日本索尼公司计划在即将上市的PlayStation3游戏机上设置父母监控(Parental Controls)功能。至此，包括微软、任天堂和索尼在内的全球3大游戏机制造商都已承诺，通过此项技术帮助家长限制孩子接触暴力视频游戏。

    据美联社11月28日报道，根据透露这项消息的美国娱乐软件协会（Entertainment Software Association）说，索尼将在即将推出的PlayStation3游戏机上设置此项“父母监控”功能。此前，PlayStation2的用户只能控制播放限制级电影，而无法对不良游戏实施监控。目前，索尼公司还未正式公布这一决定。

    索尼的竞争对手之一微软公司已在上周开始发售具有“父母监控”功能的新款游戏机Xbox 360。这款游戏机允许用户限制在其机上播放被划为“T”或“M”等限制级的DVD或电子游戏内容。由于Xbox 360具有连线游戏功能，父母还能够对孩子可能接触到的其他人进行限制。本月早些时候，日本任天堂公司已宣布，将在2006年推出的新款游戏机Revolution上提供类似功能。

    凭借PlayStation1和PlayStation2游戏机超过1.02亿台的总销量，日本索尼公司位居世界游戏机业领导位置。今年早些时候，它已在PlayStation掌上机中提供了限制暴力游戏的功能。

    随着一部部限制向未成年人销售暴力游戏软件的法律出台，世界范围的视频游戏厂商近几年来受到越来越严格的审查。但在过去，众厂商往往援引美国宪法第一修正案中关于“联邦议会不得立法剥夺言论自由和出版自由”的规定得以逃脱。美国娱乐软件协会主席道格·洛温斯坦表示，索尼等游戏机厂商主动在产品中添加“父母监控”功能值得赞赏。

    Sony Corp. has become the latest of the video game console makers to announce parental controls in it newest machine, according to the Entertainment Software Association.

    Now, all three major console makers are promising parents the means to help restrict their children's access to violent video games.

    Sony will place the controls on its forthcoming machine, PlayStation 3, according to the ESA. Users of PlayStation 2 could limit access, but only to movies, not games.

    The company wasn't immediately prepared to comment.

    Microsoft Corp. had already placed parental controls in its new Xbox 360, which debuted last week. The machine lets users restrict access to video games and DVDs that carry certain ratings, such as "T" for "teen" or "M" for "mature." It also offers parental controls on the company's Xbox Live online gaming service, limiting who their children can interact with.

    Earlier this month, Nintendo Inc. announced similar plans for its next-generation machine, Revolution, due out in 2006.

    Sony, which leads the worldwide market with more than 102 million PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles sold, also introduced parental control for games in its PlayStation Portable, launched earlier this year.

    The video game industry has been under tougher scrutiny in recent years as lawmakers enacted legislation restricting sales of violent video games to minors. Industry groups have so far successfully challenged the laws in court, citing violations of the First Amendment.

    "With the average age of game players now 30, our industry naturally creates content appropriate for a wide range of audiences, just as there are TV shows, films, music and books for people of all tastes, interests and values," said Doug Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association.

    Lowenstein commended the game console makers for voluntarily applying parental control technology that is not yet found in other media devices, such as DVD or music players.