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The doctor is in, and he'll stop your kids playing Xbox photo

The world of lazy parenting has gotten a shot in the arm with the launch of the GameDr, a brand new invention that will revolutionize the way that children are half-heartedly disciplined by adults who can't be bothered to get up from watching The Price Is Right. The GameDR clamps around a console's plug and can automatically switch off a child's console by cutting the power after a predetermined amount of time.

The device claims to be "tamper proof" and will emit a beeping sound at T-10 and T-1 minutes, giving children time to save, or at least rush for a save point, only to fail and cry. The GameDR cannot be reasoned with, it cannot be argued with. It will not stop until a child's game session has been eliminated. 

The Xbox 360 has parental controls that do this internally, but since most people who have squirted out a baby are too stupid to handle condoms, I don't think introducing these advanced concepts would do much good. Thankfully, the GameDR keeps it simple. Just the way Americans like it. 

Once upon a time, poor parents had to get up off their arses and cut the power themselves. Now, thanks to yet another electronic surrogate mother, the Mommy and Daddy can kick back and continue to be irresponsible and lazy, while accepting no accountability for their own kids. At just $30, the GameDR can provide you the piece of mind that is just too difficult to acquire through traditional methods such as good parenting.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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57 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

BS3 Owner's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 12:04
BS3 Owner
Most homes have more than One Outlet per room... Right?
Phantom Spaceman's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 12:08
Phantom Spaceman
The video game timer - it makes actual "parenting" obsolete!
DF's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 12:08
DF
This post is not live and only visible to editors
^ I got that trying to click a moment ago.

This is terrible. Sure, warning beeps are one thing, but what if you're playing something that has fuck-all save points? Like, hours in between?

I'd be severely pissed off and not want to play if I had to lose my prog--oh dear God that's brilliant.

They're gonna make kids hate games and stop playing! D:
Half left's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 12:09
Half left
Why did they choose a kid with a developmental disease for that photo?
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 12:16
linuxguy
I don't think cutting the power off a 250W computer(what ps3/360 are) is a good thing.
@BS3 Owner: I think this thing attaches itself to the power plug although the ps3/360 have a fairly common removable power cord
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:24
Darren Nakamura
Parents still don't know about the ratings that are on the boxes. I doubt any parents will hear about this thing. Still, I'm glad I'm an adult and can play games whenever I want.
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:27
Chris Carter
What are parents doing when they're supposed to be "parenting"?

Fucking?
Half left's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:27
Half left
Did... Did this just get re-posted?
Harris Hatsworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:29
Harris Hatsworth
Only $89.99!

It always really pissed me off when my parents would turn off the console while I was playing. I wouldn't go up to them and smack a book out of their hands or sweep the shit off their desks when I wanted their attention.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:33
Tubatic
Parenting has changed...

ID tagged children playing ID tagged consoles using ID tagged outlets...
CelicaCrazed's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:37
CelicaCrazed
Nothing pissed me off more than when my parents turn off the router when I'm playing online.
Bioautographical's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:38
Bioautographical
See, this is why I'm glad I'm a gamer parent. My son doesn't get but about thirty minutes at a time on the Xbox, occasionally - usually because either me or my husband wants to play something.

Being in touch with my kid FTW!
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:39
Black Nexus
Americans can't even get up to turn off your kids gaming system when they think they have played enough.

We have reached a new level of laziness.
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:43
Mushman
The funny thing is that the machine is a sure fire way to erase the stuff off of a PS3/360 hard drive.

There is a reason why you should NEVER switch off a PC/PS3/360 directly from it's power souce, and that reason is so the device in question has enough time to save and shut down PROPERLY. All the info gets saved and the device suts off in a safe working enviroment, rather than forcefully shutting down all at once, affect the hard drive and data stored.

I learned this the hard way when the power cord from my PS3 got pulled, by accident, from my PS3 and I rebooted it up only to find a wad of erased, corrupted music files, films and game saves. Same with my laptop. There is a reason why Sony says in thier manual to shut off the PS3 from the stanby button.




I foresee this device doing much more harm then, when the kid boots up his conolse only to find all of his hard earned saves gone, then the lazy ass parent will have hell on thier hands.

THEN, as per usual,the company who made this will get the blame and get sued, but in this case, justfiably.

The vicious circle continues.
FatherChesz's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:43
FatherChesz
I'm with Dexter on this one. If parents are incapable of monitoring their child's activity, I highly doubt they'll be intelligent enough to find something like this, let alone use one properly. I am truly saddened by the vast majority of ignorant fuckwits that pass for parents these days. I mean, for god's sake, you need a license to fish or get married legally, why in the hell would you not need some form of licensure to have children?
JavTheGreat's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:47
JavTheGreat
Where'd they get pink PS2 controllers from?
DF's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:49
DF
@FatherChesz: Enact a way we can regulate breeding, and I promise you we will have world peace. *shot*
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:49
Mushman
@FartherChesz

For the betterment of all society, we do need a system whereby you have a license to be a parent.

Not to punish all of the prospectine good ones, because they will know what it takes to become a good parent, but to weed out all of the bad ones. I for one would love to see a system like that, sadly society is too broken for allowing something like that to be passed.

Mad props for saying something relevant, bro. ;)
PwnanObrien's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:52
PwnanObrien
I had the exact same thought as Mushman when I first saw this. How many painful childhood memories do you think this'll cause?

Goddamn culture of ignorance is at it again...
SetoChaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:52
SetoChaos
Kid: Unplug GameDR, throw away, plug in game console, start gaming again.

It won't work...
odber's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:53
odber
This is just stupid
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 15:57
Excel-2011
Did the controllers have to be pink?
Matthew Blake's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:00
Matthew Blake
Doesn't the Xbox 360 come with a digital timer anyway? You could just use that or, you know, walk into the room and make sure the system gets properly shut off. One thing that was been a source of frustration between me and my parents when I was growing up were save points. Mainly, they couldn't understand that some games had them, and some didn't. Some allowed me to save whenever, others couldn't. When this worked in my favor, I'd have a few minutes of stalling to "find a save point". At worst, I'd actually be inches away from saving, and my parents would yank me off the machine. Good times, good times...
War Lord's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:01
War Lord
Like this'll actually work. Most kids that are hardcore gamers already know how to bypass any kind of opposition that keeps them from gaming. Like if this actually works, then they'll just go to their friends house and play it.
s00pcan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:12
s00pcan
my grandma would just shut the tv off. It was hilarious.
dip's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:13
dip
"Like this'll actually work. Most kids that are hardcore gamers already know how to bypass any kind of opposition that keeps them from gaming. Like if this actually works, then they'll just go to their friends house and play it."

Uh, the device doesn't immobilize your child; obviously some (actual) additional parenting needs to be involved for it to work.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:36
Eschatos
Easily circumvented by the kid spending $10 on another powerstrip, and plugging the system into that.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:36
Chronic Logic
Doesn't China make it mandatory to log off all gamers who play more than a couple of hours?
rpbowlinggod's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:37
rpbowlinggod
Those kids can play for hours with those ps2 controllers, the headline clearly states that only xbox-ers are delinquents. On a side note, this is old news as my parents had a version for the tv to stop my bro and I from boob tubing...lotta good that did on the shelf.
Bodb's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:50
Bodb
well if kids are too stupid to overcome what amounts to a ziptied box, then they probably deserve whatever suffering this brings them.
mr showtime's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:52
mr showtime
But if they're playing video games, you know where they are. Isn't that the American way?
taumpytears's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 16:56
taumpytears
This is one of the most condescending things I have ever read on this site.
X51's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:11
X51
"Thankfully, the GameDR keeps it simple. Just the way Americans like it."

Um... f**k you, buddy. I'm sure there are plenty of Europeans (includes the UK) who like simple things. The fact that you play overly complex (retarded) games like Cricket doesn't make you intellectually superior.
SubOrbital's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:11
SubOrbital
No need for these devices if parents were doing their job and giving their children balance. There's nothing wrong with being sensible about limiting kids time doing any kind of activitiy, video gaming or otherwise, if it's becoming excessive. As for this gimmick, it seems just like that, a gimmick.
Insd's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:18
Insd
Look at the kid on the left. that's crazy.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:20
DaedHead8
I remember my parents thinking they were slick by grounding me, not from my NES, but from the power cable to the NES. What they didn't realize was Microplay, a game store, was literally a 10 minute bike ride from my house. So I just bought a spare cable to use when I was grounded. My point is, kids will get around this, it's no more then an extra difficulty level.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:35
Jim Sterling
"Um... f**k you, buddy. I'm sure there are plenty of Europeans (includes the UK) who like simple things. The fact that you play overly complex (retarded) games like Cricket doesn't make you intellectually superior."

Haha, fuck you too (you don't have to censor it, we know what you mean). If you read my articles, you'd know I hate British people even more than I hate Americans. Nice try though, chum.

Oh, and cricket sucks. If you felt you hurt my feelings, ho ho ho.
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:38
PhazonYoshi
I was thinking "Ok, this is stupid, but I'll let it slide", until the end. $30? That's like £15! You could buy a timer made for lights, which would let you set specific times, for less, although you wouldn't get the beeping.
Fuck the beeping.
burnblaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:48
burnblaze
"I remember my parents thinking they were slick by grounding me, not from my NES, but from the power cable to the NES...."

My mum went the whole hog. Put my Gameboy and SNES in the loft.... I climbed up and got it back and put it back when she was at work. When she found out she threw the SNES out of the second floor window out onto a concrete bin shed. The top case was damaged, but it worked. When (admittedly alot later - a few years at least) I hadn't cleaned my room she finally killed it......by cutting the ribbon cable to the joypad ports. By then I was working so I went and bought another one. In fairness she should have just broke my hands..... that MIGHT have stopped me.
MellowBunny's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 17:59
MellowBunny
This stuff should be burned.
taumpytears's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 18:01
taumpytears
I take it back, this might be the most condescending thing I have read on Destructoid. It's hard to choose from so many of the other articles you have written. It seems like you have two modes, witty nerd or arrogant prick.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 18:04
Holyetheline
This is a shit idea. Hope it fails/sucks. I'd never make my kids go through that shit... but we use birth control in our house and there are no kids. Yay for science!
AceFlibble's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 18:32
AceFlibble
Now I want pink controllers. God damn those things look pimpin'.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 18:47
Velt
"The GameDR cannot be reasoned with, it cannot be argued with. It will not stop until a child's game session has been eliminated."

Sounds like the game-Terminator. I like whatever screws kids.
Squirrel Pope's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 19:04
Squirrel Pope
I wanna get one and disable the beep thing and not tell my kids i put it on and watch the hilarity as their Wii turns off randomly. all these so called child protection devices they make just make me have way to many options to play hilarious jokes on my flotilla of children (have 4 currently...workin on a 5th lols)
X51's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 19:07
X51
"Haha, fuck you too (you don't have to censor it, we know what you mean). If you read my articles, you'd know I hate British people even more than I hate Americans. Nice try though, chum.

Oh, and cricket sucks. If you felt you hurt my feelings, ho ho ho."

I was unclear on the rules, played it on the safe side. It'll also take me some time to figure out what really bugs you (forgive me for not reading your articles religiously). Admittedly, this was a fairly 'cut and paste' dis. I will endeavor to make my insults more comprehensive in the future.

Cheers!
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 19:38
Tarvu
If you don't hate everybody equally, you are BIAS!!
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 20:16
Jim Sterling
"There's ignorance all over the world, obviously. Why bother calling out ONE country?"

Because this was relevant to ONE country. If this was about a British product for British parents, I'd call out Brits.

It is really not hard to follow the logic here, people.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 20:31
wanderingpixel
@Jim Sterling

Cricket is awsome.
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 20:38
Naim Master
That kid made me scared .
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