Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft launches family timer for Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-launches-family-timer-for-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-launches-family-timer-for-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/microsoft-launches-family-timer-for-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Microsoft has finally released its 'Family Timer' for the Xbox 360, a long rumored update which was only recently confirmed by MS exec Robbie Bach last month. Once applied, the timer can be used to adjust and set the amount of available console playtime "on a daily or weekly basis...and the feature will automatically turn off the console when the predetermined time limit has been exceeded." Thankfully Microsoft has included reminders which it says will appear to notify players when their time is growing short, so hopefully they can make a mad dash for the nearest save point instead of being cut off without warning.

Interestingly, Microsoft notes that this feature came about as a result of two independent surveys conducted by the company throughout Europe and the United States, which included 800 parents in the US and some 4,000 parents in the U.K., France, Germany and Italy. According to the company, the surveys found that the majority of respondents (75% in Europe, 62% in the US) welcomed the idea of having such parental controls built into their game consoles, though it remains to be seen how many of said parents will actually take the time to implement and use the controls now that they are available.

JoystiqMicrosoft launches family timer for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>family timerfamily-timerFamilyTimermicrosoftparental controlparental controlsparental-controlparental-controlsParentalControlParentalControlstimerxbox 360xbox liveXbox-360xbox-liveXbox360XboxLiveTue, 04 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft promotes parental oversight in gaming with Jerry Rice, PTA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-promotes-parental-oversight-in-gaming-with-jerry-rice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-promotes-parental-oversight-in-gaming-with-jerry-rice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-promotes-parental-oversight-in-gaming-with-jerry-rice/#commentsFiled under: ,


Along with the Xbox 360 family timer announced today, Microsoft has kicked off the second year of their "Safety is no game. Is your family set?" campaign. They're also releasing PACT, a contract being distributed to Parent Teacher Association members nationwide. PACT is an abbreviation that isn't so brief: "Parental involvement; the amount of Access children can have, including who they are allowed to play and interact with online; the types of Content children are allowed to play or watch; and the amount of Time children can use media." Spare a thought to the parents yelling "Turn that damn thing off, Dan!"

Joining Microsoft in this crusade are two allies, one likely, the other not so much. The PTA and Jerry Rice lent their support to Microsoft's "Safety ... Set?" campaign, all lauding praise on one another at Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C., today. Rice stated "it's so rewarding to join Microsoft and the PTA today to promote a healthy balance for our kids in this exciting digital age." Oh, get a room.

JoystiqMicrosoft promotes parental oversight in gaming with Jerry Rice, PTA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftparentaltimerXbox-360Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft adding Family Timer to Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-adding-family-timer-to-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-adding-family-timer-to-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/microsoft-adding-family-timer-to-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

family timer
The rumor becomes reality as Microsoft announced today the addition of a parental control timer to the Xbox 360. Robbie Bach, president of MS's entertainment and devices division, confirmed the new feature, dubbed the "Family Timer." Bach says that as the customer base broadens, the demand for these types of options does too.

The timer can be set to limit playtime on "a daily or weekly basis, and turns off the console when the time limit is reached." Microsoft says that 90% of parents have a restriction on video game time and this will allow them to enforce their wills without prejudice. Now if we can only get research on how many parents will actually know how to use the timer (and remember their passwords eight months later).

Additional information can be found on Xbox.com.

JoystiqMicrosoft adding Family Timer to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>parentalcontrolparentalcontroltimertimerXbox-360xbox360Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Xbox 360 parental timer coming in December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/rumor-xbox-360-parental-timer-coming-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/rumor-xbox-360-parental-timer-coming-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/rumor-xbox-360-parental-timer-coming-in-december/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Xbox 360's parental controls could be getting a boost next month with a "parental timer" feature that would let parents limit the amount of time children can play. The information comes from a TeamXbox forum poster who says he found the feature listed on a pamphlet included with a Guitar Hero III keychain, of all things. Not exactly iron-clad sourcing, but given that Microsoft's Vista operating system already has a similar feature, it doesn't seem too far-fetched. Still, consider it a rumor until we can confirm this for ourselves.

[Via XboxToday]

JoystiqRumor: Xbox 360 parental timer coming in December originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controlsmicrosoftparentalrumortimerXbox-360Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Nifty countdown timer for your desktop [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/25/nifty-countdown-timer-for-your-desktop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/25/nifty-countdown-timer-for-your-desktop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/25/nifty-countdown-timer-for-your-desktop/#commentsFiled under: ,


Filed in our "pretty nifty" folder, this desktop application will place a countdown timer to the Wii's launch in plain view, to be ogled by all the computer-using fanboys in the vicinity. We understand that not all of you may sit in front of a huge clock, just staring for hours, for fear of making the almost-criminal amount of time left until the console's launch go that much slower, as well as just plain old having better things to do, so that's why we bring you links to cool things like this. It's kind of our thing.

For those of you on Macs and in other regions:

[Update: Added in links for countdown clocks in other regions than the US for Mac users. Thanks Vidar!]

JoystiqNifty countdown timer for your desktop [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>countdownldesktoplaunchnintendonintendowiitimertowiiMon, 25 Sep 2006 12:55:00 EST