Microsoft adds Virtual Parenting to the Xbox 360 with Family Timer
This Christmas season, Parents who want to control their children's playing habits a little more autonomously will receive a gift from Microsoft. The Family Timer will allow limits on playtime to be set on a daily or weekly basis, forcing children to spend more time at their friend's houses who don't have such restrictions. This definitely will help control the video gaming experience, which is Microsoft's main goal.
"As a leader in interactive entertainment, it's Microsoft's responsibility to provide parents with tools they can use to manage their children’s video gaming and online experiences, and we have made that a priority from the very start," said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft.
Microsoft claims this is the first time parents have been able to control the amount of time their child spends on the Xbox 360. Although this may be true of built-in software, 3rd party products have been around for many years that allow you to lock down almost any device. Products like Play Limit and Time Scout will likely die off as console manufacturers implement features like the Family Timer in all their respective consoles. Microsoft doesn't even broach the subject of parents simply setting rules and forcing their children to follow them; perhaps this is such an antiquated idea that they doubt anyone would use it.
Details for how the restrictions will work have not been announced; Are limits placed on gamertags, or machines? There will be ways to get around the system, if by no other means than simply playing at a friend's house, but this does provide a way for parents to more tightly control how much time is spent playing on the game system in their own home.