Computer games and healthy eating might not seem like a natural combination, but the two go hand in hand for Year 5 students at Methven Primary School in Canterbury.
Using Minecraft's education edition, the pupils are building a virtual village, complete with a free range chicken farm, crop fields and shops to sell the produce.
Teacher Adele Warburton says Minecraft is more than just a fun computer game. She says using Minecraft as a learning tool encourages 21st century skills such as collaboration, communication, creativity and problem solving. It also teaches the children about being good digital citizens.
“We talk about how you wouldn't rip someone's book up, therefore you wouldn't tear down their house in Minecraft.”
Warburton admits that her students are all better than her at Minecraft.
“They're digital natives after all. Accepting differences is one of our school values and the kids have to accept that I'm useless.”
Director of Minecraft Education Neal Manegold said his goal is to make Minecraft: Education Edition accessible to all teachers, not just the techie types.
“We've baked a tutorial world into the game that is designed not only for teachers who have never played Minecraft, but teachers who have never played a computer game.”
Microsoft introduced Minecraft: Education Edition just over a year ago and the tech giant has been working hard ever since to keep up with teachers' growing demand for the game as they begin to recognise its value as a teaching tool.
At the Bett Asia 2017 education technology summit held last week in Kuala Lumpur, teachers from all over the world got hands-on with the game in Minecraft Teacher Academy sessions.
Manegold says Minecraft can be used in and across all subjects.
“It's not a case of teachers saying ‘ok, now it's Minecraft time'; it's about seamless curriculum integration.”
He points to a growing bank of Minecraft lesson plans shared by teachers, for teachers.
Most of the plans are multidisciplinary. One lesson plan tasks students with building a sustainable community on an island with limited resources, touching on literacy, geography and environmental sciences.
Manegold also says there needs to be clear evidence of students' learning. “It's not enough for teachers to say, ‘I'm cool, I'm using Minecraft'. Students need to be able to show the benefits of what they're doing and what they've learned.”
There are tools within the game – such as virtual blackboards and non-moveable players – to allow teachers to plant resources and information. Students have access to a camera tool to take pictures of their work, and a digital book for recording and sharing their learning. They can also use Code Builder to replicate code they've created and use it in other applications, and pull their 3D models out of Minecraft and into other projects.
Minecraft helps kids understand the basics of coding and computer programming.
Partnering with the global Hour of Code initiative, Microsoft launched last week a new Minecraft tutorial for this year's event in December.
However, Don Carlson, director of education for Microsoft Asia Pacific, says there's more to Minecraft than learning to code.
“Coding empowers young people, giving them the tools they need to not only express themselves, but also transform the way they think critically and solve complex problems.”
Dr Richard Campbell of Coding Heroes in South Korea agrees.
“We shouldn't be teaching coding for coding's sake. It's the creativity, critical thinking and other 21st century skills that kids utilise that are important to take away from the coding experience.”
Minecraft: Education Edition
•Launched in 2016
•2 million licensed users
• Used in 115 countries
• 70 million Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial sessions
Mojang has officially published all the big announcements from this year's Minecon Earth live show—a much more convenient replacement for the traditional convention the company throws for its world-building game. Before we chat about the new aquatic content comign to Minecraft, we'll get the bad news out of the way first: The game's Super Duper Graphics pack isn't going to arrive this year.
Instead, says Mojang, the optional downloadable content—”crammed full of excessive visual razzmatazz” for console and mobile players, including 4K HDR graphics—is going to arrive next year. Mojang didn't offer a specific release date, but says that it'll be updating Minecraft.net with new information as it becomes available.
Similarly, a new version of Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch that allows for cross-platform multiplayer is also being delayed until 2018.
“Nintendo has been a great partner and we're really excited to fully bring Switch players into the fold, however, we need to make sure we deliver the best experience possible. So the new version of Minecraft will now be coming to Nintendo Switch next year. Xbox One, PC, mobile and Nintendo Switch, all playing multiplayer Minecraft together in 2018 – I'm getting emotional just thinking about it,” write Mojang's Tom Stone.
The big content announcement from Minecon Earth is Mojang's ‘The Update Aquatic,' which will add lots of new watery features to Minecraft, including new fish, dolphins, coral, water physics, and explorable shipwrecks. Players will also be able to wield tridents as they adventure around—weapons you jab enemies with or throw at them. And, yes, you can enchant your trident to ensure it always returns to your hand once you've tossed it, the world's most awkward boomerang.
In Mojang's update, players will be able to catch different kinds of fish depending on the temperature of the water they're in, and they'll be able to create and populate aquariums for their collections. Minecraft builders will also get a chance to drop new bubble columns into their creations, and all players can go on hunts for treasure around their worlds—dolphins can help point the way to the loot, found in various structures like shipwrecks and icebergs.
Mojang didn't indicate when The Update Aquatic would land, only that it would arrive in a future Minecraft update.
A large part of Minecraft‘s allure is showing off your work. And now, it should be relatively easy to do that in real time. Mojang has released an update that lets you livestream directly to Microsoft Mixer (its parent company's service, naturally) from within the game on Android devices, Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One consoles. If you've just finished recreating an entire country, you can take people on a live tour without starting a broadcast in a separate app or service first. And your audience doesn't have to simply watch, either.
Mixer support also lets you make aspects of your Minecraft session interactive. Viewers can vote on spawning objects (including enemies) or even change the environmental conditions. They can turn day into night to see whether you'll survive the trip back to safety, for instance. If you've ever broadcast a Minecraft stream and thought it was too predictable, this could add just the right amount of chaos.
The feature isn't available in other versions of Minecraft just yet. A mod to bring it to the classic Java-based game is coming later in 2017. Even so, this promises to make the world-building game a more social experience, whether or not your friends are ready to play.
Even if you ignore those major releases, there's a wealth of smaller but no less fun games out there on the eShop, just waiting to be snagged.
That's why we've compiled a list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy right now. While this won't be a definitive list until we've gotten about a year's worth of games, we'll continue updating this page with recent releases worthy of your time and money. And whether you're looking for party games, 2D platformers or big 3D adventures, the Switch has you covered. Oh, and if you want to know what's still to come, check out our upcoming Nintendo Switch games.
What is it? A Nintendo Switch port of one of the best cult indie hits
Why should you buy it? While the price tag is a bit steep (especially considering it's appeared cheaper on other platforms, and even launched for free back in the early 2000s), there's no denying that Cave Story is still worth supporting now that it's on the Nintendo Switch. It's the labor of love of a single developer named Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya, weaving retro-styled Metroidvania concepts with an engrossing and emotional story through multiple endings. If you grab a physical copy, you'll even get a bunch of neat goodies, including a soundtrack mini-disc and full-color manual.
19. Thumper
Genre: Rhythm action Price: $19.99/£15.99
What is it? Self described as a ‘rhythm violence' game, Thumper sees you hurtling down a track as a giant bug perfectly hammering buttons to the beat.
Why should you buy it? Thumper might initially remind you of something a little gentler like Audiosurf as you glide down slick, stylised pathways with electronica in your ears but don't be deceived, this aural extravaganza requires a calm head and pitch perfect twitch reflexes. Initially your giant bug just requires a tap of A as you go over a light panel or perhaps holding a button as you crash around corners but before long you're tapping, flying, crashing down onto the track and causing tidal waves to destroy enormous floating heads… and that's only the beginning. Utterly unforgiving with a soundtrack that you can't pump into you head loud enough, Thumper is a treat for the senses and potentially RSI inducing for your thumbs.
18. The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
Genre: Roguelike Price: $39.99
What is it? The ultimate edition of the remake of the flash game by the artist behind Super Meat Boy.
Why should you buy it? Get past the aesthetic fuelling the Binding of Isaac's narrative – in which a young, naked boy held captive in his own home attempts to escape his mom's murderous intentions by navigating underground caverns and crying at enemies – and there's one hell of a game here from Edmund McMillen. Each run is a randomly generated dungeon, pulling inspiration equally from games like The Legend of Zelda and Spelunky, and as you take on a menagerie of demons, you'll pick up a variety of mysterious items which can help (or hinder) you on your quest to the bottom. Want laser tears or maps to every level? How about one giant tear droplet to steer around the demonic enemies?
Every run is completely different and always relentlessly, offensively wonderful. Packing in the remake of the original game (now known as Rebirth) along with all of the expansions released so far, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is the definitive edition of a roguelike that will gleefully suck away hundreds of hours of your life if you let it. Oh, and in further temptation, hunt down the physical edition now available in the EU for a special retro-style actual manual like one you got in the '90s, and some adorable Isaac stickers.
17. Tumbleseed
Genre: Roguelike Price: $14.99/£11.99
What is it? A ‘rolly' roguelike where you need to steer a tiny seed up a mountain using only your analogue sticks to control a tilting stick.
Why should you buy it? Because you like games that will beat you into a pulp before you finally master them. Tumbleseed looks simple on paper. Tilt a board with your analogue sticks and steer a tiny seed up a mountain. How hard can it be? The answer is exceptionally. Holes mean death. Enemies mean death. Everything means death. And then it clicks as you juggle seedling power ups, carefully dodging pits while collecting crystals from felled enemies. Every movement matters and while Tumbleseed is utterly unforgiving and will send you back to the bottom of the mountain as your pitiful number of lives deplete, you'll be hitting restart without even thinking about it. A must play.
16. Pokken Tournament DX
Genre: Fighting Price: $59.99/£49.99
What is it? The brilliant Wii U brawler is being brought back to life on the Switch with this DX version. Think Pokémon cross with Tekken and you're spot on.
Why should you buy it? Pokkén Tournament never really stood a chance on the Wii U. While the Japanese arcade version got new characters and regular updates, the Wii U version was left to stagnate. And now it's clear why, the Switch's Pokkén Tournament DX edition was en route and ready to kick some Poké ass. Not only do you get five brand new characters – Croagunk, Empoleon, Darkrai, Scizor and Decidueye – but you also get Team Battle mode. You pick three different Pokémon and pits them against an enemy team, and it's basically a game of survival of the fittest. It's brilliant for playing solo offline as a way to practice and experiment with the different beasties. Otherwise, it's the same brawler that so many people missed out on with the Wii U version.
15. Golf Story
Genre: Golf RPG (yes really) Price: $14.99/£13.49
What is it? It's a brilliant pixel art RPG crossed with a golf sim, with added tongue-in-cheek comedy.
Why should you buy it? Nintendo and Camelot's Game Boy Color take on golfing was a revelation, even for people who hate golf. Mario Golf GBC combined RPG-lite character upgrades and progression with a simple and intuitive arcadey version of golf – and it happened exactly once. Sidebar Games has clearly taken this to heart, and has made its own full-on golfing adventure, complete with eight unique environments, side-quests, and even a story. I don't even like golf and I'm addicted to this.
14. Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure
What is it? One of Telltale's best episodic adventures in one neat package with a story and world based around the blocky excellence that is Minecraft.
Why should you buy it? Not only is it the first of Telltale's games to come to the Switch, but it's also utterly brilliant. Even if you aren't a Minecraft fan, there's plenty of comedy, action and block-based jokes to chuckle at and you'll appreciate the way Telltale's engine works so seamlessly on the Switch. Of course, if you are a Minecraft fan this should be a no-brainer, especially with the Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition being so brilliant too. You can be Minecrafting on Switch all the time in all the ways.
And plus, you get a lot of game for your money. The Complete Adventure gets you all five episodes of Minecraft: Story Mode and the three episodes of the follow-up Adventure Pass released last year.
13. Arms
Genre: Fighter Price: $59.99/£49.99
What is it? A unique fighter from the house that brought you Splatoon
Why should you buy it?Arms is a fighting game for the masses. Rather than forcing you to learn an endless list of combos and counters, Arms places all of its focus on your pugilists' two stretchy limbs. That's not to say it isn't deep: each fighter has unique abilities and an array of special arm types to use, which allow for a wide variety of strategies. While it's a bit light on single-player content, a solid foundation and the promise of additional free content on the way ensures that Arms will have a place in our Switch systems for months to come.
12. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Genre: Platformer Price: $19.99/£17.99
What is it? A complete reskin of cult classic Wonder Boy 3, complete with the ability to switch between hand-drawn animation and the original 8-bit sprites.
Why should you buy it? Wonder Boy doesn't have the same cultural appreciation that Metroid or Castlevania does, but that those who grew up with the series (along with spin-offs like Adventure Island) attest to its quality. Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap in particular is important because it helped laid the groundwork for a generation of non-linear platformers to follow. In the 2017 remake (which drops the numbering), developer Lizardcube lovingly takes the same game – passcodes and all – and applies a gorgeous painterly aesthetic on top of it, complete with an all-new soundtrack. It's a bit archaic in spots, but the fact that it holds up so well with minor gameplay changes is a testament to how far ahead of the curve it was in 1989.
11. Minecraft
Genre: Building simulation Price: $29.99/£19.99
What is it? A beautifully blocky, open-world, creative sandbox for you to build, destroy, and mine anything you want.
Why should you buy it? Because even if you’ve played it before, Minecraft on Switch means ultra portable, buildable delight. You can sit down with a friend to play together on the local network, which is ridiculously simple to set up – just put one of their Joy-Cons on your Switch once your world is loaded up, press +, and hand it back to them. You can also play online if you're not eager to go exploring alone, or try out one of its mini-games: Battle (straightforwards PvP), Tumble (a race that involves shovels or snowballs), or Glide (get to the end of the course asap). A plethora of achievements makes for pleasantly directed playing as they give you something to aim for, but when it's comes down to it you never feel like you've quite beaten Minecraft even if you've been playing for tens of hours. It's an exercise in discovery and ambition, with structures that previously only existed in your wildest dreams suddenly viable – as long as you have the resources. Whether you're tenacious, easygoing, or just rabidly curious, think of Minecraft as a gracious host that will make you and anyone you choose to co-op with delirious with happiness. Either that, or you'll get your hands on some TNT and will make everything go bang. Which is also fun.
You can't say retailers haven't been offering some great (slightly early) Black Friday gaming deals. From Xbox One S bundles to PS4 Pro packages, there's been deals a plenty and we're not even at the big day yet. But for the Nintendo Switch, GAME and Amazon are offering the Switch with a game for under £300. Take a look:
So we're already hitting sub-£300 deals for the Switch and there's still two days until actual Black Friday. No doubt there are plenty of consumers out there waiting for such a deal for a Switch with either Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey for such a price. Of course, we'll tell you if that happens, so keep an eye on our best Black Friday Nintendo deals hub for the latest.
That's right. Minecraft has officially arrived for Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets. Technically, you could already play Minecraft in WMR, but you could only play on a virtual big screen. The game has been updated on Windows 10, however, allowing you to strap on your headset and step into a virtual reality world. This update has been in beta testing for over a month, so we knew it was coming.
Here's what Microsoft said in its announcement post: “Now, Windows Mixed Reality brings you even more options to 3D-ify your crafty fun, and requires next to no set-up. Just plug the headset into the USB slot and you’re good to go.” Speaking of headsets, check out Pocket-lint's guide here to see what is available. There are many models to choose from, including ones from Samsung, Dell, and HP.
Alongside this news, Microsoft's Minecraft team revealed that Mixer integration has been added to the game, giving you the option to start a stream from within Minecraft. Mind you, all this has arrived before a huge update coming to Minecraft. Microsoft has been hard at work on a new engine for the game so that it can run across Windows 10, iOS, Android, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch using the same codebase.
But the most exciting part about the upcoming update, dubbed Update Aquatic, is that it will add tonnes of new features to the game's oceanic areas, including coral reefs, shipwrecks, new aquatic species, and more. Find out what else is coming via the video above.