Xbox 360 to feature parental controls
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 21st 2005 at 10:29AM }
In a statement that is sure to please
parental lobby groups as well as
"douchebag" lawyer Jack
Thompson; Microsoft has stated that the Xbox 360 will feature a childlock ability. Parents will be able to prevent
their children from playing games that are rated above a specified age limit. The kid's ages will be entered into the
console in advance and the Xbox will read the age rating on any software entered into the console.
This kind of feature feels like a knee jerk reaction designed to stem the flow of criticism levied at violent game
development. However it's very likely that the feature will not prevent articles highlighting the influencing nature of
violent games on children. Parents that want kids to stay away from violent games will do anything they can to prevent
them for accessing them. But some less responsible parents allow their children to play any kind of games due to lack
of caring/understanding about ratings systems. Whilst this feature may be useful to the former type of parent, it will
not change the habits of the latter. A much better tactic would be to provide some form of advisory slip with each
Mature game sold. If the game developers paid for this there would be much less oppurtunity for attack by the
anti-violent gaming mob.
No doubt this kind of feature will become standard across the industry in no time. I guess that's one less thing for the lobby groups to complain about.
[Via The Inquirer]
Update: I re-wrote the second paragraph to clarify my opinions on the parental lock feature. I was more than a bit off target in my first attempt. D'oh!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
D @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Actually, as a parent who grew up playing videogames... I expect that my children (a 3 year old and 1 year old twins) will want to play games on this generation or the next of consoles. (The 3 year old plays DOA with me now :P). The point is though - I have no intention of suddenly NOT buying games like Halo, GTA, etc just b/c I have children. Having children doesn't suddenly make me a non-gamer. And I would like to be able to set controls on my children's profile (X360 has gamer profiles) so they can't play _my_ M games but I can. There are other controls - like locking my games away or whatnot. But I appreciate Microsoft helping me out here.
Icelawn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
No one will give a rats ass about this feature. The first Xbox has this feature as well. I dont think ANYONE uses now and Im pretty sure no one will use it on the 360!
Mongrel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Um, maybe this is for 20- or 30-somethings like me who play video games, and also have young children who do. My kid's 10. This would be easier than hiding GTA:SA on the top shelf.
SurfMurph @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
#2, don't generalize. You are wrong. I use this feature on my Xbox every day to keep my kids from playing M rated games. It's a great feature, but it needs to be publicized more by Microsoft. It's not terribly strong, as there are a relatively small number of combinations of button presses, but my kids haven't figured it out yet. (they're 11 and 13)
And for Mr. Quilty-Harper to say this is a useless feature is a ridiculous comment. I want to play M rated games. I don't want my kids to play M rated games. I didn't think this would be hard for anyone to understand, but apparently Mr. Quilty-Harper has trouble with this idea. This is a GREAT feature.
Dom @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I'm pretty sure the original Xbox does this as well. There's a parental lock feature in the dashboard options.
Lost_Canadian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
You're assuming only kids play video games and anyone who is a parent must be too old. That's a really stupid assumption. You should be eating your words right...about...now.
KD @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
It could work because:
1. This will stop them from playing games they have borrowed from friends or rented with out me knowing about it. Also from playing my games.
2. It's my system not the kids. I control it.
3. Login with passorwords for every user in the household. I don't know if X-box 360 will have a user login but it would sove this problem.
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Really good idea. let's hope it makes some sort of difference.
BoB @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Im 18 and i have a little brother that is 12, he comes in my room and plays with my Xbox all the time.
I buy M rated games that I don't think my brother should play so i use this feature on my current Xbox.. No GTA for him :P
Keet @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Will this feature just reset if you unplug and plug back in the XBox 360?
I know the current box seems to be reset every time I unplug it.
Twist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Chances are it will require a simple four button passcode like Xbox Live uses for signing in. Stuff like that is relatively easy for a bored 12 year old to get past. I have personally cycled the four digit passcode of a DirecTV system in a few hours (not straight).
Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
How is this a bad feature again?
Even if parents are super protective and restrict everything that their kids do; eventually, their son will borrow, rent, or buy a game that is a Mature rating or higher game and will play it without informing his parents. With the parental restriction enabled, it will prevent him from even booting up the game.
The only people who would complain about this are the kids that can't play those games. But then, they are teenagers and will complain about anything.
Spartan VIII @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Heh...i used the parental locks on the original xbox....but only to prevent anyone else from using it..I set it to EC made a password, and no one else could take and use my xbox.
Tor Bjornrud @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
"Three, in families with more than one child how will the system know when to censor games? "
Easy. Xbox 360 will support gamer profiles for Live and local profiles for games. Obviously, you can set a "password" for each profile just like you can now with Live to keep other people from borking your account.
Perhaps before you dismiss a feature as useless, you should spend some time thinking about scenarios that aren't your own. Also, reading the articles and press readily available on the web about 360 might help.
Shaun @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
This Joystiq writer is a complete idiot. Almost as dumb as #2. This is a fantastic feature for people in households with adult and child gamers. Were does Joystiq find these guys???
Michael McGuire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Ah, I get it. Bitch and complain about GTA getting AO becausee parent's can't/won't control the video game habits of their children. But give them an option to control it in the box and suddenly it's a bad idea?
Your objections to this thing are ridiculous:
1) parents shouldnt buy their kids games that are rated above their age anyway (unless they think its ok in which case this feature isnt needed anyway).
Yes, and children NEVER have their own money. And children NEVER have their friends over that might own their own video games.
2) parents will probably not be aware of the feature and kids will setup the system before their parents.
So then make them aware, doofus.
3)in families with more than one child how will the system know when to censor games?
I'm sure there is some sort of password override. Or perhaps they'll allow different profiles to have different levels. Who knows? It's something that can be worked out.
Again, here is something that could help parents oversee their children, and it gets shot down as stupid. I'm getting so sick of people without kids contantly telling people how to raise their children.
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Ok, maybe I was a bit general with my comment "This is clearly a useless feature". I should clarify that by saying that these kind of features will not stop the illogical campaign against violent games by douchebag and co.
Responsible parents will already have found a way of censoring games from their children. However parents that don't feel the need to censor Mature rated games, for whatever reason (lack of education/understanding) will still let their children play the game. This will result in the press picking up on stories of children aged 10 playing GTA, then picking up a gun and shooting the dog. The irresponsible parents that didn't use the parental lock or hide violent games never get the blame. That's why this kind of feature is useless at preventing media outbreaks.
Sorry for my lack of insight into how useful this feature would be for parents. I'll alter the post and make sure to be a bit more thoughtful next time.
Cold Bones @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
How many people do you know who actually use their V-Chip?
Matt Selnekovic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Old news. Xbox 1 had this, and its a worthwhile feature for concerned parents. Don't bash it, because I suspect PS3 will have it too.
Meesterjojo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I think parental controls like they suggest are great- I want my child to play whatever game he wants, but at the same time I want to encourage him to think, to engender a sense of curiosity and exploration.
In other words- ya, I'd buy some hot Mature games, place them all with parental lock-outs, then hope and pray the kid figures out how to get through them. Same with the internet- I've been doing what I "do" for over 20 years now. Before content, piracy, and other borish things were an issue. I had to toil and struggle to teach myself what I know to get what I want. I'd like my child to go through a similar process: It seems to me the internet has made a lot of this just a bit too easy, the things I used to do...
And of course there is that sense of accomplishment which comes from doing naughty, yet intelligent, things. heh
tpp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Why would anyone, except a 13-year-old who wants to play mature games, object to this feature?
Still, this is pretty low tech. It'd be more interesting, if Microsoft enabled parents to use the voice recognition technology they licensed for XBox 360 to monitor their kids' behavior on XBL. I bet a lot of parents would be surprised to hear what comes out of the mouths of young kids when they feel the awesome power of anonymity over the Internet. I play a lot of sports games on XBL. A lof of them are very popular with young children. A lot of them can't take losing OR winning without commenting on my sexual orientation or without going on 5-minute temper tantrums. Thankfully my headset has a mute button.
nod @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
FFS Joystiq PLEASE do 5 seconds worth of research. The current Xbox already has this feature. It's a good feature for homes with kids. This is not a "knee-jerk" reaction you jack ass, so stop trying to stir up trouble over NOTHING.
If you are going to editorialize, please go take a writing 101 class at a local jr. college. Assuming you're already out of high school. Although sometimes I wonder... that second paragraph. Holy cow. Call in an airstrike on this entry and don't start over.
Patchman @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Ok. I stand corrected. People will use this feature. But before you start slamming people on how dumb they may sound, there is some truth to #2. The AVERAGE parent is not going to use this feature then alone knows that it even exists. If there are parents (older brothers or sisters, etc.) out there who are gamers, then they will use it or at least should use it. But the average person will not. Its BS to say that everyone out there who knows about this feature WILL and is currently using it. All in all I do believe that it is a great feature, but if the average person isnt using it now why would they with the 360? I know plenty of people (with children) who either:
A. Know about the feature and doesnt use it or,
B. Doesnt know about the feature. (or both A and B) and.........
C. Will play the game with the children sitting in the room watching. (which is almost as bad)
Im not saying its wrong to use it and that I am no fan of this option, but the average consumer (which include parents buying systems for there kids), or person, who arent gamers will not use this feature. They will not want to be bothered and thats a shame too.
I do on the other hand think that there should be more strategic packaging so that parents know right off that the games are for adults.
EX. Some porn mags have black sleeves over their covers which is/was a clear signal not meant for children. (at least it was for me growing up) Im not saying put sleevs on games but it was a clear signal that it was adult orientated. It wont stop kids fromgetting there hands on the games but hopefully it will help to slow things down. (put a red bullseye on it or something)
I am a fan of this featureand I do use it for my child but I mean lets face it, if it (this feature) were as widely used as some people are claiming then I dont think we would have the problem we are now with GTA, 25 to life, etc.....
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
nod, whether or not the last Xbox has this feature is irrelevant. The real news is that Microsoft is bothering to talk about the feature in detail for their next gen console. There was no publication of this feature when the last Xbox was released. I think this represents nervousness on the part of Microsoft that they'll come under fire for not addressing the issue.
As for my editorial style; this is my assessment of why Microsoft thinks it's worth their time to talk about such a feature. It's an opinion. You don't have to share this opinion. I appreciate you expressing your different view, but I do not appreciate being called a "jack ass" and I resent your accusation that I'm trying to stir up "trouble". I was merely trying to provoke discussion of this news article in relation to the on-going debate about violence in games.
nod @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Conrad. Your premise for the whole enty is fataly flawed to begin with. You begin by implying that Microsoft has released a statement regarding the parental lock feature on their console, and go on to call this a knee-jerk reaction.
Your LINK goes to an article on the Inquirer that is about this parental lock feature on the next Xbox.
Where is Microsoft's statement? I certainly don't see one.
You've concocted a story about nothing. You've implied things about Microsoft that simply aren't true, or if they are, you aren't supplying the link. You also make it sound like this is some new feature that Microsoft has hastily announced to appease the critics of the video game industry. Again, not true as it exists in the current Xbox.
So... I don't see where Microsoft is talking about this feature at all. The Inquirer is. And they don't mention Microsoft at all, wrt to this whole Hot Coffee thing. All I'm saying is, if you're going to editorialize, and I'm all for it, please get your facts straight first, and make sure what you're writing about can withstand a little scrutiny.
CHILL @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Yeah, would it reset when you unplug the console?
And there are 4096 combinations for the passcodes on the current XBOX.
CHILL @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Yeah, would it reset when you unplug the console?
And there are 4096 combinations for the passcodes on the current XBOX.
Michael McGuire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Sorry for the "doofus" comment, I was a bit grouchy this morning.
Chiablo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
To #2 and anyone else who is misinformed.
The Xbox (current gen) does not have parental controls on games... only DVD Movies. The 360 plans on having parental control settings for games as well.
Again, excellent feature... one of the many that PS3 will rip off.
SurfMurph @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Hello, McFly. Sorry, I mean Chiablo. The current Xbox DOES have parental controls for games as well as movies. I use it every day, as I stated above. (#4)
My kids can't play Halo 2 when I have this setting enabled. And its based on the ESRB rating system. Don't correct people, unless you are 100% sure of your "facts".
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
This is pandering the extreme conservative right and their view that everyone should think like they do and censor everything.
I hope everyone includes a secret sex version of their games since all of this pandering is going on.
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
My friend didnt know what he was doing and turned on parental controls and forgot the password. He didn't write it down or anything. He did this after his 4th month of owning Halo 1. Poor guy.
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
i think it's a great feature, and i agree it should be more heavily publicized currently.
it's an easy way for parents to control what their children's play. i guess the fact that most don't care enough to do that is the problem..
PiratePete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I think it's a great feature to have but again unfortunately the majority of parents out there are not going to use it. It's sad but most parents out there are just too DARN lazy to monitor and know what there kids are playing. Sitting little Johnny and Jane in front of an xbox, GC, or ps3 for hours on end is just another cheap and easy way to baby sit um. Let the TV or better yet video games there playing educate, entertain, and watch them while I can get a break from um.
Like with anything kids do parents need to get more involved and KNOW what there playing. It's the PARENTS responsibility, not the game publishers. A least the industry is putting things in place to help parents along but realistically lets hope with more education more parents will use the tools available to them. Now to get to the heart of the matter. Notice it's not really the parents or even the parental groups that the complaining about the violence in video games... It's those slack jawed politicians out there crying, "video games are corrupting the youth", "..it's making it harder for parents to be parents..". And why the heck do they care?? What do all politicians care about?? MONEY. They see the vast amounts of money that the industry is making, the HUDGE profit margins that EA has and WHAT?!?! No frellen cut for them? Look, until they get their dirty little palms greased with some CASH their not going to stop. Well I for one hope that the industry does not give in to them. Remember the movie industry. Years ago politicians made the same noise about how movies were corrupting the youth. Even before then it was "Rock N Roll" that was doing the generation in. What shut them up both times was kickbacks, money. I just hope the gaming industry doesn't given in to these "Doomsayers" of this current form of entertainment.
By the way, I'm also a parent of two kids (8,3) and I'm raising them both to be gamers like their old man (Much to the joy of both) but that does not mean that I don't supervise or know what there playing. Not only games suited to their age but one's that I only approve of. That's the rule. They are not even aloud to load the games them selves or play if I'm not around.
It's not hard to know what your kids are playing. Parents just have to take an interest, that's all.
MTW @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-40,GGLG:en&q=xbox+parental+control+reset
first result gives the reset code
what's the point of having the feature if it can be easily reseted?