Time's up for Xbox gamers
2007-11-08 07:29
San Francisco - Microsoft Corp said it is adding a feature to its Xbox 360 that limits the amount of time children can play video games.
The move comes as the software giant tries to make the Xbox
360 more attractive to mainstream consumers ahead of the
holiday buying season that is the biggest time of year for the
video game industry.
"As the customer base broadens, the demand for these kinds
of capabilities does increase," said Robbie Bach, president of
Microsoft's entertainment and devices division.
The new timer can be set to limit playing time on a daily
or weekly basis, and turns off the console when the time limit
is reached. A similar feature is found in Microsoft's Windows
Vista computer operating system.
Microsoft research showed 90% of parents had some
restrictions on video gaming, with half of those being limits
on playing time, Bach said.
"The number-one tool they miss is the ability to enforce
time restrictions electronically on the console," Bach said.
The Xbox 360, which competes with Sony Corp's PlayStation 3
and Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii, already has a feature that allows
parents to restrict the kind of games that are played based
upon their content rating.
Microsoft also unveiled an initiative with groups such as
the National Parent Teacher Association and Boys & Girls Club
to educate families about video game content and encourage
parents and children to work out rules around gaming.