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Comment by autoexec | Hacker News Reader

Online gaming is often a cesspool of DLC, anxiety inducing artificial time constraints designed to give kids FOMO, lootboxes and other forms of gambling targeting children and a constant stream of advertising that isn't seen to anywhere near the same extent in offline/single player titles. Roblox, minecraft, and Fortnite being prime examples.

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Minecraft Java edition isn't really that though.

Roblox is in a class of its own compared to fortnite and minecraft in terms of toxic monetisation.

Online gaming is definitely a tough one to navigate though, regardless. I had no problems as subscription was the limit to paying when I was a kid, but now it's a generation raised with mtx.

I'm glad the the Java edition still has none of that. The last time I got the urge to download it they required an account to even get the installer and I feared the worst. It looks like that might no longer be the case... I may give it a try again and kill some time

You do still need an account but (Microsoft Account) but the game itself has no DLCs, no lootboxes and the likes.

Minecraft is definitely without a doubt, not any of those things. It is first and foremost a single player game that can be modded extensively. I have found that multiplayer always comes second at best.

Servers can be bad, but that is entirely optional. Not even close to Roblox or Fortnite.

This is coming from a person that basically grew up with it from the Alpha stage.

> Minecraft is definitely without a doubt, not any of those things.

It's certainly some of those things!

DLC tied to 3rd party IP (bonus advertising!):

https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/batman-dlc-swoops-mi...

https://www.eurogamer.net/dungeons-dragons-dlc-heading-to-mi...

Limited time events with exclusive content to make kids feel like shit if they don't/can't login at certain dates/times:

https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/discover-summer-cele...

https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/star-wars-celebratio...

In-game ads:

https://www.adventurize.com/

https://www.blockchaingamer.biz/news/16967/relentlo-brings-i...

It's unclear to me if any of their events or DLC includes loot boxes (mere chances to acquire certain content) or not. if they haven't done that, I give them credit

I'm also not sure how much direct advertising Microsoft does in-game. Have they worked with ad companies like this to promote third party or non-game content? https://www.adweek.com/creativity/minecraft-built-a-colossal...

I'm sure it's not as bad as Roblox or Fortnite but Microsoft does not have clean hands here either.

But that's not Minecraft. That's MS's shitty non cross platform port.

You want to give the kids Java edition which has none of this crap.

It looks like there is no way to get a version of Minecraft that isn't from MS. I'm glad the Java edition doesn't have the DLC and ads, but I can't test that because it seems even the Java edition needs a MS account/internet connection.

If you know a place to get an offline installer that doesn't require an account though I'd love to give it a try and see how the Java edition holds up!

I didn't realize any of this existed. I play Minecraft Java edition, which is the original version, and has none of these things.

Now I know to be a bit more careful when recommending the game without specifying huh.

This reads like a person that's never really looked at or played a game.

There's a good chance I've been gaming for longer than you've been alive.

(Probably untrue but) Neat. Doesn't really change the content or validity of my post though. It reads like a person that's never looked at or played a video game.

I guess it's unclear what you mean. The problems I mentioned are things I've seen many other gamers express concerns about, especially gamers with kids. It's not only exploitative, but these things make the games themselves worse as well.

They said online gaming. It's a pretty accurate description of the free to play space.

Buy your kids pay once games with no IAPs. Teach them to keep a wish list and wait for sales :)

Online gaming and f2p aren’t the same thing…

Even WoW has IAPs now don't they? The moment you put even one IAP in you -ck up the design to incentivise people to buy it...

Yeah I just kinda reject this whole line of thinking.

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