New generation video games to incorporate parental controls
Following in the footsteps of Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Inc, Sony has also decided to implement the parental control technology for its upcoming gaming console, PS3, which is likely to be out in 2006 as per Entertainment Software Association. Nintendo's new-generation gaming system, Revolution, is also expected to hit the stores in 2006 while Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360, was released just last week.
The (ESA) has confirmed that considering the excessive amount of violence and gore the video game crazy kids are exposed to, Sony has decide to take this decision.
Whilst reading out the statement, ESA President Doug Lowenstein also applauded the Big 3 console manufacturers for their decision to voluntarily put the parental control mechanism into place. Sony has not made a public statement on the matter yet.
Courtesy the parental control feature, the parents will be permitted to prevent their children from accessing certain games which they deem as harmful for their kids, e.g. excessive amount of bloodshed or explicit sexual content.
This can be done via the ratings provided through which the parents can decide what is good and what is not, "T" stands for "teen" or "M" for "mature." In addition, the parents also have the facility to restrict the amount to which live online games can be accessed by limiting the capability of their kids to interact with others.
The ESA did point at the fact currently too there are parental controls on some software and games.
However, the gaming fraternity has been under the scanner due to its excessive use of violent and explicit content in a number of games. A huge furor erupted after hidden explicit sexual content was found in Take-Two Interactive's (Nasdaq: TTWO) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. While the PS2 included parental controls for movies, it did not feel the need to do the same for the games.
As such, the ESA has plans to have a legislation in place through it would be possible to limit how video games could be sold.
Doug Lowenstein, President of the Entertainment Software Association, explained that with the average age of gamers being 30, the gaming companies manufacture stuff that will cater to a larger section of people, the way it is done for TV shows, films, books etc.
Praising the technology, he said that in these times when bringing up kids in the appropriate manner is one of the biggest challenges, the video game parental control technology is a powerful tool for the parents.
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