Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft • Hacker News Board

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#191

Post by slavik81 » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:14 PM UTC

maccard wrote: post #100

saiya-jin wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well take an inspiration from ultra-rich - don't cheap out on raising your kids and entertain them with potentially addictive games on phones/tablets/computers. They don't expose their kids to any of this till age 7-8 IIRC. I see it so many times around us - parents are tired, so here ya go kiddo, play with a phone so daddy/mommy can rest. Kids get addicted quickly, then when you take their game away they go mental,…

At some point (particularly with teenagers) you have to accept they're making a decision. 16 year old me certainly wouldn't have been impressed with a parent pulling the plug on me playing Counter Strike so I could go do something "wholesome" on my own outside. Video games can be a heslthy release/form of entertainment - is it any worse to spend 10 hours a week playing Roblox than watching whatever garbage I was plon…

I wonder how many adults would respond better in that situation. It's been a long while since I've had anyone tell me what I'm allowed to do with my free time.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#192

Post by lobotryas » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:15 PM UTC

izzydata wrote: post #160

Yajirobe wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can't understand the appeal of this game or Minecraft You can do things from smashing zombies' skulls with a sword to building a replica of your own house to building an ATARI emulator in Minecraft. How is that not exciting?

Possibly because there is no goal and your friends aren't there in person. It's too open ended and over the internet. Not feeling like I'm really with friends just from talking to them online might be my problem because really anything can be fun when you are with people you enjoy spending time with.

Sandboxes and jungle gyms are also open-ended activities, but kids (and presumably you at some point) love them.

Minecraft appeals because it’s a huge, yet simplified, world full of mystery where you can build anything you can imagine. It’s infinitely flexible because you create your own goals. If you want a structured experience with story and someone setting your goals for you then you simply play another game.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#193

Post by randiantech » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:20 PM UTC

integrii wrote: post #29

Both of my kids played a lot of Roblox until we banned it. They easily became obsessed and were violent when removed, even with a tightly controlled schedule. They would try to connect to offer WiFi networks to get access and would steal our phones to get access. We ended up having to detox them like it was a drug. Beyond that we found that the openly mod-able nature of the game allowed some remarkably disgusting 3D…

This is a very similar experience that I had my 8 yo kid, though its not something that exclusive of Roblox. Same thing happened with Nintendo Switch, Minecraft and Youtube.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#194

Post by cferr » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:26 PM UTC

thethirdone wrote: post #71

erklik wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minecraft as a game has never progressed from where it started. There is nothing new in it (new items, new structures etc don't count, they provide the same experience, just colored differently) while a game like Terreria is done so well with fantastically structured gameplay and progression. After you've gotten to a certain level in Minecraft, the game becomes pointless.

> Minecraft as a game has never progressed from where it started. ... Terreria is done so well with fantastically structured gameplay and progression. I would say minecraft has progressed much more than Terraria. Minecraft started as a building only game. It then added survival elements and redstone which add two entirely new ways to play. I didn't play Terraria in its early days, but it seems like the content added…

Don't forget about the equip enchanting system, potion brewing, fishing, The End, treasure hunting maps, village raids, and most recently the villager trading system overhaul. The game is so completely different now than it was ten years ago, it's crazy.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#195

Post by jacobr » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:31 PM UTC

nkrisc wrote: post #137

antpls wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if multiplayer video games actually teach your kids to not blindly trust people ? At first they will be scammed a few time, but they will learn, and with minimal consequences. Isn't it better for your kids to experience the "worst" behaviors in a virtual simulation under your control rather than in real life when they will be adult and possibly alone ? I believe it's fine to have your kids safely experience "une…

It really depends on the age of the child. At a certain age, they're just no match for adults. I had a coworker who's daughter was conned out of her Roblox password you've by the same person. She's not dumb, the other person was just very effective and maintain against a nine year old kid. As a parent your primary duty is the safety and well-being of your child. That comes first, lessons second. Sometimes you might j…

If safety is always the number one priority there will be no climbing trees, no swimming, no bicycling, etc.

Some dangers, like traffic, have consequences that are extreme and irreversible. Getting frauded online is not.. although grooming is a more difficult issue.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#196

Post by RandallBrown » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:37 PM UTC

orliesaurus wrote: post #53

Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft are the new social networks right? Well when I was 15 and we used to play Counter Strike and Quake 3 the "social network" was hanging out on servers with maps just chatting and walking around the map aimlessly or just hanging out on IRC. So I can totally relate to how kids nowadays are going back to this sorta hangout. Text only can be boring (kinda like IRC for many people who couldn't to…

My coworker once found his son playing Minecraft when he was supposed to be doing homework. When my coworker called his son on it, it turned out that the kid was actually using minecraft to collaborate with his friends and do their assignment.

I'm not sure if they were doing anything other than using the chat capabilities, but it's sounded like a fun way to meet up with your friends without having to actually go over to their house.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#197

Post by Topgamer7 » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:45 PM UTC

ianhawes wrote: post #181

sky_rw wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was only allowed 2 hours of Sega Genesis play, which was just enough to get to the final boss in Sonic and die. Never beat it. In hindsight this prepared me for the 2 constants in the real world: Never having enough time, and constant disappointment.

Reminds me of playing GTA3 on my PS1 which did not have a memory card.

GTA3 was released for the PS2

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#198

Post by tapland » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:49 PM UTC

b_tterc_p wrote: post #157

tapland wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also important to have clear distinctions between things that are questionable but not harmful, and that the kids feel that they can sound the alarm when things are really wrong. There are a lot of pictures and words that are inappropriate and shouldn't be in kids games. But it's really important to convey that there is a difference between that, and even pictures of feet, to pictures of you nude or pictures wit…

I feel like most people would put pictures of children’s feet in the absolutely not ok bucket

If you feel that it's in the same bucket as sending full frontal nudes with identifiable face, that's your decision to make as a parent.

Your kids are going to send pictures to other people.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#199

Post by em-bee » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 3:57 PM UTC

izzydata wrote: post #153

The gaming world seems so foreign to me now and I used to play games several hours a day growing up. I can't understand the appeal of this game or Minecraft even if I try to imagine myself as a child again.

i didn't get it either. i found the large blocks wierd, until i started playing myself when my son got old enough. we are playing minetest, and i have to say, it feels like virtual lego. as a lego fan, i am now sold on it.

Re: Roblox hits 100M monthly active users, bigger than Minecraft

#200

Post by em-bee » Tue, Aug 06, 2019, 4:04 PM UTC

thecatspaw wrote: post #52

xrd wrote: post #51

I'm reading all the threads here and wonder: is there a similar type of game that is safe for kids to use? I'd love to have the collaborating with other kids to build things, but I'm deeply concerned about the predatory aspects other parents are describing here. Is there an open source version of Roblox or Minecraft that you can run on your own server and only invite known people (neighbors, friends, etc.) to play on…

while its not open source you can definitely run minecraft on your own server with a whitelist. I dont know about roblox. You might also be interested in minetest?

there are plenty of minetest servers if you don't want to run your own, check out a few and see how they are. several advertise a family friendly atmosphere. go inside play a while and monitor the chat to see how the moderators act. i found a great server right away, where my son and i are now happily building away without trouble.