"Just in time of the holidays, Microsoft is releasing a parental tool for its Xbox 360 console that allows parents to set time limits for their children's Xbox use.
The Xbox 360 Family Timer, available for download next month, will allow parents to set daily or weekly limits on how much their children can play on the console. When the players approach the limit, they get a warning. When they hit the limit, the console shuts off.
It's not that precise at this point. It affects anyone who plays the console that doesn't log in with the parental control password. So it's not so good at differentiating when your 12-year-old and your 17-year-old are playing. Microsoft reps say that's to ensure that the young ones don't set up new profiles to defeat the controls. The controls also don't allow parents to set a window of time for their kids to play during. This is just a straight timer.
The new timer is the latest tool for parents of Xbox 360 users, joining other family setting tools through Xbox Live that limit what kind of games kids can play and who they can interact with online.
Microsoft also joined with the Parent Teacher Association to announce an initiative called PACT, a family contract that outlines appropriate video game usage in families. San Francisco 49er legend was on hand at the announcement in Washington D.C. to help tout the benefits of family controls.
"I'm a Super Bowl champion... but my most important accomplishment in life is being a father," Rice said. "I try to teach my kids that no matter what they do, they have to find a balance between work and fun. That's why it's so rewarding to join Microsoft and the PTA today to promote a healthy balance for our kids in this exciting digital age."
Pretty sure this won't be cheered by the kid set. But maybe this will get them to limit their Halo 3 matches and get to that history paper they've been avoiding."
Microsoft is taking the side of parents, oh I see how it is. I like this idea, because it will limit the time that kids play so that they can get to some more important things like school work. I feel that microsoft has a good idea here, but be honest, do you think they care for the education of your kids, no! This is just a way to market the XBOX 360 even more "now, its parent friendly", but will it work, who knows? We will just have to wait and see.