Notes

Minecraft Ban Reports Investigated By Microsoft

Minecraft ban reports are being investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News



11 March 2015



Microsoft Minecraft's owner is investigating reports that suggest the Turkish government is planning to ban the game. The BBC is aware.



A Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry study concluded that the game promoted violence, according to local media.



There were conflicting reports about what the government planned to do.



Some claimed it would ask an appeals court to ban on the game. Others claimed it would request Microsoft to make changes.



According to the Haberturk newspaper the report of the ministry reads: "Although the game can be seen as a way of encouraging creativity in children by letting them build houses bridges, farmlands and farmlands, mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed to defend these structures. The game is built on violence.



'Social isolation'



According to the newspaper the newspaper, some children may be able to confuse Minecraft with the real world and think that torturing animals will not cause pain.



It said that the report was based upon the experiences of a nine year-old and suggested that playing Minecraft could cause "social isolation".



Haberturk reported that the legal affairs department of the ministry was instructed to take the first step toward banning Minecraft.



However according to Fatih Oke, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, a ban was "out of the issue".



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



"The game is not being banned and will not be banned.



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



"I believe that this is what has been reported in the Turkish media however, it is not true.



"The ministry is not able to deal with complaints.



"In this case I have been told that there were numerous complaints from parents about Minecraft and its impact on children.



"The mission of this ministry is to raise awareness."



The government can't stop the game on its own however, it can convince a court.



While Turkey is not renowned for banning computer games, some websites have been shut down recently.



Last year, both YouTube and Twitter were temporarily blocked. Facebook had to block certain websites that slammed the Prophet Muhammad in January.



'Creative freedom'



A spokesperson for Mojang, which makes Minecraft under the Microsoft umbrella after Microsoft purchased the game for $2.5bn (PS1.68bn) in September 2014, was unable to speak directly about the reports.



He said: "Minecraft is enjoyed by many players in a range of ways.



"Many enjoy the creative freedom that is provided by Minecraft and its tools. However, some users are more interested by the opportunity to explore the world without limits and to embark on thrilling adventures with friends.
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"We encourage players to cooperate in order to succeed regardless of whether they're building, exploring, or exploring.



"The world of Minecraft can be a risky place: it's inhabited by frightening, genderless monsters who come out at the night.



"It might be necessary for them to survive.



"If people find this level of fantasy conflict a bit disturbing, then we encourage them to utilize Creative Mode or to allow the Peaceful setting to be used.



"Both of these options will keep monsters from appearing all over the world."



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Read More: https://hbl.info/