Video game violence is a hot topic in today’s news and parent’s everywhere are tuning in with questions and concerns of their own. Recognizing the concern Microsoft has launched a new campaign titled “Safety Is No Game. Is Your Family Set?” The goal of the campaign is to educate parents about the video game ratings system and the Xbox 360 parental controls. At the Xbox website parents can learn about how to use the parental controls.
With the parental controls parents can restrict their child from accessing Xbox Live, the Vision camera, and games beyond a certain rating. If the Xbox is used as a DVD player as well parents can block movies above a set rating as well.
For those of you, like me who aren’t educated about video games, and aren’t sure what Xbox Live and Vision Camera are I’ll explain. Xbox Live is a gaming service that allows players to join an on-line gaming community through their Xbox. Players can play each other, watch trailers and demos of new games, and chat with other players. If the Vision Camera is added players can also send video chat and messages as well as video steam of themselves playing games, similar to a web cam. Users profiles and their game achievements are accessible through Xbox or via the Internet.
After reading this description I can see why parents would want to block their children from accessing the gaming community. It sounds like a pedophiles paradise.
Microsoft is trying to increase parental awareness in hopes that the government will recognize that the gaming industry is capable of regulating itself and taking proactive action.
If your child has an Xbox or Playstation, that has similar parental controls that allow parents to block games of a certain rating, make sure that you use the parental controls. This gives you control over what your child is playing and viewing. After all it should be parents that decide what their children view and gaming consoles make this possible with parental controls.
See related blogs:
Does Violence In Video Games Affect Children?
Video Game Bill Passed By the Senate