Minecraft mod-building for 6-year old?!?
Genevieve Raymond
Sam, who will be 7 in November, REALLY wants to build his own Minecraft mod. He's got all sorts of ideas for how it's going to work. The thing is, neither of us has any experience that would help us with this, and building a mod would, I believe, require learning Java which I don't think either of us is ready for right now. I know that the building part of it is not actually the part that interests him--it's playing Minecraft with his very own, customized just-for-him mod. But every day for the last couple days, he's asked, "Can we please start building my mod?"
So, any ideas on where to go with this? I really don't want to be the one discouraging him, but I also don't want him to GET discouraged because the task at hand is too time-consuming/daunting for the two of us to tackle. Maybe I can just piece together different mods that approximate what he's going for (a whole assemblage of different types of armies--Greek, Roman, medieval, modern warfare)? See if there's someone out there who wants to help him build his mod?
Just looking for advice on how to handle an interest in something that's perhaps a bit too "advanced" or requires a skill and patience that he's just doesn't have quite yet. And if there's anyone out there with mod-building expertise/guidance, I'd welcome that too!
Genevieve
So, any ideas on where to go with this? I really don't want to be the one discouraging him, but I also don't want him to GET discouraged because the task at hand is too time-consuming/daunting for the two of us to tackle. Maybe I can just piece together different mods that approximate what he's going for (a whole assemblage of different types of armies--Greek, Roman, medieval, modern warfare)? See if there's someone out there who wants to help him build his mod?
Just looking for advice on how to handle an interest in something that's perhaps a bit too "advanced" or requires a skill and patience that he's just doesn't have quite yet. And if there's anyone out there with mod-building expertise/guidance, I'd welcome that too!
Genevieve
Lisa
Hi Genevieve,
Honestly, I have programming experience (not java though) and I wouldn't undertake making a mod. My son (8) also wants to make a mod but I've flat out told him I can't do it.
He talks all the time about how him and his friends are going to make mods and what kinds of mods they are going to make but he knows this is something that won't happen for at least a few years.
I don't know anyone in real life who could do it.
I've told my son that even if I decided I was going to do it and we started learning how, it would take months to years to figure it all out and put something together.
First you'd have to learn what compilers to use, then you'd have to learn to program in java, then you'd have to learn to debug, and then you'd have to learn to decompile minecraft and see what does what.
LOTS of work. I know my son doesn't have the patience or desire for ANY of that right now so that's why I've flat said we can't do it.
In 3 to 5 years, we might start working on it if he's still interested.
However, this might be a viable option:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/586124-request-a-mod/
there's a modder who is saying "request a mod and I'll see what I can do"
Just hanging out in that forum and reading the posts might give you and your son more of an idea of what kind of work is involved.
Lisa
How
Honestly, I have programming experience (not java though) and I wouldn't undertake making a mod. My son (8) also wants to make a mod but I've flat out told him I can't do it.
He talks all the time about how him and his friends are going to make mods and what kinds of mods they are going to make but he knows this is something that won't happen for at least a few years.
I don't know anyone in real life who could do it.
I've told my son that even if I decided I was going to do it and we started learning how, it would take months to years to figure it all out and put something together.
First you'd have to learn what compilers to use, then you'd have to learn to program in java, then you'd have to learn to debug, and then you'd have to learn to decompile minecraft and see what does what.
LOTS of work. I know my son doesn't have the patience or desire for ANY of that right now so that's why I've flat said we can't do it.
In 3 to 5 years, we might start working on it if he's still interested.
However, this might be a viable option:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/586124-request-a-mod/
there's a modder who is saying "request a mod and I'll see what I can do"
Just hanging out in that forum and reading the posts might give you and your son more of an idea of what kind of work is involved.
Lisa
How
Claire Darbaud
If your son REALLY wants to do it and you're up to give it a try, you could
play fiddle with the knobs. It's a great way to learn programming! But if he
is not interested in doing it, only in playing... then that's another story.
There are a lot of tutorials for minecraft moding out there, google
"minecraft write your own mod tutorial" and see for yourself. You could also
piggyback an existing mod...
http://akahenry.com/?cat=3 - maybe he could create his very own mob
There are also a few tutorials to help people create their own texture pack.
That could be fun.
If he wants all armies (controlled by the computer like mobs?) that sounds
like a major project...
NPCs (as in Non playing characters) are coming in the adventure update
http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/NPC_Villages
More new about the coming features here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNgWEhlAxg
Now if what he really wants is play with armies, you might look into ages of
empires, either the classic game or the new mmo online version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires
http://ageofempiresonline.com/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Genevieve Raymond <genevieve.raymond@...>
Date: 2011/8/29
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Minecraft mod-building for 6-year old?!?
To: [email protected]
**
Sam, who will be 7 in November, REALLY wants to build his own Minecraft mod.
He's got all sorts of ideas for how it's going to work. The thing is,
neither of us has any experience that would help us with this, and building
a mod would, I believe, require learning Java which I don't think either of
us is ready for right now. I know that the building part of it is not
actually the part that interests him--it's playing Minecraft with his very
own, customized just-for-him mod. But every day for the last couple days,
he's asked, "Can we please start building my mod?"
So, any ideas on where to go with this? I really don't want to be the one
discouraging him, but I also don't want him to GET discouraged because the
task at hand is too time-consuming/daunting for the two of us to tackle.
Maybe I can just piece together different mods that approximate what he's
going for (a whole assemblage of different types of armies--Greek, Roman,
medieval, modern warfare)? See if there's someone out there who wants to
help him build his mod?
Just looking for advice on how to handle an interest in something that's
perhaps a bit too "advanced" or requires a skill and patience that he's just
doesn't have quite yet. And if there's anyone out there with mod-building
expertise/guidance, I'd welcome that too!
Genevieve
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
play fiddle with the knobs. It's a great way to learn programming! But if he
is not interested in doing it, only in playing... then that's another story.
There are a lot of tutorials for minecraft moding out there, google
"minecraft write your own mod tutorial" and see for yourself. You could also
piggyback an existing mod...
http://akahenry.com/?cat=3 - maybe he could create his very own mob
There are also a few tutorials to help people create their own texture pack.
That could be fun.
If he wants all armies (controlled by the computer like mobs?) that sounds
like a major project...
NPCs (as in Non playing characters) are coming in the adventure update
http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/NPC_Villages
More new about the coming features here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNgWEhlAxg
Now if what he really wants is play with armies, you might look into ages of
empires, either the classic game or the new mmo online version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires
http://ageofempiresonline.com/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Genevieve Raymond <genevieve.raymond@...>
Date: 2011/8/29
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Minecraft mod-building for 6-year old?!?
To: [email protected]
**
Sam, who will be 7 in November, REALLY wants to build his own Minecraft mod.
He's got all sorts of ideas for how it's going to work. The thing is,
neither of us has any experience that would help us with this, and building
a mod would, I believe, require learning Java which I don't think either of
us is ready for right now. I know that the building part of it is not
actually the part that interests him--it's playing Minecraft with his very
own, customized just-for-him mod. But every day for the last couple days,
he's asked, "Can we please start building my mod?"
So, any ideas on where to go with this? I really don't want to be the one
discouraging him, but I also don't want him to GET discouraged because the
task at hand is too time-consuming/daunting for the two of us to tackle.
Maybe I can just piece together different mods that approximate what he's
going for (a whole assemblage of different types of armies--Greek, Roman,
medieval, modern warfare)? See if there's someone out there who wants to
help him build his mod?
Just looking for advice on how to handle an interest in something that's
perhaps a bit too "advanced" or requires a skill and patience that he's just
doesn't have quite yet. And if there's anyone out there with mod-building
expertise/guidance, I'd welcome that too!
Genevieve
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Patricia Platt
Hi Genevieve,
Is there some way, other than modding, to achieve your son's goals? For instance, if your son's real wish is to dress his avatar up in gladiatorial armor and fight other players, there are gladiatorial rings set up on Minecraft for that purpose. You can get different types of armor through existing mods, or buy learning to create Minecraft skins (much much easier than learning to build a mod!).
Or, maybe there are ways to encourage your son's creativity besides actually learning to program. My son (9) has written many pages of mod descriptions, for instance. That may be something you could work on with your son. It's a super fun creative project. Take a look at minecraftforum.net to see the information a programmer might need to build a mod, and then you could work with your son to type up a detailed description of his dream mod.
If your son understands that you must learn to program using Java to build Minecraft mods, and you think he has an interest in learning to program, then YouTube may be a helpful resource for you. My son is a bit older (9) and he (with my husband and I along side him) has started working his way through a really great Java tutorial presented on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE2CE09D83EE3E28). I'm not sure if your son would be interested in that Java tutorial, but perhaps you could check it out and learn along with him. It's really very good. The guy who made it doesn't give overview information or philosophize or send you out to research which compiler to use. He just tells you step by step how to download the files you need to get started, including the free Java compiler called Eclipse (the most popular one for Java, I'm told). Then he starts by having you copy a Hello World program and run it in Eclipse, and the lessons gradually build from there. Each lesson is short, and so far (as far as we've gotten) they end with a tangible accomplishment, which (so far) pleases my son.
Yes, modding is complicated, and learning Java is just the first step in the process, and learning Java is complicated. But the journey of a thousand miles starts with that proverbial one first step. The Java tutorial *may* appeal even to a six year old, depending on your particular 6 year old. And then again, it may not.
Your son's age may not necessarily be a barrier to his beginning to learn programming. I was just at an unschoolers' gathering last May where there was a 10 year old who had designed and programmed his own videogame. I didn't see the game, but James Bach (author of "Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar: How Self-Education and the Pursuit of Passion Can Lead to a Lifetime of Success") did and said it was impressive. There was a teenager at that same gathering who had already created a commercial game app. His mom confirmed that he'd made money from it. So, who knows what may become of your son's interest?
Keep it light and fun, and see what works for your son.
Good luck, and happy modding.
Patricia
Is there some way, other than modding, to achieve your son's goals? For instance, if your son's real wish is to dress his avatar up in gladiatorial armor and fight other players, there are gladiatorial rings set up on Minecraft for that purpose. You can get different types of armor through existing mods, or buy learning to create Minecraft skins (much much easier than learning to build a mod!).
Or, maybe there are ways to encourage your son's creativity besides actually learning to program. My son (9) has written many pages of mod descriptions, for instance. That may be something you could work on with your son. It's a super fun creative project. Take a look at minecraftforum.net to see the information a programmer might need to build a mod, and then you could work with your son to type up a detailed description of his dream mod.
If your son understands that you must learn to program using Java to build Minecraft mods, and you think he has an interest in learning to program, then YouTube may be a helpful resource for you. My son is a bit older (9) and he (with my husband and I along side him) has started working his way through a really great Java tutorial presented on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE2CE09D83EE3E28). I'm not sure if your son would be interested in that Java tutorial, but perhaps you could check it out and learn along with him. It's really very good. The guy who made it doesn't give overview information or philosophize or send you out to research which compiler to use. He just tells you step by step how to download the files you need to get started, including the free Java compiler called Eclipse (the most popular one for Java, I'm told). Then he starts by having you copy a Hello World program and run it in Eclipse, and the lessons gradually build from there. Each lesson is short, and so far (as far as we've gotten) they end with a tangible accomplishment, which (so far) pleases my son.
Yes, modding is complicated, and learning Java is just the first step in the process, and learning Java is complicated. But the journey of a thousand miles starts with that proverbial one first step. The Java tutorial *may* appeal even to a six year old, depending on your particular 6 year old. And then again, it may not.
Your son's age may not necessarily be a barrier to his beginning to learn programming. I was just at an unschoolers' gathering last May where there was a 10 year old who had designed and programmed his own videogame. I didn't see the game, but James Bach (author of "Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar: How Self-Education and the Pursuit of Passion Can Lead to a Lifetime of Success") did and said it was impressive. There was a teenager at that same gathering who had already created a commercial game app. His mom confirmed that he'd made money from it. So, who knows what may become of your son's interest?
Keep it light and fun, and see what works for your son.
Good luck, and happy modding.
Patricia
--- In [email protected], Genevieve Raymond <genevieve.raymond@...> wrote:
>
> Sam, who will be 7 in November, REALLY wants to build his own Minecraft mod. He's got all sorts of ideas for how it's going to work. The thing is, neither of us has any experience that would help us with this, and building a mod would, I believe, require learning Java which I don't think either of us is ready for right now. I know that the building part of it is not actually the part that interests him--it's playing Minecraft with his very own, customized just-for-him mod. But every day for the last couple days, he's asked, "Can we please start building my mod?"
>
> So, any ideas on where to go with this? I really don't want to be the one discouraging him, but I also don't want him to GET discouraged because the task at hand is too time-consuming/daunting for the two of us to tackle. Maybe I can just piece together different mods that approximate what he's going for (a whole assemblage of different types of armies--Greek, Roman, medieval, modern warfare)? See if there's someone out there who wants to help him build his mod?
>
> Just looking for advice on how to handle an interest in something that's perhaps a bit too "advanced" or requires a skill and patience that he's just doesn't have quite yet. And if there's anyone out there with mod-building expertise/guidance, I'd welcome that too!
>
> Genevieve
>
Karen
> Sam, who will be 7 in November, REALLY wants to build his own Minecraft mod. He's got all sorts of ideas for how it's going to work. The thing is, neither of us has any experience that would help us with this, and building a mod would, I believe, require learning Java which I don't think either of us is ready for right now.Our son, who is now 8, was also really interested in learning to make his own games when he was 6. We started with Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/), which is a free visual programming language for kids. We made all kinds of games using this, even our son's own version of Minecraft. I am not a programmer, but even I could do this with him :)
Next we explored Stencyl (http://www.stencyl.com/) which is also free, and is a bit more advanced.
Our son is still interested in learning to program in Java, so he is slowing going to start to edit existing Minecraft mods (with his dad's help) and explore java for kids (http://www.video-animation.com/java_000.shtml) with me:)
Scratch was really great because it gave him the power to make his very own games, and exposed him to the basics of programming. (It was good for me for the same reasons.) This gave him the confidence to keep moving toward what looked, at a distance, like an impossible goal. If anyone had have told me I would be *at all* interested in learning to program in Java a few years ago, I would have laughed, and said, "Not Likely!" What an unpredictable journey!
Joanna
My son has been learning Java through this guy's tutorials:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thenewboston#g/c/FE2CE09D83EE3E28
Joanna
http://www.youtube.com/user/thenewboston#g/c/FE2CE09D83EE3E28
Joanna