|
|
Xbox 360 update to add parental timer
Author: Joe MartinPublished: 5th September 2007
The new parental timer feature is rumored to appear on Xbox Live later this year.
Still - that bubble has to pop sometime and word on the grapevine is that a new update to the 360 firmware could threaten the rights of small children to liquify their brains through repeated pla-throughs of Gears of War.
Sources within Microsoft have apparently hinted to Kotaku that the upcoming Fall update to the Xbox 360 firmware will be adding in a parental timer feature. The timer will supposedly allow users (i.e. parents) to set a password on the system and then use a timer to limit the amount of gaming that the system can be used for at a time.
This will obviously be a love it or hate it thing for 360 owners - the children will hate it, the parents will love it.
Personally, I think it's a nice feature for Microsoft to add but it doesn't really address the fact that parents should communicate with their children instead of relying on technology to limit their gaming time and provide parenting for them.
The system will also be no doubt fall victim to loopholes. If I were a child with a 360 instead of an adult with the mindset of a child then I'd keep a close eye on the updates and would put my own password in as soon as possible, locking my parents out and preventing any meddling with my gaming habits - but that's just me.
Still, it's nice of Microsoft to add a feature like this in for those that want it. What do you think of the timer function though? Are you a child who's gaming habits are checked by your parents, or are you a parent who checks the habits of your child? Opinions, tips and thoughts should all be directed to the forums, if you please.
Related
Comments (24)
Compare over 250 mobile phones &
52,000 deals!
Compare over 100 broadband & mobile broadband deals online!
- Site Links:
- About
- Email Editor
- Newsletter
- Privacy
- RSS
- Score Guide
- Our Other Websites:
- Auto Express
- Channel Pro
- Computer Buyer
- Computer Shopper
- Den of Geek
All content © bit-tech.net 2000-2009
© Copyright Dennis Publishing Limited licensed by Felden
And it really IS the parents fault if a kid, of lets say 6 years old, plays on the console hours and hours in the evening. But hey! at least he/she is quite...
Parental controls are a good idea for 'rated' games, but I've gotta agree with Joe when it comes to the timer wotnot - parents should verbally tell their kids they've been playing too long rather than relying on a machine to let them know...
you can already stop underage kids playing rated games at present, my little sister cant load GoW or Bioshock on her gamer profile, and i've password protected mine!
That's good to know :D
If couples want kids then it's their responsability, not that of the various media or entertainment industries.
Sick an tired of neglectful, ignorant parents who blame anything and everything but themselves for the anti-social behaviour of their children.
Bring back national service!!!!
Dont be so ignorant and ageist.
My brother is 30 and a parent of 3 and im 26 and hoping to be a parent soon. We both know how a 360 works and even my mum of 50 and my dad of 55.
This is a great update which saves the cost of buying one of those timer boxes you put the console in. It aids parenting and does not take over and do the job of parenting for parents.
When I have a kid and its at the age to play games, i would want something like this. If it stops them playing 15, 18 rated games etc then even better, because im a gamer and my child might be, and this will prevent them playing my 18 rated games for example, when im not looking.
I wont have to hide my 18 rated games like I do porn as they will not be able to play them. It should also have a password for creating new profiles so they cant cheekily create a new one to play my games.
Its a simple update with features that work, its useful and there is reason for it.
Kids stop crying, if your scared you parent might limit your play, then I think you need it, as you must be playing too much.
nono kids that´s daddys porn go get your own
While it's a useful update if you know about it, I can't see many parents using it (as they more than likely won't know it's there)...
i was not referring to you specifically... but, go ask random people who are about 50 years old what a firmware is... trust me. less than 1 in 10 will have atleast a partial answer to it....
I'm much better behaved now though, honest.
(Read: Don't let Hiren ground me again )
Guess it just took me a long time to develop a sense of empathy/manners/whatever
<A88>
to
it seems to me this is what is happening; we are expect someone or something else to raise our children.
I hope they have also put some effort into doing so proper updates as well. Their software DVD player sucks and needs a big update to improve image quality, especially de-interlacing. They need to to fix the screen tearing issues on different games... more an issue on PAL machines I believe (even over VGA etc) they don't care about non US customers though. They need instant resume on HD DVD's. They need to let you pick which drive the eject button on the remote opens (bit minor.. I know). They need AVI file support. There are loads of things.