Minecraft Photo by Microsoft via The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
SEOUL — Minecraft is a 3D computer game where players can build anything. Often described as “online Legos,” the bestselling video game of all time involves building blocks and creating structures across different environments and terrains.
Rated as suitable for ages 7 and up, some schools have started to incorporate Minecraft into the classroom, as kids can naturally learn teamwork, problem-solving skills and basic programming while playing the game with friends and helping each other build new creations.
In South Korea, however, the rather harmless game developed by Mojang Studios in 2009 is now only available for players 19 years of age and older.
Frustrated users are directing their anger at the country’s “shutdown law,” which blocks children under the age of 16 from playing online video games between midnight and 6 a.m. to protect them from side effects of playing games late at night and losing sleep.
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The “Cinderella law,” in effect since 2011, is the root cause of their being denied access to Minecraft, they say in an online petition filed Friday to the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae.
“Korea’s game market is at the risk of being the world’s only place where Minecraft is labeled as an adult game,” the petition said, calling for the abolition of the law. As of Sunday morning, it had garnered support of over 15,000 Koreans.
