It’s been a week when the games industry has been forced to stand up for itself. Firstly it was Atari hitting back at the Australian government’s decision to ban Marc Ecko's Getting Up, after claims that the game incited anti-social behaviour. And now it's Nintendo, coming under fire from none other than America’s ABC news, who made some rather outrageous (not to mention totally false) claims about how the DS is a potential threat to children and a grooming tool for kiddy fiddlers.
The furore kicked off on Tuesday night when ABC news claimed that they had made an "alarming discovery" and that they had "...an important warning for parents…. Action News has learned this popular gaming system [the DS] could put kids in harm's way."
The news was in response to Nintendo’s announcement earlier in the week that it now has had more than 850,000 users logging onto their WiFi Internet service since its launch last November.
According to ABC news, a concerned parent was horrified when she found that her 11 year-old daughter was receiving offensive messages over Pictochat from a stranger.
ABC also quoted Keith Dunn, an Internet Safety Expert, who said: "Predators are using Nintendo DS anywhere in the world. And it's going to be really hard to track down those individuals because of course, they're on a wireless network from a hotspot such as a coffee shop. Or if they're in a wireless environment, say a coffee shop or whatever, they jump on the wireless network so now you have predators who are trying to get at our kids."
Mr. Dunn went on to say that parents need to teach their children to apply 'stranger danger' rules to every and any situation. "Don't talk to strangers in game rooms if you don't know they're your friends. Don't talk to anyone. Just stop talking. Stop chatting in the game room." Now this all smells to SPOnG like - well, how should we put it - like a massive pile of cooked-up horseshit.
ABC news is simply trying to cook up a bit of a moral panic storm, but has unfortunately not fully checked the facts. If the 11-year-old girl in question was being pursued over pictochat, then it was not over a WiFi Internet connection, but it was from another DS user within 65 feet. Which is of course still worrying if it happened, but is not the same as being anonymously stalked over the Internet as the story suggests.
In response to the story, a Nintendo UK spokesperson told SPOnG yesterday that the company’s line was: "Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service is a safe environment for players. The service will allow Nintendo DS gamers in the UK to link up with users across the country, and even the world, to compete against each other. Players have the option to select to play with just friends, or people of a similar skill level around the world without fear of harassment. Players do not have direct communication with each other when playing and therefore personal details or inappropriate comments cannot be exchanged."
The spokesperson went on to tell us the company's line on Pictochat and children's safety, which is this: "Nintendo takes the issue of children receiving messages from strangers very seriously. Children should be warned about receiving messages from, or communicating with, strangers through any medium. For this reason a warning and detailed privacy information are clearly highlighted in the Nintendo DS instruction booklet.
Nintendo also recommends that an adult should assist children with the system set up and instruct them not to use personal information and not to meet strangers or give personal information to anyone as it could be read by a stranger.
It should be noted that PictoChat does not connect to the internet. PictoChat can only be used to communicate with another Nintendo DS within the range of the Nintendo DS's wireless signal, which is approximately 65ft."
These are the facts. Make of them what you will.
If SPOnG's kids were getting funny messages over Pictochat, here's what we would do. We would look around us to try to see who else had a DS within a 65 feet radius. If we saw them, and successfully identified that they had been sending offensive messages to our child, we would batter them with a hammer. Or any heavy object we had to hand. If we couldn't see them we would remove the DS from our child's hands until we had left said area, and report the matter to the authorities. Seems fairly straightforward to us.
The furore kicked off on Tuesday night when ABC news claimed that they had made an "alarming discovery" and that they had "...an important warning for parents…. Action News has learned this popular gaming system [the DS] could put kids in harm's way."
The news was in response to Nintendo’s announcement earlier in the week that it now has had more than 850,000 users logging onto their WiFi Internet service since its launch last November.
According to ABC news, a concerned parent was horrified when she found that her 11 year-old daughter was receiving offensive messages over Pictochat from a stranger.
ABC also quoted Keith Dunn, an Internet Safety Expert, who said: "Predators are using Nintendo DS anywhere in the world. And it's going to be really hard to track down those individuals because of course, they're on a wireless network from a hotspot such as a coffee shop. Or if they're in a wireless environment, say a coffee shop or whatever, they jump on the wireless network so now you have predators who are trying to get at our kids."
Mr. Dunn went on to say that parents need to teach their children to apply 'stranger danger' rules to every and any situation. "Don't talk to strangers in game rooms if you don't know they're your friends. Don't talk to anyone. Just stop talking. Stop chatting in the game room." Now this all smells to SPOnG like - well, how should we put it - like a massive pile of cooked-up horseshit.
ABC news is simply trying to cook up a bit of a moral panic storm, but has unfortunately not fully checked the facts. If the 11-year-old girl in question was being pursued over pictochat, then it was not over a WiFi Internet connection, but it was from another DS user within 65 feet. Which is of course still worrying if it happened, but is not the same as being anonymously stalked over the Internet as the story suggests.
In response to the story, a Nintendo UK spokesperson told SPOnG yesterday that the company’s line was: "Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service is a safe environment for players. The service will allow Nintendo DS gamers in the UK to link up with users across the country, and even the world, to compete against each other. Players have the option to select to play with just friends, or people of a similar skill level around the world without fear of harassment. Players do not have direct communication with each other when playing and therefore personal details or inappropriate comments cannot be exchanged."
The spokesperson went on to tell us the company's line on Pictochat and children's safety, which is this: "Nintendo takes the issue of children receiving messages from strangers very seriously. Children should be warned about receiving messages from, or communicating with, strangers through any medium. For this reason a warning and detailed privacy information are clearly highlighted in the Nintendo DS instruction booklet.
Nintendo also recommends that an adult should assist children with the system set up and instruct them not to use personal information and not to meet strangers or give personal information to anyone as it could be read by a stranger.
It should be noted that PictoChat does not connect to the internet. PictoChat can only be used to communicate with another Nintendo DS within the range of the Nintendo DS's wireless signal, which is approximately 65ft."
These are the facts. Make of them what you will.
If SPOnG's kids were getting funny messages over Pictochat, here's what we would do. We would look around us to try to see who else had a DS within a 65 feet radius. If we saw them, and successfully identified that they had been sending offensive messages to our child, we would batter them with a hammer. Or any heavy object we had to hand. If we couldn't see them we would remove the DS from our child's hands until we had left said area, and report the matter to the authorities. Seems fairly straightforward to us.
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Comments
Greg2k 17 Feb 2006 13:17
1/11
I'm pretty sure this news story won't become too big since it's so blatently false. What could be a big news story is this same thing but applied to XBOX Live, with the voice chat features in multiplayer games. This holds far more pottential danger than Pictochat could ever hold. There are more chances the person who sent those rude messages to the 11 year old girl was her father. But you'd never hear that on the news report.
Why they reported this is beyond me.
Why they reported this is beyond me.
majin dboy 17 Feb 2006 16:37
2/11
any publicity is....
more comments below our sponsor's message
danj3ris 17 Feb 2006 17:56
3/11
This just in: "The act of living compromises your safety! How can you combat this situation? We'll tell you after this commercial break."
Hell I can expose any facet of existence for being detrimental to your well-being:
"Parents, don't let your children breathe any more than they have to! They might inhale a house fly and choke to death, promoting necrophelia."
Hell I can expose any facet of existence for being detrimental to your well-being:
"Parents, don't let your children breathe any more than they have to! They might inhale a house fly and choke to death, promoting necrophelia."
Joji 17 Feb 2006 18:00
4/11
Why??
Because America is a nation of panic merchants. Infact I'd guess its their national sport too. This kind of paedo panic is the latest event (no offence to .
I also think this is also to do with how the media still see Nintendo as kids only fodder and not the domain of games for everyone.
Don't believe the hype.
Because America is a nation of panic merchants. Infact I'd guess its their national sport too. This kind of paedo panic is the latest event (no offence to .
I also think this is also to do with how the media still see Nintendo as kids only fodder and not the domain of games for everyone.
Don't believe the hype.
Ditto 17 Feb 2006 21:16
5/11
More stupidity from our stateside friends.
jordanlund 17 Feb 2006 23:17
6/11
One thing I'd like to point out, the Spong article makes it sound like it's ABC News making this claim, it isn't. It's a local ABC affiliate.
I don't know how the BBC operates, but here in the states you have television networks made up of hundreds of local stations. There is an "ABC News" broadcast that is national and goes out across the network, but each station also has their own local news segment which runs a few times a day.
It was the local ABC channel that muffed this one up and not "ABC News". For the record, local news is famous for screwing things up on a fairly regular basis.
I don't know how the BBC operates, but here in the states you have television networks made up of hundreds of local stations. There is an "ABC News" broadcast that is national and goes out across the network, but each station also has their own local news segment which runs a few times a day.
It was the local ABC channel that muffed this one up and not "ABC News". For the record, local news is famous for screwing things up on a fairly regular basis.
soanso 18 Feb 2006 00:32
7/11
It's nice to know that regional news programmes are universally s**te.
questworld 18 Feb 2006 03:07
8/11
Why do you people have to mock it. It's a valid concern that Nintendo obviously kept in mind when they designed their network. Honestly, I'm almost expecting some comment from somebody saying, "Well, it's a fact of life, if you don't want your children expose to such things don't let them play online. I can handle it and I hate the fact that Nintendo put in stupid friend codes." Seriously, so many gaming comment posters around the net seem too quick to be on the defense without even considering the merits of such complaints (i.e. hot coffee mod, sex and violence in videogames, etc.). A senator says something and nearly everyone's up in arms about it. Some guy experienced a gaming related negligence or "accident" (i.e. baby left in tub) and instead of thinking "hmm, we all should learn something from this and that is to keep your passion for gaming from clashing with your responsibilities," people are seem more quick to say "it's not gaming's fault, it's that guy's fault (which is true but not my point)" or "put a baby monitor in the bathroom while you play videogames in the living room (seriously, somebody in another website said it)." You're suppose to learn about these things people not brush it off so quickly as just ramblings of a madman. There's truth in there.
tg0006 18 Feb 2006 03:29
9/11
Man, ABC Mesed up in a major way with the DS Report. I dont want to downplay the potential dangers of childhood preditors but saying the internet stalker being anywhere sending offensive messages via picto chat is still extra security then they need because if the persons a real threat on picto chat, then hes close.
warbaby 18 Feb 2006 04:10
10/11
i find it funny, s**te like this makes me smile. ninty had purposely set up a system where stuff like this couldnt take place. its odd how nothing is said of the M$ online system or with sony's get up for the ps2. go on to any halo game and there are any number of profanities and sexual deviants present at any given time.
i hope that the dude who wrote that piece has a nice career writing fiction.
i hope that the dude who wrote that piece has a nice career writing fiction.
Dreadknux 19 Feb 2006 18:11
11/11
questworld wrote:
Why do you people have to mock it. It's a valid concern that Nintendo obviously kept in mind when they designed their network. Honestly, I'm almost expecting some comment from somebody saying, "Well, it's a fact of life, if you don't want your children expose to such things don't let them play online. I can handle it and I hate the fact that Nintendo put in stupid friend codes." Seriously, so many gaming comment posters around the net seem too quick to be on the defense without even considering the merits of such complaints (i.e. hot coffee mod, sex and violence in videogames, etc.). A senator says something and nearly everyone's up in arms about it. Some guy experienced a gaming related negligence or "accident" (i.e. baby left in tub) and instead of thinking "hmm, we all should learn something from this and that is to keep your passion for gaming from clashing with your responsibilities," people are seem more quick to say "it's not gaming's fault, it's that guy's fault (which is true but not my point)" or "put a baby monitor in the bathroom while you play videogames in the living room (seriously, somebody in another website said it)." You're suppose to learn about these things people not brush it off so quickly as just ramblings of a madman. There's truth in there.
I see what you're saying here, but you're forgetting the fact that the news story was using false information in an attempt to hype the panic. Pictochat WiFi? What? Children able to communicate with strangers around the world? What? No mention of XBOX's online functions or Sony's PS2/PSP online functions and fears of a similar paedo threat (Which, if you were, you know, a journalist, you'd actually give a passing mention*). _What_?
[ * Actually, if you were a journalist, you'd not only look at other console's online capabilities, you'd also look into how Nintendo have attempted to make it as safe as possible. You know, both sides of the coin. But then again, we are talking about American journalism here aren't we? Silly me. ]
Suggesting that the DS could be used for it in a contemplative fashion and jumping on a high horse shouting that the DS is a kiddy fiddler tool are two very different things. This 'news report' was an instance of the latter.
And someone tell me why, when films and books can influence kids and adults to do similar crimes and things, only gamers have to stand back and think "Oh yeah, maybe my lifestyle is a bit obsessive". If this guy left a baby in the bathtub because he was engrossed in Kill Bill or something, nobody would think TWICE to mention the film. But if it was a game involved instead, that would be the FIRST thing mentioned. Total bullshit. I've never seen, nor would I expect someone to say something like "Yeah, maybe reading Harry Potter too much can affect me in a detrimental manner".
I don't see why the gaming industry and its fans have to make concessions, when the rest of the entertainment sector doesn't have to. And neither do the fans that actively defend against tripe like this. So give them a bit of a break.
EDIT: The 'Hot Coffee' furore - as well as concerns over sex and violence in video games - was about minors gaining access to the raunchy/violent scenes hidden within. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an 18 rated game. All games with violence and sex in it are rated accordingly - 18. Be it BBFC or PEGI, the legislation still stands. Minors shouldn't be allowed NEAR the poxy games. Yet they can get to them, obviously. How? Negligent parents. I don't think that's "brushing off" accusations towards the game industry, do you? It just seems like common sense raped, twisted and used against the industry just because the Daily Mail is running out of accusations to make.