Montco Minecraft Fans Broke a World Record
'We' did it. We set the @GWR for #LargestLiveMinecraftLesson with this amazing crowd and the @minefaire team. Thanks to everyone involved! pic.twitter.com/THMvMpB75O
— Stephen Reid – Digital Druid (@StephenReidEdu) October 16, 2016
Minecraft fans broke a Guinness World Record for largest convention organized around a single video game when 12,140 people attended the Minefaire conference in Montgomery County on Saturday and Sunday.
Minefaire, an event held for passionate Minecraft fans, debuted with more than 150,000 square feet of Minecraft-centered attractions at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
“We were determined to create a one-of-a-kind experience that ensures children are building valuable learning skills as they play,” Chad Collins, a Bucks County father who co-founded Minefaire, said in a press release. “Our kids may live in a digital world, but at Minefaire, they come together as a community to share ideas, collaborate and build social skills.”
Minecraft, which was released in 2009, is the second-best-selling standalone video game of all time, behind Tetris. The game allows users to build worlds, block by virtual block. A Reddit user once used the game to re-create Philadelphia’s City Hall. (Chances are this person was in attendance at the festival.)
The festival had everything a Minecraft-crazed person could want, including a 40-person orchestra that performed live Minefaire music each day, gaming arenas, costume contests, meet and greets with Minecraft YouTube “superstars,” and Minecraft “swag” galore.
@mr_isaacs @LegoPhotography @LEGO_Education @minefaire Inspiration Station at Minefaire 2016 pic.twitter.com/GXtHpbETAj
— Jennifer Kling (@Mrs_Kling_Tech) October 17, 2016
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