My granddaughter wants to play Minecraft because her cousins are playing. I've never played. Are there items she will have to buy from a store that she will be pestering me about?
Also, if you're not familiar with Minecraft:
1. It's basically a Lego video game. You're dropped into a world where you can build stuff in 3D. From there, it gets as complex as you want. For example, you can combine materials to make glass or swords using a crafting table. You can play by yourself in creative mode or survival mode (where you need to eat & build shelters from monsters at night), or play on a server with other people.
2. The graphics are terrible. Like 8-bit in 3D. But that's not the point. The point is the creativity (i.e. building stuff). There's a barrier to entry because it looks stupid, but once you play with it for a bit, you'll start to understand the appeal.
3. It is addicting. I didn't get into it until last year. Kids go to bed & you'll still be playing it hours later haha. If you ever enjoy Legos or building models or woodwork, you'll get a kick out of Minecraft.
4. There is a massive community behind it. Tons of mods. Youtube videos. Toys. All kinds of crazy stuff. For example, you can buy a bracelet that has a USB stick inside that runs the game plus your save files & backs it up to the cloud, so you can play Minecraft wherever you go: (at home with your parents or at your grandpa's house)
http://shop.gameband.com/product/gameband-diamond-edition/?shop_location=eeuu
They're using HoloLens to let you play an Augmented Reality version of Minecraft on your coffee table: (skip to 2:30)
https://youtu.be/xgakdcEzVwg?t=151
People have build working calculators, computers, and even hard drives in Minecraft. Companies are doing AI testing in Minecraft. You can do deathmatches or build monuments. That's just the tip of the iceberg!