Notes

Minecraft Ban Reports Investigated By Microsoft

Minecraft bans are investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News



11 March 2015



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



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



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



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



Haberturk newspaper reported that the report of the ministry stated: "Although it can be seen as encouraging creativity among children by letting them build farms, houses and bridges however, mobs (hostile creatures] must not be killed in order for these structures to be protected. In short, the game is built on violence."



'Social isolation'



The report said some children could confuse Minecraft with the real world and believe that torturing animals isn't causing any pain, the newspaper reported.



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



Haberturk reported the department of legal affairs at the ministry was given the task of taking the first steps to ban Minecraft.



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



Mr. Oke said to Christian Science Monitor: "There will be no ban.



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



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



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



"The ministry is able to only deal on complaints.



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



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



The government would not be able to ban the game unilaterally. the sport, but it would have to convince a court to ban it.
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Although Turkey isn't known for banning computer gaming However, there have been a few websites that have been shut off the internet in recent years.



Last year, both YouTube and Twitter were temporarily blocked. Facebook had to block certain pages that insulted 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, declined to comment directly on the reports.



He said that "Minecraft is enjoyed in many ways by players of all ages."



"While many are enthralled by the creative freedom Minecraft and its tools allow, others are more interested in the opportunity to explore a landscape without limits and share exciting adventures with their friends.



"We encourage players to collaborate in order to succeed regardless of whether they're building, exploring or exploring.



"The world of Minecraft is a dangerous area: it's home to frightening, genderless monsters who come out at the dark of night.



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



"If people find this level of fantasy conflict to be disturbing We would suggest they to play in Creative Mode, or to enable the Peaceful setting.



"Both of these options will deter creatures from appearing across the globe."



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