I've decided to buy Minecraft. Should be mine within a few days (i.e. when the money transfers to Paypal). How does the game work exactly? Is it PvE or PvP or both? Does one have to find a server? If so, does one have to compete/work with/interact with other people on that server?
All of those are options. You can also play by yourself in various modes, like creative, where you have unlimited resources to build to your heart's content, and survival, where there are creepers and other various monsters that you must kill. There are different servers for different types of play, like PvP (I've seen a lot of Hunger Games-type servers lately). There are servers filled with assholes who will grief the hell out of anything you build. There's a lot to be done in the game.
Anyway, I've recently been playing Fable. Not the greatest, but it's entertaining, and I enjoy the numerous side quests and opportunities for relationships, housing, etc.