Our goal is to help parents and caregivers with simple and straight-forward information to help them make the right decisions for their family around interactive entertainment. As a continuation of our commitment to families, we are providing this brochure to give you more information about the world of computer and video games. For those of you who have just purchased an Xbox 360®, this Family Guide helps explain Parental Controls, called "Family Settings" for use on your Xbox 360 console. We'll also give you tips on setting up your family's accounts on Xbox LIVE, Microsoft's global online games and entertainment network. For those playing games on their PC, we'll help explain Family Settings on your Windows Vista operating system. A PACT FOR FAMILIES We have created a way in which adults and children together can set guidelines for media use—whether playing video games, watching TV and videos and using the internet—right from the start. It's called the PACT, and you'll Learn how to make a PACT with your family on page 11of this guide. It is our hope that you will use this information, share it with your children and pass it along to others who may benefit from it. All of this information and more to help families make the choices that are right for their children is available at Tip: Look at what computer and video games are in your home. Make sure they meet your approval and are appropriate for your child based on ESRB ratings. 3 MS_FamilySettingsBooklet.indd 3 11/2/2007 4:33:18 PM * XBOX360. Get Set: A Quick Guide to Using Xbox 360 Family Settings Family Settings are built into every Xbox 360 console. They are powerful tools that can help parents and caregivers choose the gaming and entertainment experience that is right for their families. They automatically appear the first time you turn on your console. The Xbox 360 Family Settings can help control the types of games and movies that family members can play or view, based on their content rating, and they can help families manage the amount of time each child uses the Xbox 360 console. They also empower adults to manage and, if they choose, block Xbox LIVE and the online interactions on Xbox LIVE. The following are simple instructions on how to set up your Family Settings. For more in-depth directions or for more information on how to control interactions on Xbox LIVE, please visit Tip: Set rules on how often and when video games can be played. Both Xbox 360 and Windows Vista have time controls to help parents manage these guidlines. H MS_FamilySettingsBooklet.indd 4 -(^)- 11/2/2007 4:33:48 PM Choosing the appropriate games for your Xbox 360: If you're using your Xbox 360 console for the first time choose "Family Settings" from the Initial Setup Screen. If you did not set up the Family Settings when you first turned on your console, you can set them at any time in the Xbox Dashboard. The Xbox Dashboard consists offive screens, known as blades: "System" (for changing settings), "Media" (for playing music or videos or displaying pictures from your console or through your computer connection), "Games" (play on!), "LIVE" (for online gaming and networking) and "Marketplace" (for purchasing online content and trying out demos). FamilySettings are Listed under the "System" blade. Dnce you have chosen "Family Settings," pick "Console Controls" from the menu that appears and then "Game Ratings." Select the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating Levelyou deem appropriate. (The default setting is "Allow ALL Games.") These ratings are Early Childhood (eC), Everyone (E), Everyone 10+ (E10+), Teen (T) and Mature (M). Microsoft does not publish, support or endorse Adults Only (A.D)-rated games on either the Xbox 360 or Window's Vista, but it's important for parents and caregivers to be familiar with all the rating Levels. For a more detailed description of the ratings system, please check out "How Computer and Video Games are Rated" on page 15of this guide. Once you have changed any of the Family Settings defaults, you must set a Pass Code that prevents unauthorized changes to the settings. To do so, select "Set Pass Code" from the "Console Controls" screen and follow the on-screen instructions. Be sure you write down your Pass Code and keep it in a safe place. After you've set your code, select "Done" from the Console Controls screen. When prompted, select "Yes" to save changes and put your new settings into effect. MS_FamilySettingsBooklet.indd 5 11/2/2007 4:34:03 PM Choosing the appropriate videos for your Xbox 360: Again, you'll start from the main screen, the Xbox Dashboard or—if you're using the Xbox 360 system for the first time—from the "initial Setup Complete" screen. Go to the "System" blade and choose "Family Settings," then "Console Controls," then "Video Ratings." Under "Video Ratings," there are four choices: "Movie Ratings," "TV Ratings," "Explicit...