'Minecraft': Game May Be Banned in Turkey Because Ministry Says It Promotes Violence Against Women
Turkey continues its attempts to ban the popular video game "Minecraft."
Played by millions of adults and children around the world, "Minecraft" is considered to be one of the most creative and innocuous video games available but one Turkish ministry still seeks to ban it, claiming it is violent.
The Family and Social Policy Ministry began investigating the video game after allegations it promoted violence against women surfaced. According to Hurriyet Daily News, the ministry's Children Services General Directorate has released its report and has recommended beginning the procedure that would ban "Minecraft."
The report found the game encourages violence and is deemed inappropriate for children. "Minecraft" has no set structure and players can create various things with the available blocks. The game also features various modes, some of which require the player to do what is necessary to survive.
"Although the game can be seen as encouraging creativity in children by letting them build houses, farmlands and bridges, mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed in order to protect these structures. In short, the game is based on violence," the report states, adding that children may be led to believe killing or torturing animals is acceptable.
The report also notes the playing the game in its multiplayer form could lead to "social isolation" due to bullying from other players.
However, Fatih Oke, a spokesperson for the Turkish embassy in Washington, told the Christian Science Monitor that the game will not be banned.
"A ban is quite out of the question. There will be no ban," he said in an interview. "The game is not banned and is not going to be banned, the Family and Social Policy Ministry does not have that kind of authority to ban any product. I understand that this is what has been said in the Turkish media, but it is incorrect."
According to Venture Beat, the ministry has to prove to a Turkish court that the game is promotes violence for it to be banned. If the court agrees, it will be banned.
Turkey is no stranger to banning entertainment and social media. The country has banned various websites and television shows for various reasons, including 4chan.
Mojang, makers of "Minecraft," gave Venture Beat's GamesBeat a statement on the game.
"'Minecraft' is enjoyed by many players in a wide variety of ways," the spokesperson said. "Many enjoy the creative freedom that's presented by 'Minecraft' and its tools, some are more interested by the opportunity to explore a landscape without boundaries and to go on exciting adventures with friends."
They encourage players to cooperate and also be aware that in some worlds are "inhabited by scary, genderless monsters that come out at night" and emphasized the need to fight to fend them off and survive. But also encouraged players to use Creative or Peaceful modes, in which the monsters do not appear.
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