"Sony Corporation has reportedly announced parental controls in its forthcoming machine, PlayStation 3, that promise to help parents restrict their children's access to violent video games.

For PlayStation 3, parental controls will extend only to movies and not to games. Sony Corporation remained incommunicado about further details.

Interestingly, Microsoft Corporation's Xbox 360, which was launched last week, features parental controls that restrict access to DVDs and video games carrying ratings like 'M' for mature or 'T' for teen. Parental controls are present in Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service as well; these allow parents to have a say in who their children interact with.

In recent times the video game industry has come under the scanner, with increasing legislation restricting sale of violent video games to minors.

Doug Lowenstein, president, Entertainment Software Association, said that with the average age of game players now being 30, it is obvious that the industry is creating content to cater to a wide range of audiences. However it is commendable that game console makers are voluntarily applying parental controls not yet found in other media devices like music players or DVDs, Lowenstein said." [link]