Video game timer knows when to quit

a good idea but only if it automatically saves where they left off. Otherwise this would absolutely suck.

horrifying.

Nothing like letting a device do the work for you, how about you learn to be a parent then have kids...God bless America

That seems like a bad idea, video games are good in ways, and what if it shuts off and you havent saved!!!!

Wait, if it plugs into the power cord, can't they just use another power cord? Or does it lock into the power input on the console?

this guy needs to die already...

GREAT Idea!!!!!

this is really dumb, these types of devices are for parents who cant control their children enough and face it, they are going to find a way around this. kids arent that dumb. plus kids will get extra pissed if they lose a saved game or something. parents, just monitor your children and make them listen to you and thats it.

First off there's been a product called the Game Dr. on the market for a decade or so that is a disc scratch remover. I suggest they change the name asap.

Secondly, just watch your kids and limit them that way. If it just cuts the power then it won't save progress or anything.

horrible idea, That could ruin hours of progress in a game if it shuts down before a player can save it.

I personally think it's a great idea. And to the whole shutting off without saving thing: kids can read how much time they have left on the timer, so when they see that time is running out...they can save and turn off the game. It's not that difficult.

People are overlooking how creative a kid can suddenly become when faced with a device that shuts off their game. Unless the ability to limit playing time is built from within the game console itself, I don't see this type of product actually working. Is there even a way to keep a kid from unplugging their game from the product and plugging it straight into the wall socket???

What if it shuts off WHILE you're saving? Corrupting the game to where the minimal thing that will happen is that your game will reset from the beginning? Terrible idea.

im a gamer my self and all though i hate it when i am told to get off i know i should.. cus i will sit there till my eyeballs roll out of my head head and i tell my self i should get off i just never make the move. so i think it will be a good catalyst. now i know many kids wont like it but parents need to show there controll over us in this messed up world we live in. alot of parents are wussy and afriad to see their kids upset so they let them do whatever they want. i think that this is a good thing. i just shudder to think if my mom gets one.

it seems okay but i would hate it if it was used on me. still it might work for other people :/

There is only one issue with this device is that if it shuts power off from the console in the middle of the system saving or loading, it could potentally cause said system to crash or corrupt the hard drive. Then you would have to pay money out of pocket to fix the machine if you don't have a warrenty. Not to mention the frustration of the gamer loosing any progress that wasn't saved at that time!

xbox already does this

Only one big galring problem if you bought them a ps3 or xbox 360. There is a good chance you have either bought them a psp, a nintendo ds, or and ipod which all provide you with hanheld gaming and in some case the ability to link to the game they were already playing. This is about 40 years late because hand held devices have taken over only would have woked on atari. and also don't forget the average staring age for cellphone owners is now 10 so they can play games on that also make phone calls and send texts to little to late but nice thought old man

Well, I think it's an incredibley stupid idea. Like everyone has been saying, this device is maid for people that can't control their kids because they are too lazy to do it.

To Samie: What if they are playing a game that has save points (Final Fantasy, Splinter Cell, Dead Space) and they can't just see the time and save? Not all games are like Super Mario 64 and save every 15 seconds. Most newer games deal with save points, or in case of the Hitman series, use limited saves. Maybe next time, you should think before you speak.

who gives a s***

Parents just say "no" to your kids. are devices really necessary to do a parent's job? I'm sure a technologically advanced teen would be able to bypass this device

That isn't right. What if their child is in the middle of a game where they are about to beat it and then it just turns off. I would be very pissed at my parents if I was that kid. Besides, most kids would probably rip it off of the game console and just throw it out of the window or in the garbage.

It's just some no-name inventor trying to capitalize on society. I wouldn't buy one. It also promotes lazy parenting. Plus, eventually someone will come up with "hacks" for it, making the device useless in mere months, if not weeks. Don't pay money for another electronic babysitter.

Also, as some comments point out, there is a risk of hardware damage to the console itself. Won't be long before someone sues this guy and his company for causing damage to their expensive property.

"John Morrisey's invention, the GameDr, is making headlines as a potentially useful tool for parents sick of arguing with kids over play time."

First off if you're "arguing" with your child, then you are a worthless parent.
If you don't have authority in your home to make your children follow direction and do as told, then you may want to consider getting your tubes tide or a vasectomy before the problem continues with more brats!
Parents today are just like children though, they bride them with toys, ask them what *they want* and when they act like the brat you thought them to be, you wonder whats wrong.
I'll tell you whats wrong, most have no clue how to raise children because you either had them too young yourself or you was raised in a dysfunctional home.

Xbox does have parental controls built into the system. Also couldn't the device just be unplugged from the console's cord or does it lock onto the cord?

Again, to me, if you as a parent don't have the capability to control how long your child plays video games you really have bigger problems...

Here's a novel idea for you parents....just don't buy a gaming system for your kids. Make them go outside and play and use their imaginations.

Great questions that I agree with: Can kids unplug the device? Will it save the game?
But I also like the comment that they can watch the timer and save before that.
As far as parents need to monitor their kids, that's great to a point but in the real world, parents don't watch their kids 24/7 and that's the honest truth. People that always makes these comments either don't have kids or are not being honest with themselves.

horrible idea, and remember Parents buy the console's for their children i don't know but how i was raised if i am not paying the bills or rent i dont have any say in anything under my parents roof it plain and simple until you get your own stuff and pay for it yourself and if you dont like it then guess what someone else is gonna have a new game console! its pretty simple

It would seem like a useful tool, but it is not built into the game, just the power cord. I remember when you just cut power on a game mid-playing, it would cause problems. If it didn't warn you to save soon, the game would be saved.
Now, it could be useful. Reminds me of the tool built into WOW(world of warcraft), where you can set it to shut down at certain hours. Like dinner time, bed time, or other times. The easy thing is that WOW is pre-saved, or always saving. You don't have to do it yourself, so if it shuts down mid-game, the worst is you are in a difficult game area. (Though, you can even built in an alarm clock, to remind you, your almost done time).
Again, the idea is wonderful, but the follow through might not work. Really, any gamer would tell you a mother with the power to pull a cord mid-game is the worst, worst thing. Seriously, an egg timer would be better.