A Timer On Videogames?

[MasterSqueak]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/video-game-timer-knows-when-to-quit/1333725

I have several statements for the Jur-I mean, Escapists.

1: What is this I dont even

2: Ahem. Personally, I can't see any good reason to do this. All I'm seeing is a device that can be used by parents to avoid having to deal with their kids in person. I'm no parent, but I agree with the last statement made by Mr. Silverman:

"Most kids just aren't going to respond well when you ruthlessly cut the power from their toys. Instead of forcing them to interact with timers, why not get involved and try playing games together? Spending time with your kids is never a bad idea. Who knows -- you might even have fun."

That seems like sound advice, and less likely to end in a SkyNet.

3: I must make it clear, this idea leaves me greatly distressed. If parents think they can have something else-a machine no less-do what they should be doing themselves, what will the future hold for us as a species?

4: I'm trying to think of a positive use, but paperweight or doorstop is the best I can come up with. It would be slightly better if it was only for timing, but the article states clearly that a common egg timer could be used to fill that roll. I just fail to see how this could help anyone except a lazy, selfish, or ignorant parent. People who need other kinds of help, like counsiling or classes. Yes, parenting classes! To me, it appears the best solution, but I'm straying from the topic a bit. Let me get back on track.

5. Being a gamer, I admit I may be biased, but I did my best to be fair and honest in my judgement.

Now that I have stated my opinions, I wish to hear those of my fellow Escapists.

And as for my beginning sttatement, yes I have been playing Phoenix Wright.

 

[Deoxyribose]

I saw an infomercial for something like this a few months ago. It showed the game shutting off, the kid going "aww", and then playing outside. It's funny, if anyone thinks that this is going to solve problems, I'd figure they've got another thing coming.

If you are so negligent as a parent that you find that this is a good solution, then chances are you're too negligent to provide an alternative to video games or tantrums when the game is shut off.

 

[Deadpoolsbrain]

I was and still am a very housebound person, take away my videogames and you just have me on the computer, reading, or bitching. The latter pretty much assured my parents would have not bought this.

 

[MasterSqueak]

I saw an infomercial for something like this a few months ago. It showed the game shutting off, the kid going "aww", and then playing outside. It's funny, if anyone thinks that this is going to solve problems, I'd figure they've got another thing coming.

If you are so negligent as a parent that you find that this is a good solution, then chances are you're too negligent to provide an alternative to video games or tantrums when the game is shut off.

This seems like too much of a baseless conjecture to be put on TV as a commercial.

I'm guessing there was a lot of money involved.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

Yeah, how is this any different than just shutting off the console manually?

This sounds more like it would be used in spy techniques, like attaching it to the main power system and being no where near it so no one could suspect you when the man mysteriously winds up dead and no one saw who dun it!

 

[MasterSqueak]

Yeah, how is this any different than just shutting off the console manually?

This sounds more like it would be used in spy techniques, like attaching it to the main power system and being no where near it so no one could suspect you when the man mysteriously winds up dead and no one saw who dun it!

The way I see it, if you shut it off manually, you can say: "Now son/daughter, if you go outside for a while I'll play one of your games with you!"

This way, you spend time with the child, and give him/her a motive for going outside.

If you have a machine auto shut it off, he/she will be mad, and you will have avoided your child instead of taking care of him/her.

 

[Dragon_of_red]

Yeah, how is this any different than just shutting off the console manually?

Its different because the lazy jerks don't need to be in the same room as the kid to screw with them.

OT: This would be very bad, this would piss so many people off, like it would actually ruin games for me, say you were mid way through a boss fight, it cuts off, i would be pissed as hell.

It could potentially cause more arguments from parents and children for that annoyance factor.

Also, what kind of a stupid annoying brat doesn't get off after their parents say so, it might not be right away, but in the next 10 minutes they should get off, you know, after they made it to the save points.

 

[Haydyn]

In retrospect, this is just another way a parent can avoid being a parent. (Wow, that's pretty deep for a teenager. *Pats self on back*)

 

[Jamash]

3: I must make it clear, this idea leaves me greatly distressed. If parents think they can have something else-a machine no less-do what they should be doing themselves, what will the future hold for us as a species?

These machines you talk of... are you referring to the timers, or the consoles themselves?

If a parent is going to use a machine to entertain their kids, then why not use another machine to switch it off?

Do you not think it would be better for us as a species, if parents interacted and spent time with their kids, rather than let a machine entertain them?

At least these timers will force a change and bring about more family oriented interaction.

 

[101194]

If my parents did this to me, I'd just read or get on my computer, If I was really bored I would just get a nailgun and break the system myself. Smart kids will figure it out so no problem, It would only effect the stupid kids.

Edit: Just googled the disign, All you have to do is remove the power cord, Pull out the GameDR and get a screw and wedge it into the holder and then move it back and forth breaking the GameDR off.

 

[Lord Kodous]

Just think of how pissed you would be if you were playing a game like fallout 3, KotOR, or something like that and hadn't saved the entire time (at least an hour) and that thing switched off the power and wasted an hour of game play and life you will never get back.
I'd take it off the power cable and smash it, just to make my self feel better.

 

[Timotei]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/video-game-timer-knows-when-to-quit/1333725

I have several statements for the Jur-I mean, Escapists.

1: What is this I dont even

2: Ahem. Personally, I can't see any good reason to do this. All I'm seeing is a device that can be used by parents to avoid having to deal with their kids in person. I'm no parent, but I agree with the last statement made by Mr. Silverman:

"Most kids just aren't going to respond well when you ruthlessly cut the power from their toys. Instead of forcing them to interact with timers, why not get involved and try playing games together? Spending time with your kids is never a bad idea. Who knows -- you might even have fun."

That seems like sound advice, and less likely to end in a SkyNet.

3: I must make it clear, this idea leaves me greatly distressed. If parents think they can have something else-a machine no less-do what they should be doing themselves, what will the future hold for us as a species?

4: I'm trying to think of a positive use, but paperweight or doorstop is the best I can come up with. It would be slightly better if it was only for timing, but the article states clearly that a common egg timer could be used to fill that roll. I just fail to see how this could help anyone except a lazy, selfish, or ignorant parent. People who need other kinds of help, like counsiling or classes. Yes, parenting classes! To me, it appears the best solution, but I'm straying from the topic a bit. Let me get back on track.

5. Being a gamer, I admit I may be biased, but I did my best to be fair and honest in my judgement.

Now that I have stated my opinions, I wish to hear those of my fellow Escapists.

And as for my beginning sttatement, yes I have been playing Phoenix Wright.

Nah just kidding.

Monitoring game time should be up to the parents. And another fat aneurism inducer are the parents who but their 9 year old son GTA IV and then complain about the violence.

 

[Timotei]

I saw an infomercial for something like this a few months ago. It showed the game shutting off, the kid going "aww", and then playing outside.

And it will only be a matter of time until the kids figure out how to work the device

Or get fed up with it and just smash it with a baseball bat

 

[elricik]

Save yourself twenty bucks and just tell your kids to stop playing games, honestly it seems like this generation is getting lazier and lazier. Now parents don't even have to parent, theirs like a hundred different devices to do things for them.

Also one a side not I would be pissed if my parents ever did anything like that to me. Theirs a reason you need to tell your kid to turn off the game instead of just cutting the power off. If the game just cuts off with no warning when your in the middle of a freaking long dungeon in the Legend of Zelda (I'm picking a game kids would actually play) you just lost an hour of your life, you would never finish twilight princess, there is no save function in the dungeons, if you quit in the middle of one and lose your progress, you might as well put the game up. This is what I would do, and I'm saying this in the most respectful manner possible, I would unplug the controller and swing it like a gauntlet and just break as much stuff around me as possible.

 

[Timotei]

I sense this will turn into a rage thread

 

[elricik]

I saw an infomercial for something like this a few months ago. It showed the game shutting off, the kid going "aww", and then playing outside. It's funny, if anyone thinks that this is going to solve problems, I'd figure they've got another thing coming.

If you are so negligent as a parent that you find that this is a good solution, then chances are you're too negligent to provide an alternative to video games or tantrums when the game is shut off.

Sorry for the two posts in a row but I would also like to comment on the commercial that he mentions. Does anyone think that's realistic? You lose your video games so then you go "awww" and you go outside? You might eventually go outside, after you settle down. If I was playing Mass Effect and needed to save but couldn't because you were stuck in a dialog tree and then the console cuts off, I wouldn't go "awww". I would go "SHIT!!!!!!" I would yell it so loud that the people outside would be able to hear it. This is just another device that is being sold to stupid people, who think that this thing will make them grow closer together as a family. People need time away from their family so they don't murder them, don't people understand that? Me and my father were in the car for an hour together yesterday and forty minutes of the ride was utter silence. To much time with anything is a bad thing, even family, the same can be said about games. But this device is just utter stupidity.

 

[L24z13L]

I don't like the idea. As many people have said so far, it's a mechanical way for the parents to shirk their duties. Parental supervision and interaction should be what determines gameing time. That and if that thing shut off my game when I'm in the middle of a boss fight I would probably take it out back and smash it or blow it up or something equally destructive. Or just use a different power strip.

 

[Timotei]

This is just another device that is being sold to stupid people

Well then the makers have quite a clientele, don't they?

 

[Valiance]

3: I must make it clear, this idea leaves me greatly distressed. If parents think they can have something else-a machine no less-do what they should be doing themselves, what will the future hold for us as a species?

You realize that as society moves forward, this will be the accepted norm, right?

Like day-care centers, and nannies, and baby-sitters, and such removing kids from their parents?

And sports, and video games, and music, and homework, to drive their kids away from the parents?

Honestly, neither the kids nor the parents mind. So why care now? :/

Our species has been going downhill for a while now, so...I doubt this is going to be our biggest downfall.

 

[xXGeckoXx]

Anyone ranting against this really does not get the point. Firstly if a kid spends 7 hours a day on a videogame it is BAD. It is the same as if he spent seven hours a day doing anything else it is an addiction. Therefore the limiter stops them from playing endlessly. Also. Haha the xbox 360 beat you to it it already has a timer built in.