‘A place that made sense’: Minecraft is 15 years old and still changing lives

few days ago, I was tidying my home office – which more closely resembles a video game arcade recently hit by a tornado – when I found a long-lost piece of technology in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet. It was an old Xbox 360, the Elite model – black, heavy, ungainly, impossibly retro. Out of curiosity, I hauled it out, found a controller and power cable and switched it on.

At first, it seemed I would not be able to find it again. When I booted up the old machine it wouldn’t let me sign into my Xbox Live account, and the version of the game I had on the hard drive was a trial copy so I couldn’t load saves. I was crestfallen. I was sure this was the version of the game I’d first played with Zac and his younger brother, Albie – the three of us together, building worlds. Did those worlds still exist, locked away on the hard drive? I was so tantalisingly close.

Like Fortnite, it has also become a self-contained multiverse – a place where people go to hang out, to socialise, to play together even when they can’t be together. “Minecraft felt extra magical during Covid,” says Larsson. “I mean, the whole world shut down and suddenly we were just in a very different and hard situation. And yes, we heard about so many players who were able to stay in contact with friends and family thanks to Minecraft.

When Boy Made of Blocks was published, something odd happened. People started to share their experiences of the game with me. I have given many talks about Minecraft and my novel. I have spoken at NHS events, at EU meetings in Brussels, at Comic Cons and book festivals. Almost every time, when the talk finishes, there will be a family waiting behind to speak to me. It’ll be a parent or parents, shepherding with them a shy child or young adult.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

How an event every three years secured Rockhampton's place as Australia's beef capitalGold, sheep, now beef cattle — Rockhampton has a varied history. But it's an event held every three years that has secured Rockhampton its spot as the beef capital of Australia.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Leigh Matthews calls out AFL trend that ‘does not make sense’7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Source: 7NewsSydney - 🏆 16. / 63 Read more »

Controversy reigns as AFL umpires turn blind eye to common senseAn umpire’s job is to apply the rules. But many of us want our officials (and those who instruct them) to have a better feel for the game’s big moments.
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

‘Nothing made sense until I came out when I was 19’: The Block judge opens up“I orientated myself toward the women in my life because they felt safe,” says Darren Palmer.
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »

‘Nothing made sense until I came out when I was 19’: The Block judge opens up“I orientated myself toward the women in my life because they felt safe,” says Darren Palmer.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

‘Nothing made sense until I came out when I was 19’: The Block judge opens up“I orientated myself toward the women in my life because they felt safe,” says Darren Palmer.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »