Minecraft -- what do I need to buy?

[Drama Llama]

I would like to buy Minecraft as an 11th birthday gift for my son, so he can play with his cousin who is moving away.  But I have no idea what I need to buy.

I'd like to have a "server" so that the kids can play with each other, and invite others in.   I'd also like both of my kids to be able to play simultaneously, but I suspect that my 11 year old will play much more than his brother.  I think my SIL also plans to let her other kids play.  

At this point, I have a Switch and a bajillion iPads.  I have heard that it's not good on the iPads.  Is it good on the Switch?   Do I need to buy a PC? 

Also, if I've got multiple devices, can they switch between them or does the account need to "live" on one platform?  If my kid's on a Switch, and his cousin's on a PC or an iPad is that a problem?

What else do I need to ask?  

[vonfirmath]

8 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

I would like to buy Minecraft as an 11th birthday gift for my son, so he can play with his cousin who is moving away.  But I have no idea what I need to buy.

I'd like to have a "server" so that the kids can play with each other, and invite others in.   I'd also like both of my kids to be able to play simultaneously, but I suspect that my 11 year old will play much more than his brother.  I think my SIL also plans to let her other kids play.  

At this point, I have a Switch and a bajillion iPads.  I have heard that it's not good on the iPads.  Is it good on the Switch?   Do I need to buy a PC? 

Also, if I've got multiple devices, can they switch between them or does the account need to "live" on one platform?  If my kid's on a Switch, and his cousin's on a PC or an iPad is that a problem?

What else do I need to ask?  

I don't know about the server part. I do know if you want to play cross platform like that you need the Windows 10 version (Also called Bedrock) when playing on a PC -- NOT the Java. You will need to buy a separate copy of Minecraft for each different player and each different format (So we have it on the WiiU and on the ipad and on the PC -- purchased three times)

(You might want to look into getting a realm to start with -- letting someone else do the maintenance and just focus on playing)

Two kids can play on the same Minecraft -- but not together. They can each play singleplayer on their own world. To share a world you need to buy separate licenses.

 

ETA: The next major release -- Minecraft 1.17 -- is being released today. So there may be more delay downloading, etc than normal.

 

Edited June 8, 2021 by vonfirmath

[TheReader]

Yes, what vonfirmath said. 

DS adds: on the XBox version (which is part of Bedrock) you can play multiplayer/split screen with one copy of the game but 2 accounts on the device, and he *thinks* this is the same on the Switch edition. 

And seconding Realms; we have that, and it's been great. You pay a small fee each month, and that will allow them to play with people not in the same house, etc. 

[Drama Llama]

1 minute ago, vonfirmath said:

I don't know about the server part. I do know if you want to play cross platform like that you need the Windows 10 version (Also called Bedrock) when playing on a PC -- NOT the Java. You will need to buy a separate copy of Minecraft for each different player and each different format (So we have it on the WiiU and on the ipad and on the PC -- purchased three times)

(You might want to look into getting a realm to start with -- letting someone else do the maintenance and just focus on playing)

Two kids can play on the same Minecraft -- but not together. They can each play singleplayer on their own world. To share a world you need to buy separate licenses.

I understood like 7 words in this. 

Let's say that I wanted my kids to play on Switch and iPad, and since I understand that iPad sucks, I want them to be able to take turns, so sometimes one is on the switch, and one is on the iPad, and sometimes they reverse.  Does this mean I need to buy 4 versions?  2 for the switch and 2 for the iPads?  And if their cousin wants to join them on a PC she needs to use the Bedrock version?  

If I get (buy? rent? win?  I don't know what get means in this context) a realm, will that give me what I want which is that they can play together, and with other people that an adult adds, but they aren't playing with strangers?  

Any thoughts on what's the best platform?

[Drama Llama]

1 minute ago, TheReader said:

Yes, what vonfirmath said. 

DS adds: on the XBox version (which is part of Bedrock) you can play multiplayer/split screen with one copy of the game but 2 accounts on the device, and he *thinks* this is the same on the Switch edition. 

And seconding Realms; we have that, and it's been great. You pay a small fee each month, and that will allow them to play with people not in the same house, etc. 

Like two people can sit next to each other and play on the same TV?  I only have 1 TV, so something where they could play side by side would be great.

What is the difference between realms and a server?  

[catz]

I will say Minecraft is by far the most social and long lived open world video game over here.  Both my kids go back to it again and again. 

I will say we've had it on many platforms but the kids here MUCH prefer the PC.  I think you might want a PC if you really want them to have flexibility, etc and a server.  But you could also just install on any computer you have.   I could see why it might feel dicey to set up an 11 year old with their own PC if your older teen doesn't have one.    Both my kids got their own PCs early but we used them for school first.  

[TheReader]

2 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Like two people can sit next to each other and play on the same TV?  I only have 1 TV, so something where they could play side by side would be great.

What is the difference between realms and a server?  

Yes. On the Xbox at least, it would be 2 players side by side, on the one TV. On the Switch it *should* be the same (put the Switch in the dock so the screen is on the TV, not the Switch) but PLEASE verify with someone that has the Switch version (we have it on Xbox and PC, but not on Switch, so he's going off what "should" work). 

On PC or iPad they can be on separate devices and in the same room, and can interact with each other in their "world" but not all on one screen. (but not PC to iPad, unless you get the Bedrock version)

Realms is a Server hosted by a Server farm; you pay the subscription fee, but all the kids have to do is go in and "Open" the Realm which allows players from everywhere to join it; if you had a true Server you were hosting, it would be using your bandwidth and all of that technical stuff I don't understand. The Realm does all the same things (we used it when my older boys were at college, to allow all 3 to still get on and play together at the same time). But again, you have to have the Bedrock version if you want it to allow cross-platform play -- even with Realms, because our PC version was Java, their cousin on XBox could not get on the Realm.  

[TheReader]

6 minutes ago, FuzzyCatz said:

I will say Minecraft is by far the most social and long lived open world video game over here.  Both my kids go back to it again and again. 

I will say we've had it on many platforms but the kids here MUCH prefer the PC.  I think you might want a PC if you really want them to have flexibility, etc and a server.  But you could also just install on any computer you have.   I could see why it might feel dicey to set up an 11 year old with their own PC if your older teen doesn't have one.    Both my kids got their own PCs early but we used them for school first.  

Yes to this too. We've had Minecraft for gosh, probably close to a decade now ??? and still the boys are on it all the time. We are huge fans (but everyone prefers PC here too). 

[vonfirmath]

1 minute ago, TheReader said:

Yes. On the Xbox at least, it would be 2 players side by side, on the one TV. On the Switch it *should* be the same (put the Switch in the dock so the screen is on the TV, not the Switch) but PLEASE verify with someone that has the Switch version (we have it on Xbox and PC, but not on Switch, so he's going off what "should" work). 

On PC or iPad they can be on separate devices and in the same room, and can interact with each other in their "world" but not all on one screen. (but not PC to iPad, unless you get the Bedrock version)

Realms is a Server hosted by a Server farm; you pay the subscription fee, but all the kids have to do is go in and "Open" the Realm which allows players from everywhere to join it; if you had a true Server you were hosting, it would be using your bandwidth and all of that technical stuff I don't understand. The Realm does all the same things (we used it when my older boys were at college, to allow all 3 to still get on and play together at the same time). But again, you have to have the Bedrock version if you want it to allow cross-platform play -- even with Realms, because our PC version was Java, their cousin on XBox could not get on the Realm.  

The website says you can split screen on the switch.

https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/get-minecraft

 

We have a switch at home but I don't know if we have Minecraft. I'll ask my daughter and see if we can figure it out tonight

(I'm a Single Player Java person so I'm not as familiar with hte ins and outs -- but been meaning to look into it so my kids can play their friends)

[TheReader]

12 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

I understood like 7 words in this. 

Let's say that I wanted my kids to play on Switch and iPad, and since I understand that iPad sucks, I want them to be able to take turns, so sometimes one is on the switch, and one is on the iPad, and sometimes they reverse.  Does this mean I need to buy 4 versions?  2 for the switch and 2 for the iPads?  And if their cousin wants to join them on a PC she needs to use the Bedrock version?  

If I get (buy? rent? win?  I don't know what get means in this context) a realm, will that give me what I want which is that they can play together, and with other people that an adult adds, but they aren't playing with strangers?  

Any thoughts on what's the best platform?

Okay, so on the Switch (thanks @vonfirmath for confirming!) you could get one copy of Minecraft, and your kids can play it 2 player like any other 2 player Switch game, all on one screen. They should likewise be able to have their own separate worlds, etc, so they can play individually as well, and so you would not need to get an iPad version. 

If their cousin is on a PC, she *may* have Bedrock (Windows 10 and later would already be that; prior to that would be Java); if she is using a PC, and your kids are using a Switch, then yes, she needs Bedrock Edition. 

Realms are a subscription service, and yes, that will let you "white list" people (set up specific people allowed into the Realm, and only those people are allowed, and only when you turn it on/activate it, so the allowed people can't get into it unless your kids/you have it on at that time) - no playing with unknown strangers or anything like that. 

As far as best platform.....everyone here prefers the PC version, but they've only played Java version on PC, and some of the Xbox version which is Bedrock, and the WiiU version which is basically the Switch version, and the pocket edition.  My kids say that Bedrock Edition is the same no matter what platform (and that they prefer the Java edition on PC....but that could partly be a matter of having started out on that one and then knowing the differences; if someone only ever had Bedrock, and never Java, they'd not know the difference). 

If you need the cross-platform, Bedrock Edition is it, and on any platform it's all the same.

[Spryte]

Minecraft family here, too.  

Kids prefer to play on a desktop or laptop.  We only have Macs. iPad and PlayStation were fails here.

We bought Minecraft ($30?) maybe for each kid, I don’t remember.  We have a server or two or ten.  They are free, on Minehut, and kids can give access to friends so they can play together.  Kids here spend a lot of time downloading mods from some specific site, I can find the name and come back, can’t recall.  Kids play games together on Mineplex, another site. Everything is free, but there might be a paid option to remove ads.

They can play with other friends - all their friends are also on desktops or laptops, too (though not Mac) but I don’t know about Switch, etc.

DD is heavy into making mods and does the Minecraft coding classes through Codakids.

[Drama Llama]

2 hours ago, FuzzyCatz said:

I will say Minecraft is by far the most social and long lived open world video game over here.  Both my kids go back to it again and again. 

I will say we've had it on many platforms but the kids here MUCH prefer the PC.  I think you might want a PC if you really want them to have flexibility, etc and a server.  But you could also just install on any computer you have.   I could see why it might feel dicey to set up an 11 year old with their own PC if your older teen doesn't have one.    Both my kids got their own PCs early but we used them for school first.  

The only computer here goes to work with me.   I was thinking of this as a $30 present not a new computer level present.   Is there really that huge of a difference?  

The cousins don’t have it yet either, so we will start with whatever coordinates.

[catz]

7 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

The only computer here goes to work with me.   I was thinking of this as a $30 present not a new computer level present.   Is there really that huge of a difference?  

The cousins don’t have it yet either, so we will start with whatever coordinates.

I think it is totally great to start small.   I’m not sure about setting up custom servers without a pc version though.   

[TheReader]

15 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

The only computer here goes to work with me.   I was thinking of this as a $30 present not a new computer level present.   Is there really that huge of a difference?  

The cousins don’t have it yet either, so we will start with whatever coordinates.

According to the Realms website, you can do the Realms even on consoles (Switch, etc.) -- https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/realms-plus

So, if the cousin has a Switch also, then get the single copy of Minecraft for the Switch (which your two kids can play alone or together, even w/o realms) -- https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/minecraft-switch/ and also allows cross-platform play. So yes, you can definitely start with just the $30 game and be good to go.

You will need to add either Nintendo Online Subscription or Realms Subscription in order for them to play with the cousin once she moves. 

*If they've never played the Java Edition on PC, they will never know what they are missing and won't feel it's lacking, IMO. 

[Rachel]

You only need to purchase a copy of the game. It’s $30 for a Switch and $5 for iPad. If you have family sharing on the iPad you only need to purchase one copy of the app.

I’m not exactly sure how it works but my kids play together on different devices in the same world. Sometimes at the same time, sometimes separately.  My son also plays with a couple friends he invited to play in his world. I believe if you create an account you can play across platforms (ie Kindle to iPad). I “think” my nephew plays on his Xbox with my son on his iPod, but my nephew has multiple devices so I’m not certain. 
 

For what it’s worth, my kids have never played on a pc and Minecraft is still by far their favorite game. They have said it’s better on an iPod/iPad than the kindle. 

[Ausmumof3]

A timer 😬😬😬

most addictive game ever for my kids