Microsoft Responds to Obama's Admonition to Put Away the Xbox

Getting huffy about President Obama using video games as a rhetorical punching bag in speeches on personal responsibility is pointlessly argumentative. But Microsoft has responded to POTUS' latest call-out, this time of the Xbox.

'We agree with President Obama that it's a time for families to work together so that kids use media in ways that are safe, healthy and balanced. Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.'

[KingKionic]

"Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.'"

Double true!

[kewlkat007]

obviously, that would never be enabled on my console.

Imagine, your close to beating a game or a Boss or something and a TIMER starts to count down.

GAME OVER - try again tomorrow.

[KingKionic]

When your playing a game the xbox 360 blade comes up and shows that your time`s up .

If you put in the pass you can play longer

It shows you the amount of play time before the blade pops up.

:)

[heroicjanitor]

"Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching."

The ps3 has parental controls(set what level you want them to play, if the game/movie is above it it won't play), but no timer, so the sentence is true but it makes you believe that only the 360 has parental controls.

[KingKionic]

lol...

How is it misleading if it`s stating the truth?

rofl...

[Gue1]

The PS3 has those features too... And yes, it has the timer too @heroicjanitor.

edit:
Why do I have 3 disagrees? I'm just stating a fact. Didn't you know that you can set your PS3 to turn off after 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours of gameplay? Or that it actually has a parental control for games, DVD's and blu-ray? You can even block what you don't want your kids to see on the browser.

To tell you the true, if gamers don't know about this then how the heck people expect the average Joe to know then?

Here's the link for the OWNAGE http://www.youtube.com/watc...

It is so great to OWN random people over the internet. =D

[coolirisGB]

"I find the statement misleading"

"but no timer, so the sentence is true"

Whats the problem then? Obama talks about kids needing to spend less time playing games and Microsoft says we are the only ones that has a timer feature plus we have this and that.

The "ME TOO" crap iz(is) ultra turn off. I see plenty of PS3 articles you can advertise the PS3 in.

Gaga

[KingKionic]

Microsft said :
"Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids"

There not lying about that.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/s...

I just realized i didn't get owned by you...'

rofl...

[DMason]

It seems that more and more in this generation, Microsoft is garnishing the attention for "Video Game Branding." It used to be Nintendo.

If you pay attention to commercials and movies that involve video games, you'll see that most of them use an Xbox 360 controller. Brand recognition is vital these days, and I think that's MS's plan.

[Raf1k1]

If the PS3 also has the features doesn't that then make the statement about the 360 being the only console with those features to be untrue?

If that is untrue then that means what you said in your first post about it being 'double true' is also false right?

I think that's what heroicjanitor and wiimaniac are getting at.

edit: After a quick google search it seems the PS3 does have those features.
http://manuals.playstation....
edit2: Here's a quote from the link:
'The PS3™ system includes parental control settings that restrict the playing of content with parental control restrictions (such as game or video content) or the use of the Internet. You can adjust these settings so that content intended for mature audiences cannot be viewed by children.'

edit3: And just to make it easier to compare:
'Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.'

[cmrbe]

The x360 was made for kids in mind and not the ps3 LOL I kid I kid :)

[FamilyGuy]

well just this part actually:

"Remember, console settings apply to everyone who uses your Xbox 360 console. You can't have different settings for different players."

Why the fvck not? Has Micro fixed that yet?

The family timer was introduced a long time ago and I'll assume Micro patented it otherwise sony and ninty definitely would have added the function to their systems.

The PS3 does have all sorts of parental settings but not that, but you can always, you know? get up and talk to your kids.

[f789790]

That's not going to stop the cussing over the mics and nude pictures in Burnout.

[a_squirrel]

ps3 has parental controls, and passwords....

[Anon1974]

Yeah, but look at how those PR weasles worded it.

"the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls"

A timer AND parent controls. Microsoft is saying they're the only one who have both - which is true, but wording it in a way to mislead people to believe they're the only ones who have any type of parental controls.

They didn't lie, just mislead - and they can't be held accountable if people didn't understand them correctly, can they?
Microsoft's PR machine is second to none, and it has to be given some of the blunders and tactics they've employed over the years. And when all else fails and you actually get taken to court, they've got the money! Just draw out the litigation until it's old news and the public doesn't care - then just pay your fines and it's like nothing ever happened...

[pixelsword]

"...as well as parent controls..."

To say "as well as" is to state that it is the only console with parent controls also; because when you say "as well as" you are stating that the parent controls can stand alone with the part that says "Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has" and still be correct.

http://manuals.playstation....

So it's not misleading, it's a straight-up lie.

[Mr Remington]

I'm not trying to put down the 360 or anything, but give me a break.
So what if a console has these features?
The kid is just going to turn the console back on anyways. And they shouldn't be able to grab a hold of video games targeted towards a more mature audience.

Bottom line is...

Parents shouldn't have to rely on software to limit their kids' play time. They should take the initiative to tell the kid to turn off the damn games in the first place.

[Final_Rpg]

You know you've failed as a parent when you need your games console to do the parenting for you...

[MazzingerZ]

PS3 has also parent controls, you can also block chat voice for online gaming if you wish...do the X360 has that?...not sure

ALSO you can limit the amount of money the subaccount can use per month to purchase on the PS Store...does the X360 have that? I don't think so, HOW CONVENIENT.

Also like other how point out, it allows you to block what kind of movies and games can be played lin in the X360

In general ALL the 3 consoles allow parent to control what their kids can do on their consoles.

Wii- Shows you a daily report about the activites, games playes and total time
X360 - Timer and lock games rated over children's age limit
PS3 - Lock Voice chat and games rated over children's age limit, set a limit for purchases amount

ALL of them have features that help parents THE PROBLEM is that parent have no idea about it nor are intrested on that, at the end of the day, is the parent's responsability to get interested in what their kids are doing and THAT's what OBAMA is talking about...

my mom didn't need a timer to get me to stop playing the Atari 2600 but just look at me with that special look and tell me "make your homework first and they you play 1 hour ok? only one hour"...and that's excactly waht I would do as I know she wasn't kidding.

That engagement is what OBAMA is talking about rather than "Ohhh I don't know what to do with him, he doesn't listen"...some parents just enjoy taking a break from their kids to take a smoke in piece and quiet or watch their favourite TV show/Movie uninterrupted

[JaPo]

That is an absolute PR masterstroke.

Credit where it's due.

[agentace]

...why are you all fighting over who has the WORST feature for gamers on a console

[red5ive]

is this what flaming has resulted to? being proud of a feature that is fruitless to most of us? parental controls..... to me, you as a parent should have a more active control over your kids. if you think your kid is playing too much, tell him to get off the damn xbox. if the spazzes, smack him. c'mon guys.

[Dareaver1]

@Pixelswords.... saying as well means that it has both. It's not stating them as separate. It's just like when you use OR in math. Or means both, they way the use "as well" in the sentence means literally that they have both. So in essence it's not a lie.

@Mr Remington..... the timer is different. Once it expires the console can not be used by that gamer for a 24hr period. Kionic posted this http://www.xbox.com/en-US/s... which states that perfectly. So the timer is far more advanced then something that just comes on.

And with 360 you can also prevent voice chat period. You can turn it off all together. The only thing it can't do is sensor, once voice chat is enabled. The sad thing is, it's usually the kids that are cursing and saying some of the most obscene things.

Once i was playing Halo 3 with my friend, who happens to be a girl, and once the "KIDS" found out she was a girl, we had to leave the room. They were awful, and i know if their parents were anywhere close, the talking would have changed. It's a shame, but when mikes come standard and kids are left unattended, they say whatever they want to say. And all you can do is hit the mute button. But the get all juvenile and turn it into everyone kill the girl or don't get pwnd by the girl. That's why we had to leave the room.....

[E305]

what they really need to do is announce an easy and convenient way (@home) to resuscitate the damn thing after it rrods, not harp on the age-old news of how to shut it down, that both the PlayStation three and the Box have.

Oh well, the fanboys will find anything to fight over - just use some common sense.

[jamesrocks3147]

the ps3 has those features u can set it to switch off after a certain amout of time and also it has parental features. microsoft seriously what will they say next its beyond a joke

[mdt hunter]

i doubt that most parents are so good with electronic that they can set
time limits or parental controls

[Skizelli]

@1.15: It's not a lie. It's just a failure in understanding how punctuation works.

"Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.'"

Is like saying:

"We're the only ones with this, and we have this as well."

The wording has a PR spin to it so people like you misunderstand it, like 1.14 says.

[ID IR A G 0 N]

the people on this website are pathetic. you guys are arguing about the most idiotic feature. most of the dumbness is coming from the ps3 fanboys too. it always seems to be that way.

all you people are so stupid and dont realize that obama said put away the xbox, but most likely was referring to video games in general. of course, if ps3 fanboys see xbox anywhere they must attack... what a pathetic bunch of lemmings.

[Skizelli]

Although I mostly agree with you, please don't call people stupid when you can't even use proper grammar to do it.

[pixelsword]

It can be interpreted only one way, the construction of the sentence is what makes the difference.

When using the term "as well as" as a preposition linking together (or coordinating [not as an English definition]) a pair of nouns, it means "in addition to".

When coordinating two adjectives, it means "as much as".

here's a (simple) link that show the difference:

http://www.answers.com/topi...

Now, when Microsoft used those two phrases to describe aspects of the 360, those aspects of course are adjectives, which makes what they are saying false.

[Dareaver1]

It is being used as an additional statement. But it doesn't distinguish one or the other as a separate entity. The sentence clearly states that it is the only console with a timer feature <---- you could just kill the sentence there and that's a true statement. They then added another feature which is an addition to the first one listed, but it all hinges on the fact that they have the timer which makes the sentence true.

MS probably didn't want people to think that that was it, so they had to say that.

If you want, you could reword that statement. "As well as parental controls, we are the only console with a Timer feature."

See what i am saying.

Here's a link, look at number 19, the idioms, and also a little bit below that. The statement is in reference to both features. It is still being used as an additional statement.

"as well as
conj. And in addition: courageous as well as strong.
prep. In addition to: "The rhetoric [of the Justices], as well as the reasoning, is appreciated" (Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.)"

http://dictionary.reference...

At first i thought they were being sneaky with how they worded it, but if you really look at it, it can also come across as they were being genuine in their intentions. The key was the Timer feature, but they were like, that's not all we have.... Do you understand what i am saying?

With my analysis, i agree with what MS said, they basically said the 360 is the only console with both features. Which is a true statement.

[mrv321]

Ermm a timer feature which is somehow different to the word 'no'

If your children wants to go on a console and you don't see it as safe just say 'no'. Do your kids rule you? I'd like to think not. C'mon you buy them the games it's your fault not the producers.

If you buy you teenage boy a condom and a prostitute who's fault is it that he has sex with the prostititute?

Yours for buying him the stuff because 'he asked for it'

Or

The prostitute for doing nothing wrong.

Parents stand your ground or stop complaining this reminds me a lot of this

http://loadingreadyrun.com/...

[kaveti6616]

Dude, don't be so naive. I've seen kids talking down to their parents. This generation is very belligerent towards authority and the adults are more afraid of the children than the other way around. Anyways, the Xbox 360s feature is still useful. I mean, why bash a feature just because you have no use for it? Someone else with a 360 probably can use it.

[Raf1k1]

I agree with kaveti6616 (edit: not the naive bit lol)

Plus kids these days really are quite scary. It's a shame you can't get away with smackin'em around a bit lol. Some of 'em certainly deserve it.

You should see what kids are like around here in the UK.

edit: I also agree with you. Parents are to blame mainly for allowing their kids to play.

[Wolf873]

all these laws for kids have allowed them to be spoiled, because they are aware of their rights. Not saying they shouldn't have them, but Parents should have more authority over their child: nowadays, its too easy for police or other authorities to interfere.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

And they turn it around and make it marketing for their parental controls.

Well played MS.

[KingKionic]

Microsoft is smart on that part.

Kudos

[coolirisGB]

They jumped at the opportunity with glee. To them it was Brand boosting. Obama is also intellectual so he might have a message in his language >Buy games and consoles from companies in the states so you can help get the American economy back on track< IMO thats why he mention the BOX. Not taking away from the new found brand recognition.

[Blaze929]

exactly. look how Blackberries sold after hearing Obama likes his so much. Sure he's the president but to a very large portion he's just a celebrity. "Oh he likes blackberries? So do i!" "Xbox? Sweet Obama likes and acknowledged the xbox!"

[Raf1k1]

lol that's what I thought when I first read it.

[DarkAzureIIIX]

But what system do he own?

[coolirisGB]

I suspect he owns one of the powerful consoles for sports games. Maybe some of his ingame advertising and Rock The Vote console efforts gives it away.

[Polluted]

I know the PS3 doesn't have a timer, but can't you set it so it won't play games rated "M" and movies rated "R". I've never tried it myself, but I remember even the PS2 had that feature.

Edit: Okay I just checked on my PSP (because it was right next to me with an "M" game in it) and even that has the ability to restrict mature games.

[kaveti6616]

yeah, you can. The PS3 has the same features minus the timer, which could probably be put in through a firmware update anyway.

[Kleptic]

yeah I think all 3 consoles have content filters...the PS3 browser has site blockers for parents to use...and you can filter what 'rating' of games or movies the system will play...

its confusing though, because its so universal for all territories...its all based on some number...rather than an R or M rating or something...so you have to guess which number most adult content falls under...

[Whitefox789]

Introduced in the firmware 2.5 update

http://uk.playstation.com/h...

[cjflora]

The 360 has a build in timer called Red Ring of Death! ZZZZZZZZIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!!!! !!!!!!!!!

[Mr_iClu7ch]

"Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.'"

Yup , i have that on for my lil brother.

he get pissed of and he only plays viva Pinata ... LOL

Im so bad :D

[Unicron]

I think the bigger issue is still that games are looked down upon in some capacity. The focus needs to be on better parenting specifically without demonizing entertainment in any of its forms.

[coolirisGB]

Superficially but people support games with their wallets.
Nothing wrong with telling parents of America to raise their kids. Too many parent let games and TV babysit.

[Unicron]

Oh definitely, I think it's totally on the parent's shoulders to teach their children. I just think its a copout when the games themselves are blamed.

[DMason]

I dont see it as demonizing video games, it seems that he's using it to relate to the current generation of parents. Like in the 80's and 90's with TV. Remember how there were activists that preached "TV rots your brain!" I believe that this is just a more subtler way of conveying the message that family values should come first. It feels like America has been slowly slipping away from it.

[Obama]

*Cough*. Time to bring out the ban hammer.

[sak500]

I believe ps3 is going to have somthing similar but will take another 2 years for firmware upgrades to have it going. It's prototype name is "dont play b3yond"

[cmrbe]

Ps3 is bought by adults which are mostly parents themselves

[Whitefox789]

It's called the power save settings where you can set the system to turn off after 1,2,3, or 5 hours during no interactivity but after you set the allotted time for the system asks you if can you want the condition that the system can turn off during playing media, or during gameplay.

This setting is also useful because if your not interacting with a game, or your watching a movie the controller turns off by itself in 10 mins to save battery life.

The only thing this doesn't do that the Xbox 360 does is lock up the console after it goes off

http://uk.playstation.com/h...

[KingKionic]

Open zone is awfully quiet....

*whitsles*

um...Yeah...

Microsoft ftw .

[user3915800]

Dont worry it will take another 3 more years before the PS3 can catch up to the 360, its the original circumstances, were sony copies everyone but are bad at it. PS3 its nothing more than a beta product, which its bad at everything they do, for example: games suck, online sucks, home suck, the design of the BBQ grill suck, blu ray suck and the list goes on forever. Nothing they do its what appears to be, they are a bunch of liars, were fandroids suck their corporates touch.

Viva la clueless Fartstation 3.
BBQ grilling beyond BS.
Home filled up with pedophiles.
Online not connected please wait beyond.
Gaming lacks the competition power.
The waitstation we will have the greatest gaming experience this year and all major titles cancel until next year or the year after. Lol.
But the sixaxis its so superior that it has no support from no one and thats the best the PS3 has to offer.

[NegativeCreep427]

You have very passionate fanboy b.s. fud in your blood today.

If only you could apply that same dedication to school work or to an above minimum-wage career venture.

[KillerPwned]

Microsoft don`t get it so what if their console has a timer doesnt make them any better. The point of this is "Parents" have a timer they shouldnt need a timer to take their kids off the game. It should be a simple thing and parents shouldnt need help they need to be the right parent and teach their son or daughter a lesson themselves not microsoft.

They think this is so against them its not its against every single console their is out their that is played. Cry me a river god.

Parents just need to stand up and tell their kids when its time to get off plain and simple.

[xg-ei8ht]

Who is that black american talking about 360.

He's right though, people need to stop spending money on new 360's after rrod and use that money for aday out, a nice meal, or save half, then another half, and then buy a real console.

:)

Don't take offense kids, i know it's obama.

[Nelson M]

About a Timer
Well Go Boil Yourself an Egg Then

[KingKionic]

Will that be scrambled or obama...i mean hard boiled ?

lol

[RockmanII7]

.

[bubb13gum Easy]

I voted for him and I just feel he jumps on the bash video game wagon.
We got hoods in Brooklyn that look Iraq, so Mr.President concentrate on fixing our neighborhoods and our Country and let the parents parent. I have a son 6yrs plays bout 4-6 hours of ps2 but his school work is great. Parents dont need a lecture thank you.

[Nelson M]

The Xbox Needs
Is a 3 Minute Warning Timer
The one that Shows up when the Xbox is Gonna Blow

[danthaman15]

Yeah, and the PS3 needs a timer to tell you when the steak's done.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Lol, I kid. But seriously Nelson. How 'bout you stop trolling and just PLAY the PS3? If you think the xbox is failing, you would ALLOW it to fail instead of rushing to the internet and boasting about it. The only reason you would do the latter is if you were insecure about your purchase. You're giving PS3 owners a bad name. PS3 owners, please show us that you're better than this fanboy retard (I'm sure you are).

[The Killer]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

that was a good one, 3 mins warning before the 360 burn the house :D

[ElementX]

I think the MS response was very professional. They played their cards well. I would've expected some bashing, but they held their tongues.

[Redempteur]

The wii doesn't need these features .. the games are auto censored and you get tired to move the wiimote after a couple of hours automaticaly ..

[YoungKingDoran]

i think the point there is a timer is ridiculous. how about you be a responsible parent and know when your kid has had enough. put the foot down, send them to bed...
and kick some ass at halo
>:)

[NaotaChannel]

When Bush said the exact same thing, everyone here said how wrong it was, but now that Barney Fife (Obama) says it, it's "he's really got a good point"

*blech*

[vShinobi]

I tought Obama was saying gaming is bad?

[TheDeadMetalhead]

They "actually" turned that around to make them look good?

...touché.

[condorstrike]

Hey Obama, and all other politicians, how about worrying about your children and I'll worry about mine...piss-off.

we have to use their light bulbs, use their banks, soon use their cars and their medicine, soon enough they'll give kids a string and a bottle-cap to play and collect all consoles....

for that Sh!t I can go to Cuba.

Ohh and by the way, Obama said his daughter loves Snoops' "Drop It Like It's Hot"....awesome lyrics for a 3 years old little girl, huhh?

proof: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

once again: worry about you're own kids.

[dawgsfan117]

He is the president and he was simply trying to tell parents to take a more active role in their kids lives. Now im gonna tell you maybe u should stop commenting on some gaming website and go be a better parent.

Oh but for the record: grats on telling the president to piss off. Im sure he will get back to you real soon.

[condorstrike]

ohh right... and that's his job right? to get back at people who think differently.... go drink some kool-aid.

and you, and those like you are the reasons I have 2 bubbles, and besides I only need 1 to get my point across.

next step...Gaming Czar.

[Dareaver1]

Right, that is a racial stereotype(not a serious one, but one none-the-less), a stereotype of African Americans.... Right.... You should be the one to speak to people when you are even more offensive.

I'm going to report you, and hopefully you get banned. I mean, i know you'll probably just make another account, just hopefully, and I'm hoping you learn something from this.

Keep your hatred to yourself. Just because you can say something, doesn't mean you should. Geez....

[Strikepackage Bravo]

Obama needs to STFU, and all you koolaid drinkers need to wise up, republicans have been saying this same stuff for years, and all people ever said was government stay out of our lives. Obama says it and suddenly everyone agrees, all while Obama is the one pushing zero accountability lifestyles down America's throat. Just let government take care of you, is the Obama way, like I said Obama needs to STFU.

[Dareaver1]

We get racially discriminate followers.... I will report you too....

One person thinks he can say racially charged things, so another things he can follow....

It is the 21st Century.... I guess the anonymity of the internet empowers the immature to say whatever comes to their minds. Just leave....

If you have nothing productive to contribute, then just leave. You give N4G a bad name and gamers altogether.

[divideby0]

this is lol funny.....

parents who need an electronic device to babysit their kidz are the problem.

all our devices at home are wide open..our kidz were schooled by us on what is right and wrong.....

we dont need parental timers, because our kidz were taught properly

[Dareaver1]

With the way the world works, the mistakes people make, and sometimes just through unfortunate situations not everyone has that option.

Could you say that to a single parent....

Let me stretch that question out a lil bit more. How about a single parent that became that way out of tragedy, like: a car accident, natural disaster, illness, terrorist events, and the military.

Can you tell them that they are not good parents because they might need such assistance from the electronic devices that entertain their kids. I couldn't, all i could do is commend them for at least making an effort to not let the TV and Video Games raise their children. That they are being responsible with the options they are given.

I really hope you are not as close minded as you seem....

[divideby0]

being a Single Parent,,,,you are still a Parent and that does not change the values you have and instill in your kidz..period..it just requires you to work harder at it.

sure its more difficult to raise a child as a SP, my sis is doing it, but family values and what you teach your kidz still remains the same.

I am not closed minded, but you are basically using a persons status as an excuse for bad behavior which is allowed..
your attitude is just enabling bad behavior because of sad misfortune..
hope you really think about it...or if you are a SP and require electronic gadgets or the goverment to raise your kids...sad

[cmrbe]

You fools still don't get it. The x360 has a timer because it was made for kids. Ps3 dosen't because it's an adult console. Why would adults and parents need to set a timer for themselves? lmao!!.

[danthaman15]

Yep, Gears of war sure is a toddler game. /sarcasm

The people I laugh at are the ones that think of themselves as mature but feel the need to namecall. ("Xbot" is a real chick magnet).

[keysy420]

the problem is parents you ever play with a 10 year old on live. you are a ni88er, jew, jap, spik, wetback. kids on live have the worst mouths and their parents dont give a damn what their kids do. the ps3 is in most people living rooms so parent actually see and hear what their kids are doing. If xbox wasnt so cheap and expressed quality the probably could cut this down some.

[Quadrix]

Parents of the 21st century aren't smart enough to know how to use a parental control feature. Hell, some parents need their kids to remind them how to turn on the TV on a daily basis.

[Dellis]

MS Fails for replying to Obama

FAIL

[kornbeaner]

"We agree with President Obama that it's a time for families to work together so that kids use media in ways that are safe, healthy and balanced. Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching."

MS's reply is strange to me, cause their response is exactly whats wrong with today's parents. Parents now-a-days rely to much on secondary care for their children. Whether it be a Timer, Nanny or some other type of care, instead of following through and making sure their kids are safe and sound they now rely on care provided by others. That doesn't make any sense to me. What I think President Obama is referring to is that parents should be a part of what goes on in their child's life not just take an interest but to actually be an active part of their child's life to make sure that what their kids are doing is safe.

I have a son and he's gamer just like me at only 4 and if I allowed it he would play for hours at a time. But my wife and I put a strict limit on how long he is allowed to play. He usually gets 2 sitting of 45 minutes, longer only on the weekends if he has behaved really well but never exceeding an hour in any one sitting.

My dad always took a huge interest in my life and I believe that kept me out of a lot of trouble, I'm just trying to do the same, We're far from perfect but at least we look after our own instead of relying on second party care like 90% of the parents out there today.

[Crayon]

Microsoft isn't saying it's the only one to have the time limit feature and the parental controls. They're saying that they ALSO (as in both PS3 and 360) have the parental controls on the media that their children play.

Sure the PS3 can shut off after a certain amount of time, but the kids can just turn it back on and continue playing, can't they? (I'm not stating it, I'm just asking)

The 360 makes it so that you only have x amount of time to play that day, and then you're blocked from playing for the rest of the day unless the parental code is entered.

And if they were lying, Sony would have retaliated really quickly with a statement saying that Microsoft was deceitful and then release their own statement on parental control.

But touche for Microsoft, they made a sh*tty situation into great PR.