mods.

Any Tekkit/Minecraft players out there? We have been playing on a PvP server where you can form factions that attempt to control parts of the world. Its really been a huge improvement in the game.

Its a little complicated once you get started, but really fun. At the beginning, I'm spending most of my time covering my tracks and making sure no one is finding me. I'm hiding chests with supplies in various spots in order to make sure our stuff doesn't get taken.

We're playing with a couple guys from seasonedgamers.com. Pretty cool group of older dudes (non-13 year olds) who like to game with the Timmies if you catch my drift.

Tekkit wikia can be found here:
http://thetekkit.wikia.com/wiki/The_Tekkit_Wiki

Laugh it up, fuzzball.

Tekkit is a blast. A little too complex for your nephew, methinks. Probably too complex for you twitch and shooters too.

All I'll say is don't knock it until you try it. If you like gaming with friends instead of by yourself, this is a fun game.

Take a look at the yogscast if you're in the mood for some fun and some info about Tekkit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtMim1O_2SQ

I think I'm happy to see this thread, 'cause I've wanted to ask this of normal (??) people for some time.

What in the hell is 'Minecraft'? How does one play it? For what purpose? Is it not really a game? Is it like that awful thing on PS3 which I don't recall at the moment but I think had some sock-puppet for a character and you just did pointless shit ad nauseum? If so, what's the draw to that?

Thank you for your support.

_________________
Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

All I will say is that it is pretty amazing that you can just pay $20 and delve into this world full of endless possibilities. It can be modded to your hearts content and has a huge cult following. Its not for everyone, but I will say, don't knock it until you've tried it.

I was like you and thought it was a kid's game... which perhaps plain vanilla Minecraft is. But Tekkit opens up a huge array of things that you can build. You can build nuclear reactors, mining facilities, refineries, drilling lasers, mass transits, teleporters... but there is no "end game" to this. Its about learning what you can build and how you can build it. Finding new ways of becoming more efficient. But at its core, it is indeed creative. And watch the Yogscast videos that I linked above to see how fun it can be. Our crew basically grabs some beers and just have fun talking and going about our plan for world domination.

But if you need a "goal"... that's why this new server is kinda fun, because you are teamed with a faction to control the seed (world). As a new faction, you need to mine stealthy and try to stay away from powerful factions in order to build your base. You work together with your teammates to help get enough resources to advance your cause. Its beauty is that Minecraft/Tekkit is as simple or as complex as you want it to be.

"Virtual Legos"

I can understand that .... I like the explanation .... succinct and tidy .... I always wanted to like Legos more than I did but there was too much tedium to really enjoy them .... 'cause I'm a fucking whackjob .... but now I know .... Bel Biv Devoe ....


(as I typed MUD's explanation popped up)

MUD .... totally get everything you said .... and I wanted to blow my brains out more and more as I read that .... definitely not for me, but thanks!

_________________
Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I totally get it... I think Minecraft had been around since 2010 or earlier. I avoided it forever kinda thinking the same way you and IMU did. Then someone convinced me to try it for my kids. They (and I) really enjoyed it on the Xbox. But then a couple guys at SG suggested I try Tekkit on the computer... so I bought that (Minecraft for PC... Tekkit is free) and have been hooked. Its really about the guys you are building with. If you got friends that enjoy it, it can be pretty hilariously fun... but I totally respect that it might not be your thing. Just check out a couple of episodes of the yogscast... you might actually enjoy it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtMim1O_2SQ