Notes

Minecraft Ban Reports Investigated By Microsoft

Minecraft bans investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News



11 March 2015



Microsoft Minecraft, the owner of Minecraft, is investigating reports that the Turkish government is planning to ban the game. P2psys.com The BBC knows.



According to local media, a study conducted by the Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry found that the game encouraged violence.



There were conflicting reports about what steps the government was planning to take in response.



Some have suggested that it will have a court order a ban on the game, and others suggested it would ask Microsoft to edit it.



According to the Haberturk newspaper the report of the ministry reads: "Although the game can be seen as a way of encouraging imagination in children through building bridges, farms, and houses, mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed in order to defend these structures. In other words the game is founded on violence."



'Social isolation'



According to the news report there are children who might be able to confuse Minecraft with the real world and think that torturing animals will not cause pain.



The report was based on the experience of a nine year-old and suggested that playing Minecraft could cause "social isolation".



Haberturk reported the ministry's legal affairs department was instructed to take the first steps toward banning Minecraft.



According to Fatih Oke (a spokesperson for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC), a ban is "out of the question".



Christian Science Monitor was told by Mr. Oke that there will be no ban.



"The game is not banned and is not going to be banned.



The Family and Social Policy Ministry is not a government department with that kind of authority to ban any product.



"I understand that this is what was reported in the Turkish media, but it is incorrect.



"The ministry cannot deal on complaints.



"In this instance I have been told that there were many complaints from parents regarding Minecraft and its influence on children.



"The ministry's function is to increase awareness."



The government can't ban the game unilaterally however, it can convince that a court.



While Turkey is not known for its ban on computer games, some websites have been shut down recently.



Last year, access to both Twitter and YouTube was temporarily shut down and Facebook was forced to block some pages that were believed to be insulting the Prophet Muhammad in January of this year.



'Creative freedom'



Mojang the company behind Minecraft under Microsoft's umbrella, declined to discuss the reports.



He stated that "Minecraft is played in a variety of ways by players of all ages."



"Many enjoy the creative freedom that's presented by Minecraft and its tools, some prefer the chance to explore the world without limits and to go on exciting adventures with their friends.



"We encourage players to join forces and encourage them to work together in order to achieve their goals, regardless of whether they are building or exploring, or simply exploring.



"The Minecraft world can be risky: it's home for terrifying, genderless monsters who are out at night.



"It may be necessary to defend yourself against them in order to survive.



"If people find this level of fantasy conflict upsetting we would advise them to play in Creative Mode, or to enable the Peaceful setting.



"Both of these options will keep monsters from appearing everywhere."



Facebook respects Turkey block



26 January 2015



Microsoft buys Minecraft for $2.5bn



Turkish officials lift the ban on Twitter'



3 April 2014


Website: https://p2psys.com/