MINECRAFT!
What is Minecraft, you say? Well I'll tell you first what it isn't.
It isn't a billion gigabyte game who's graphics are so intense as to make your eyes bleed and your computer bursts into flames.
It isn't priced in a range requiring you to take out a second mortgage.
It isn't chock-full of music played by a symphony orchestra nor does it have voiceovers done by A-list celebrities.
The 8-bit graphics are downright prehistoric.
The full version (still in Beta) is around $20 and the classic version is free.
It has rudimentary sound effects and an occasional instrumental score that sounds like it was played on a low-end Casio keyboard in some guy's basement.
But it's just the kind of game I go ape shit for!
The full version has some challenges and gameplay via simplistic resource gathering and uncomplicated manufacturing as well as fighting off some creatures.
But for me, the classic is just fine in that it has but one single goal...build!
Think Tinkertoy, Lincoln Logs and Legos combined as one in a virtual world...of vast scale...and with endless parts!
The classic version I'm playing with doesn't have the immense world size like the full version does but it's still pretty darn huge.
Consider this...the building I created in the pic below is about 25 blocks tall from what appears to be sea level. The top is nearly touching the clouds as they float by. I guesstimate based on how big they are in relation to my character's height that they are about 5 feet cubed or so. That makes this building about 125 feet tall.
And that's just above ground!
I hollowed out the interior ground, kept digging, and it's about as deep below sea level as it is high above it!
I was actually getting dizzy and woozy when working on the skylight-festooned roof!
Of course this building may be big but it's still nothing compared to what could be done. It was my first attempt and since the game website servers were not letting me register it, I couldn't save so I didn't want to get too creative. I still spent 5 hours building it though. 5 hours I could have spent sleeping.
Well, no doubt, when their servers become available again, I'll likely buy the full version, then, watch out bed...you may be wondering where I am.
Check out this awesome creation some guy built in the game:
I wonder how many hours THAT took to build?!