New York State will issue emergency alerts via Xbox Live

by Randy Nelson on Nov 24th 2009 1:00AM

According to a report by InformationWeek, the state of New York is in the planning stages of a revamped emergency broadcast system capable of sending alerts to Xbox Live (and presumably other console online services) in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other not-so-good event. The state's deputy chief information officer says the idea makes sense "considering the amount of time our youth spend on video games."

No specifics of how the system would actually work were provided, but we'd hope those who heed the warnings would get Achievement points for doing so. After all, it'd mean taking precious time away from griefing other players in Modern Warfare 2.

[Thanks, Nick!]

Source

Tags: emergency-broadcast-system, Microsoft, new-york, Xbox-360, xbox-live

Reader Comments (83)

Well, what better way to save humanity from the zombie apocalypse than by alerting trained experts in zombie defense?

'ficial instructions?

CHOCOLATE HELICOPTERS

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4127031204_4a7edce69c_o.png

http://www.halolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/halolz-dot-com-left4dead2-coach-ellis-happinessisachocolatehelicopter.jpg

Was this supposed to be in reference to the movie Zombieland? That movie was great!

Chocolate helicopters is from the L4D2 intro movie. and my post was just because a zombie apocalypse would be considered an emergency, and alerting people of it via XBL would alert people who play a lot of zombie games

I could care less about people knowing a Gamertag, it isn't some national secret, who gives a sh&*.

What I care about is the fact it would be abused, just like the current emergency alert system is abused.

If it is F'ing raining 50 miles away, the entire TV screen gets covered up in scroll bars and maps and alerts letting me know the exact minutes and location of the rainfall, like I should go fun for cover due light precipitation.

back in the day it was a scrolling text bar at the bottom of the screen. But Old Man Jessup must not have been able to read that...so they added a vertical scroll bar, larger, on the sides.....and then a huge stupid map on the right hand side. Somewhere behind all of that is the TV show I am trying to watch....

Now imagine that while trying to play a game. Government...get.the.F.out.

It would be funny if Microsoft tried to find a way to limit this feature to those with Gold XBL subscriptions.

god i love garrys mod

I'm all for this, and they should do that over here too, what with the Bush Fire alerts and all!

Not to mention the amber alerts in the US too...

amber alerts?

if I'm playing gears the chance of me seeing a certain car on the road is pretty slim.

I'm all for ridiculous emergencies like wild fires and tornadoes but amber alerts?!

...but what if the kidnap victim in question is inside a gray/brown car that's been swallowed by a worm...A GIANT WORM?!?!

one of those things that seems so obvious once someone else thinks of it.

I dunno I can't help but think there is a better form of communication then pop-ups on consoles, yino some kinda whacky device which everyone would have in there home that magically transfers data from place to place, OH! RIGHT! what's that thing called? tell a foan

It might be kind of useless. If you`re Xboxing, chances are you`re already camped out safely in your basement.

@Phylogenetics
I play in an open meadow.... wtf are you talking about???

I hope it's not like what happens on tv. Imagine playing a game and all of the sudden the loud screech comes on followed by a green or red screen. Then you get told, "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test." After it goes through all of that the game comes back on and your died during the test.

And then you get the RRoD.

Just based off of Live's message system, I would assume it would pop up like a regular message. But maybe it keeps reminding every minute or so until you actually read it, so you can finish whatever game / match / level / song / whatever you are playing without it taking over the screen and killing you. Just the message indicator thing.

This is a pretty awesome idea actually.

I'm just imagining the Nuke countdown from MW2 appearing.

Bleep Bloop

"oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiii"

i hope not cause that really get me mad cause it always happens during the best part tv show or movie. can you picture how upset the gamers wil be if they get one of these during a great mp match .lets hope it a small heads up like when your friends come online .now that i can deal with it.

Eh...don't like the idea of The State having my Gamertag...

I highly doubt they would have your gamer tag. I would guess that it is either something you would have to sign up to or MS would send out the alerts based upon the information you have provided on registration. Otherwise MS would have to give out a huge list of gamertags that live in the region and I'm pretty sure that would lead to a hell of a law suit.

Yes, the state of New Yorks #1 priority is trying to beat your Gamerscore. I think they have bigger things to worry about...

Like Godzilla?

And Cloverfield!!!

As a New Yorker, I can say that I wouldn't mind this at all. I hate playing my 360 then I lose power cause I didnt know about a big storm a couple miles away.

As a floridian, This happens all the friggin time, especially during summer. I would love to have this.

good thing I don't own a 360

good thing? It's a good thing a tornado could be hurdling toward your house and you wouldnt even know it?!

@darkwayne

you're right that is a good thing.

I can just see it now...

"My only regret is....that I didn't buy a second PS3"

Don't come running to us when the terrorist come for you and you can't be warned via Xbox 360 buster!!!

You're funny and cute.

But dumb.

oohh you guys!

I'd rather be a douchebag then be able to enjoy another system's fantastic exclusives.

Of course is a good thing, when I'm playing games I don't give a shit if another 9/11 happens, just leave me alone and my game. Imagine those stupid emergency broadcast testing like they do on TV happens also while you play games.

Fuck that!!! lucky I don't own a xbox360 also.

you always know how to make things terrible enrique.

Achievement Unlocked 500G
Duck and Cover

I guess this way the alerts will be more effective than via TV since everyone is playing games other than watching TV.

I'm on a PC... and not in New York. Where are my earthquake alerts?

Yes, this is rather forward thinking. Good to see that state are starting to see consoles as a new media medium, rather than terrorist training outlets for kids.

*state officials* darn reading comprehension

this is fine just as long as these departments dont abuse it, and really use it ONLY for emergencies.

*Screen goes black*

This is a message from the state of New York

"Hi, it's Vince with the slap chop!"

Gonna help you make great food all day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQA

"You're gonna love my nuts."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaR4LcLbW8I

lolz that's just hilarious but it's not a bad idea I suppose. They should also do alerts if there was a powerful hurricane or tornado!! Obviously that isn't very common for new york... but maybe for other places.

That's actually pretty clever.

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New York State will issue emergency alerts via Xbox Live

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