Minecraft is basically a Lego for your computer. You create blocks and assemble them to create structures, items out of your imagination. Minecraft can be great for your kids, it can help improve decision making, motor skills and might also encourage them to learn programming. Recently, I got a copy of Minecraft as a gift so, I installed it on my PC as soon I started a game with survival mode, I had my interest in it, so I started learning about it on Wiki. It is truly exceptional, surely there are many similar games out there but none can replace its charm. Minecraft can be played in many ways, you can play it in Survival, Multiplayer (PvP), setup a LAN party with your friends.
I prefer the modded version in which I can install 3rd party Minecraft mods and resource packs to enhance my mining experience. Modding can be a bit tricky for beginners, so here’s a guide.
Important Terminologies:
Before we begin we must know few things first:
- Mods: They are addons/plugins created by community. They can add additional items, mobs and customize your gameplay to a great extent.
- Resource Packs: They change the overall look of game by adding new textures, skins, sounds and 3D effects.
- Vanilla: You must have heard this term a lot. It stands for clean Minecraft with no additional mods.
- Forge: It is an API which has to be installed first before using any mods. It has important files to run mods without causing interference with internal functions of the game.
How to install Minecraft Mods and Resource Pack
1. To get the mods up and running, download and run Minecraft Forge installer for your game version. You can easily find it on search engine. It is a mandatory step as modifications require Forge API files in order to function.
2. Download any Minecraft mod that supports your game version. Mods usually come with .ZIP or .JAR extension. Do not try to extract their contents.
3. Now open the mods directory:
For Mac:
Click “Go” on the OS X menu bar and then click “Go to Folder.”
Type “~/Library/Application Support/minecraft" and then click “Go.”
For PC:
Press WindowsKey+R, type %appdata%/.minecraft and hit Enter.
4. Now access mods folder and copy/move the mod file that you download earlier.
5. Now Start Minecraft Launcher, click Edit Profile and select Forge profile. Start the game, you will see a “mods” menu which will show you a list of added mods.
6. If you see a list, it means your mod has been installed. Create a new world and enjoy your modded Minecraft.
Note: Similar steps can be performed to install Resource Packs. They do not require Forge. However, instead of mods folder, you need to copy them to %appdata%/.minecraft/resourcepacks folder. Then go to Options > Resource Packs and click the arrow to move them to the right side. Always get the 32x resolution of resource pack, getting higher resolutions will require you to install performance optimization mods.
