As part of its Get Game Smart public service campaign, Microsoft Corp. today announced the formation of a new consumer panel made up of 10 teens and their parents, who will help educate other families on ways to enjoy safer interactive entertainment at home. The Get Game Smart Ambassadors represent families from eight cities across the country who, through the use of an interactive Web site, blog and online social community, are demonstrating their commitment to safer video gaming and inspiring their peers to tackle this issue. The 10 Ambassador teams were chosen by popular vote on http://www.GetGameSmart.com based on a short video they submitted, highlighting their families' approach to balanced video gaming and media use.
In an age of widespread social media and online gaming use, kids and parents alike are navigating the do's and don'ts of the digital world. In the face of new technologies and the online world, consumers are eager for tools and resources that help their families enjoy interactive entertainment in a safer and healthier way.
"As parents, we teach our kids the importance of wearing a bike helmet and buckling their seatbelt, but for some reason we've missed the boat on teaching our kids similar precautions for online and video game use," said Get Game Smart Ambassador Jason Richardson from Brentwood, Tenn. "My stepson and I both love to play video games, so we jumped at the chance to get involved in creating fun, safer experiences for gamers of all ages. With so many tools available, there's no reason for video gaming to be scary for parents."
Get Game Smart Ambassadors will share their unique perspectives on the concerns, issues and challenges related to video games and other interactive media. The Ambassadors will contribute tips and information to the campaign's Web site (http://www.GetGameSmart.com) and blog, provide insight on their challenges and solutions related to balanced media use, and help educate families within their communities on these issues. To find the new Ambassadors, Microsoft invited parents and teens to participate in the Get Game Smart Video Contest, which culminated in the selection of 10 winning teams that received an entertainment prize package and an invitation to participate in the Get Game Smart Ambassador program.
As part of their ongoing effort to reach out to parents and teens and open the lines of communication about a responsible digital lifestyle, Microsoft's new Get Game Smart Ambassadors are sharing their tips for limiting friction and maintaining a healthy media diet in the home.
"As a parent myself, I understand we tend to turn to other parents for advice on the suitability of video games or other digital entertainment for our children," said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft. "By working hand in hand with this group of parents and teens, we hope to inspire a more productive dialogue with families, communities, the media and the industry around healthy and balanced media use."
The Get Game Smart Campaign takes a first-of-its-kind approach to helping parents and kids establish healthy habits for playing video games, watching TV and browsing the Web. The hub of the campaign is at http://www.GetGameSmart.com. Designed for busy parents, the Web site provides quick guides and short videos on parental controls, expert tips on Internet and video game safety, and an online community where families can share ideas, advice and fun family activities related to balanced media use. Since the site launched in January 2009, more than 7,000 families have participated in its Family Challenge and completed more than 25,000 activities related to addressing their household's media diet.