<p>Minecraft ban reports investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News
</p>
<p>11 March 2015
</p>
<p>Minecraft owner Microsoft is investigating reports that suggest the Turkish government is preparing to ban the game, the BBC reports.
</p>
<p>A Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry study concluded that the game promoted violence, according to local media.
</p>
<p>There were conflicting reports on what steps the government was planning to take in response.
</p>
<p>Some have suggested that it will have a court order a ban on the game, others that it would request Microsoft to modify it.
</p>
<p>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 letting them build houses, farmlands and bridges mobs [hostile creatures] must be killed in order to safeguard these structures. https://safeminecraftmods.com/ The game is built on violence.
</p>
<p>'Social isolation'
</p>
<p>According to the newspaper, some children might think that they are playing Minecraft with the real world, and believe that torturing animals would not cause pain.
</p>
<p>It said the report was based on the experience of a nine-year-old , and it suggested that playing Minecraft could cause "social isolation".
</p>
<p>Haberturk said that the department's legal affairs division of the ministry was given the task of taking the first steps to ban Minecraft.
</p>
<p>According to Fatih Oke (a spokesperson for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC), a ban is "out of the question".
</p>
<p>Christian Science Monitor was told by Mr. Oke that there was no ban.
</p>
<p>"The game is not being banned and will not be banned.
</p>
<p>The Family and Social Policy Ministry is not a government department with that type of authority to ban any product.
</p>
<p>"I understand that this is what's been reported in the Turkish media, but it is incorrect.
</p>
<p>"The ministry can only work on complaints.
</p>
<p>"In this case, I was told that there were numerous complaints from parents about Minecraft's influence on children.
</p>
<p>"The ministry's mission is to increase awareness."
</p>
<p>The government would not be able to unilaterally ban the game, but it must convince the court to make this decision.
</p>
<p>While Turkey is not known for banning computer games, some websites have been taken down recently.
</p>
<p>Last year both YouTube and Twitter were temporarily blocked. Facebook had to block certain websites that were deemed to be insulting to the Prophet Muhammad in January.
</p>
<p>'Creative freedom'
</p>
<p>A spokesperson for Mojang who makes Minecraft under the Microsoft umbrella after Microsoft purchased the game for $2.5bn (PS1.68bn) in September 2014, was unable to comment directly on the reports.
</p>
<p>He also said that "Minecraft is enjoyed in many ways by a variety of players."
</p>
<p>"Many enjoy the creative freedom that is provided by Minecraft and its tools, some prefer the chance to explore an unexplored landscape and embark on exciting adventures with their friends.
</p>
<p>"We encourage players to work together for success regardless of whether they're building, exploring or exploring.
</p>
<p>"The world of Minecraft can be a risky area: it's home to frightening, genderless monsters who appear at night.
</p>
<p>"It could be necessary to defend against them in order to survive.
</p>
<p>"If people find this level of fantasy conflict to be disturbing we would advise them to play in Creative Mode, or to enable the Peaceful setting.
</p>
<p>"Both of these options will prevent monsters from appearing in the world."
</p>
<p>Facebook respects Turkey block
</p>
<p>26 January 2015
</p>
<p>Microsoft purchases Minecraft for $2.5bn
</p>
<p>Turkish officials lift ban on Twitter
</p>
<p>3 April 2014
</p>
