I spent the weekend with 12,000 Minecraft fans and it was amazing
The day kicked off with the opening ceremonies, where all 12,000 attendees -- mostly kids with their parents -- packed into the main conference hall to hear what they were in for at Minecon 2016.
The day kicked off with the opening ceremonies, where all 12,000 attendees -- mostly kids with their parents -- packed into the main conference hall to hear what they were in for at Minecon 2016.
The best part of those opening ceremonies were the crowd's reaction: Any time a presenter mentioned YouTube, or a YouTube celebrity made an appearance, the crowd went wild.
During the opening ceremonies, the host asked three kids from the crowd what they were most excited for. All three of them said "the chance to meet YouTubers."
The best part of those opening ceremonies were the crowd's reaction: Any time a presenter mentioned YouTube, or a YouTube celebrity made an appearance, the crowd went wild.
During the opening ceremonies, the host asked three kids from the crowd what they were most excited for. All three of them said "the chance to meet YouTubers."
Down on the show floor, Minecon did a great job bringing the world of Minecraft to life, to the total delight of the kids in attendance. I even managed to get a picture with Steve, the default male Minecraft character
Down on the show floor, Minecon did a great job bringing the world of Minecraft to life, to the total delight of the kids in attendance. I even managed to get a picture with Steve, the default male Minecraft character
Step inside this Minecraft-y house...
Step inside this Minecraft-y house...
...and you'll find real-life versions of Minecraft mainstays like the enchanting book, bookshelf, wall art..
...and you'll find real-life versions of Minecraft mainstays like the enchanting book, bookshelf, wall art..
...or this comfy bed, large enough for a kid to comfortably sit on (but not me).
...or this comfy bed, large enough for a kid to comfortably sit on (but not me).
Other Minecraft setups on the show floor included a walk through a cave, where I ran into this spooky skeleton...
Other Minecraft setups on the show floor included a walk through a cave, where I ran into this spooky skeleton...
...a life-size pile of dynamite and treasure (which is totally my new band name)...
...a life-size pile of dynamite and treasure (which is totally my new band name)...
...and some life-size switches to throw around.
...and some life-size switches to throw around.
There were plenty of photo opps for kids to take photos with the flora and fauna of the Minecraft world, like this Elder Guardian, which is coming to the iPhone and Android versions of Minecraft later in October.
There were plenty of photo opps for kids to take photos with the flora and fauna of the Minecraft world, like this Elder Guardian, which is coming to the iPhone and Android versions of Minecraft later in October.
My favorite section was the "Forest Biome," which simulated Minecraft's blocky trees.
My favorite section was the "Forest Biome," which simulated Minecraft's blocky trees.
In the Forest Biome area, kids could line up for their chance to "punch trees" and make the wood go flying along a track...a fitting tribute to the first thing that most players do in their Minecraft games as they start gathering resources.
In the Forest Biome area, kids could line up for their chance to "punch trees" and make the wood go flying along a track...a fitting tribute to the first thing that most players do in their Minecraft games as they start gathering resources.
The area also features a bow-and-arrow shooting gallery, where attendees could have the chance to shoot Witches, Creepers, Zombies, and other Minecraft baddies with suction-cup arrows.
The area also features a bow-and-arrow shooting gallery, where attendees could have the chance to shoot Witches, Creepers, Zombies, and other Minecraft baddies with suction-cup arrows.
Otherwise, Minecon programming tended to fall into two general categories: YouTube stars swapping stories and giving advice on Minecraft video creation, and Minecraft game developers sharing updates and answering questions. Either way, it was a packed house.
An absolute highlight was watching a lesser-known YouTuber get bullied into talking about Ghostbusters instead by a 7-ish-year-old heckler from the audience.
Otherwise, Minecon programming tended to fall into two general categories: YouTube stars swapping stories and giving advice on Minecraft video creation, and Minecraft game developers sharing updates and answering questions. Either way, it was a packed house.
An absolute highlight was watching a lesser-known YouTuber get bullied into talking about Ghostbusters instead by a 7-ish-year-old heckler from the audience.
There was even a Minecraft costume contest, like this Star Wars family.
There was even a Minecraft costume contest, like this Star Wars family.
And YouTube stars Stampy (on the left, with just shy of 8 million subscribers) and his friend iBallisticSquid (3.75 million subscribers) held their annual battle to see who was the ultimate Minecraft fan. Live on stage, they held a trivia contest and then a Minecraft battle. Stampy lost and was forced to smoosh his face into a cake.
Stampy, incidentally, is a massive celebrity within the Minecraft community. In the hotel lobby, I heard a girl of around 10 years old bragging to her friends that she had seen him in the hallway and came within a few feet of him. They didn't believe her.
And YouTube stars Stampy (on the left, with just shy of 8 million subscribers) and his friend iBallisticSquid (3.75 million subscribers) held their annual battle to see who was the ultimate Minecraft fan. Live on stage, they held a trivia contest and then a Minecraft battle. Stampy lost and was forced to smoosh his face into a cake.
Stampy, incidentally, is a massive celebrity within the Minecraft community. In the hotel lobby, I heard a girl of around 10 years old bragging to her friends that she had seen him in the hallway and came within a few feet of him. They didn't believe her.
Otherwise, two things really stood out to me. First, the massive, hours-long lines for the Minecraft-exclusive merchandise you can only get at the show...
Otherwise, two things really stood out to me. First, the massive, hours-long lines for the Minecraft-exclusive merchandise you can only get at the show...
...like this t-shirt. Mannequin and cardboard Minecraft skeleton head not included, though you can buy the head there if you wanted.
...like this t-shirt. Mannequin and cardboard Minecraft skeleton head not included, though you can buy the head there if you wanted.
The other notable thing lies beyond this "stone" guardian...
The other notable thing lies beyond this "stone" guardian...
Welcome to the Minecon Arena, where the entire Anaheim Convention Center's Arena got converted into a massive coliseum for Minecraft fans to compete against each other in fortress-building, combat, and racing battles. It was intense, but the seats were a good place to unwind and observe after a long day of Minecon.
Welcome to the Minecon Arena, where the entire Anaheim Convention Center's Arena got converted into a massive coliseum for Minecraft fans to compete against each other in fortress-building, combat, and racing battles. It was intense, but the seats were a good place to unwind and observe after a long day of Minecon.
On a final note, I want to shout out the gaming areas. At first, I thought it was weird that Minecon would devote so much of the show floor to stations for playing Minecraft, given that everybody there presumably already has the game.
On a final note, I want to shout out the gaming areas. At first, I thought it was weird that Minecon would devote so much of the show floor to stations for playing Minecraft, given that everybody there presumably already has the game.
But on the second day, I realized what was really going on. These kids were making friends, and inviting them to play Minecraft together on the spot.
But on the second day, I realized what was really going on. These kids were making friends, and inviting them to play Minecraft together on the spot.
That, by far, was the coolest part of Minecon, looking back. Minecraft is a game that encourages people to build. Minecon is a way for the kids who live Minecraft to bond with their parents, and with each other. I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty great.
That, by far, was the coolest part of Minecon, looking back. Minecraft is a game that encourages people to build. Minecon is a way for the kids who live Minecraft to bond with their parents, and with each other. I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty great.
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