Turkey: Ministry to investigate Minecraft 'violence' News from Elsewhere... ... media reports from all over the world discovered by BBC Monitoring
9 February 2015
According to reports, the government of Turkey is investigating claims that Minecraft is violent enough.
The game is suitable for kids aged 7 and 10 years old in most of Europe and the United States. But the country's family and social policies minister, Aysenur Islam, has requested an investigation into claims that it encourages violence as the Haberturk website says. If it's deemed to be violent, then the government may seek an all-out ban, the website says. The move was inspired by a journalist who told Mrs. Islam that players earn points for killing other characters - which includes women and asked what her ministry would be doing regarding it. The Pan European Game Information group, which assigns ratings to computer games, says Minecraft contains "non-realistic-looking violence towards characters which, although human, are not very detailed".
A journalist at one Turkish gaming magazine says that the ministry's concerns are misplaced. Kaan Gezer, a Leadergamer journalist, claimed that she has never seen children grab a sword and attack people due to Minecraft. "Stories like this can cause the video game industry in Turkey to slow down or even worsen." Minecraft is extremely popular among gamers of all ages. It reached its 100 millionth user in February 2014. lion is the king of the jungle It has also been used by teachers in some schools across the UK.
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