RSSMicrosoft Touts Xbox Safety Features
By Ed Oswald | Published October 12, 2006, 5:20 PM
Microsoft launched an initiative aimed at educating parents on how to make smart gaming choices at the DigitalLife Expo Thursday in New York City, joining the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Best Buy in a 20-city bus tour that would educate consumers on the parental control features of the Xbox 360.
The program aims to ensure that consumers understand that they can indeed control what types of games are played on the console. For example, a parent could prevent games rated "M" for mature, or control whom their children play with online.
Microsoft's and other's moves to highlight their parental control features come amidst increasing calls for tighter rules on violent video games. Several states and cities have attempted to ban the sale of these games to minors, however they have been struck down on First Amendment grounds.
Additional information on the program can be found on the Xbox Web site. There, details on how to use the feature are listed along with descriptions of ESRB ratings and tips for healthier gaming.
Robbie Bach, Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division vice president, said that the group is not attempting to censor content in any way, or advocating legislation. Rather, Bach says it is better to educate the consumer on currently available options.
Yep, the concept of parents assuming responsibility for being aware of the games purchased for and by the kids is just tooooo great! We need the box to assume the role abdicated by the parent!
The irony is that if the parent needs this functionality, they should not be allowed to purchase it, as THEY are not reponsible enough to have children, let alone the game.
This should really anger the "but we are victims" crowd who expect and demand that the government assume the responsibility that they have abdicated...
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Who says the rated "M" game is purchased for or by the kids? Can't the parent own a game rated "M" for themselves and not want the kids to play it?
Know how empty a house would be if everything unsavory for children's hands was removed from the house? Because a parent has cleaning solvents, should they not be parents? I mean the kids could get their hands of that stuff.
Heaven forbid an additional option to lock the liquor cabinet.
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"Heaven forbid an additional option to lock the liquor cabinet."
This begs the question!!!
If you have a locked 'liquor cabinet' to store restricted items, why not use it!?
Simply using it is sufficient!
Adding more locks to a cabinet that parents fail to use to begin with is a waste of time. But I am sure some will FEEL better.
"Oh, but being a responsible parent is SOOOO hard! We need help!"
Yep, you sure do.
Besides, I thought the V-chip solved those issues?
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Why should there be a V-chip or a lock on the liquor cabinet? Parents are parenting right?
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I forgot about that feature, I guess with that the 360 really could be considered the platform for all ages. ^_^
If I ever have kids (heaven forbid~ j/k) I'll know what to do.
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