Here's your heartwarming story for the day. Microsoft has teamed up with Companions in Courage in order to bring "hundreds" of Xbox 360 kiosks to children's hospitals across the nation, and the gaming stations have already been installed at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the Children's Hospital of Orange County, California. The customized units are "hospital-friendly" and come pre-loaded with a variety of E and E10+ rated games, Y-rated television programs, G-rated movies and the Xbox Live headset / Vision camera in order for gamers to play online. Speaking of, each kiosk is wired to a private Live network which "allows hospitalized children across the country to play games and chat" with each other. There's no word on where the stations are slated to arrive outside of the three venues already mentioned, but those interested in broadening the reach of the endeavor can feel free to donate to the cause.
[Via
OhGizmo]
posted May 5th 2008 2:29PM
Let people flame you all they want. I completely agree with you on the books (though not so much on ADD).
well i must say thats pretty kool to give kids in hospitals the chance to play some games.
I just hope the kids won't start deliberately injuring themselves just to get on one of these in the hospitals.
...and in related news, Workers' Comp claims have gone through the roof...
Just to add, I'm really happy to see Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle doing this -- they're a really great kid-friendly hospital.
I was hospitalized for 14 days at Children's Hospital in Buffalo in 2002. These machines are quite possibly the best thing possible to have. When I was in there, they had ancient N64s in their playroom that was the best thing to do when you are trying to forget you are in the hospital.
While I later got my xbox brought up, those N64s certainly helped me get through 2 weeks of annoying sick kids.
For all those complaining about the Kiosk design: guess what! They are all like that. Do you not think the hospitals have chairs? This isn't GameStop.
And these won't be going into individual rooms, likely for play rooms on each floor. And the amount of kids that actually are able to go to the playroom is still quite small considering many can't even get out of bed or are in therapy.
GTA installed I hope?
"Speaking of, each kiosk is wired to a private Live network which "allows hospitalized children across the country to play games and chat" with each other."
That's just awesome.
For those wondering...
It will play Doom.
I can hear it now:
addgirl123: "I have ADD, what about you?"
dramadude456: "I took 'break a leg' too seriously during the school play..."
addgirl123 [innocent voice]: What does this red button do?
dramadude456: That fires your...
dramadude456 was railed by addgirl123
addgirl123: p0wn3d!!!1!!
Nurse Ratched: Time for your enema! Oh, I can see you no longer need one.
"LOLZ SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WII!!!11!!1!one!!!1!"
In there first...
Oh god, Fusion Frenzy.
Too much liability comes into play when children are aimlessly flailing their arms in the lobbies.
good thinking! i dont think gta comes close to being installed.
"How lame. This is why so many kids today have ADD. Give the kids books, not subpar video games on an obsolete system."
wow... what a great way for YOU to change the change something! I'm pretty sure that, that's already available for them... you just have to go and find a library blog to post that in! You are in gadgets website so them posting about people giving books to children in hospitals is pretty pointless. maybe they will put games on there that teach.
Anyways.. its a start to get kids involved in some pretty neat stuff... i do like that all the hospitals will be wired together and they could talk to other kids in hospitals.
is making sick kids stand there for hours to play game really worth it?
Yeah, kids can focus on fun rather than pain. Time goes by faster...before you know it, staff security have to escort cured children out of hospitals.
@roach
Yeh, but they could put a chair there, or something.
I was thinking the same thing. It would be an awfully sad day if those children who are forced to stay in bed cannot play because the controllers are not really wireless (as it looks like they're pretty much attached to the kiosks).
It looks like there are those things called wheels on the bottom of the kiosk. Dont quote me, but I think the purpose of wheels are to make things mobile.
Oh and it connects to LIVE wirelessly
The spacing looks just about right for the unit to roll up to/under the side of a bed, actually.
not only will they have fun standing there, but the sick little kids will just spread diseases with their dirty, little hands
smooth move. epidemiology FTW
:thumbs up, Mike:
First to comment on RROD and Terminally ill children.
How long until these unit, which I am sure will be in continuous use will get the RROD? Five maybe six days.
Or maybe never? Chances are never, considering the failure rate. If they're as reliable as my launch 360, then never.
Also, I am sure it will be fun for nurses to explain the RROD to terminally ill children.
kid: "can i get the red ring of death? it sounds bad."
nurse: "don't worry, only humans with sub-par cooling systems can get it."
The Children's Hospital Denver has a 360 and a laptop in every room. It's also important to keep family members entertained as well. Most of these kids have siblings that will use these kiosks. Helps them remember that they are still kids, and forget they are sick.
Haha yea I completely agree..these units fry like there is no tomorrow. Had my 360 for a year and a half before it died and my best friend who has had his less then a year and hardly even plays the thing just popped in GTA4 and bam red ring of death before he even got through the intro. Im going out this month to get a PS3 because I am officially done with the 360. Im also joining the class action law suits against microsoft over this faulty piece of garbage and I filed a complaint with the BBB.
Really nobody cares. what was the point of your post? This is an uplifting story about Microsoft doing something nice for sick kids and you post trash about your xbox not working what a great comment you my friend are an EPIC FAIL not only in your comments but in your life.
I just wish Sony stepped in and supplied PS3s ... As an avid Xbox360/Halo/Gears fan this is insane ... but I just got a RROD today in the middle of GTA4 ... and this is my 3nd xbox 360. My original xbox is STILL running *JUST* fine after so many years. The gamer in me cries "xbox" but the consumer is me screams "go to competitor" ...
Anyway, Its GREAT to see the good gesture from Microsoft ... I guess Balmer is learning a bit from Bill Gates' generous heart!! ts GREAT to see kids being able to enjoy even during sickness. Still I hate to think of the disappointment of RROD the kids will get in the middle of their rock band/guitar hero sessions ...
nice way to harbour and spread infection between the wards. Disposable controllers i hope.
Way to go, you've just discovered the single point of failure. How is it that you're sitting there commenting on Engadget, and no one has offered you a high paying job at the CDC?
Oh wait, maybe someone has already got it covered, and come up with a simple solution of one or more kiosk units per ward, the way they already do it with lots of childrens' hospital.
Sorry to get your hopes up.
WTF?!? not everyone in hospital has infections. I have been in hospital quite a few times before with no infections or diseases
I just hope they don't hook up the xbox live vision cameras and play uno... there's some horrible people out there that play that games that like to.... you know... show their... you know what I'm referancing to... on the camera... *shudders*
Did you even bother to read the article?
"each kiosk is wired to a private Live network which "allows hospitalized children across the country to play games and chat" with each other."
that doesn't mean the people within the hospital won't do the same... damn... thing. Oh and yes I read the article and knew it said that in it.
PS3 works on curing diseases, Xbox 360 entertains sick children... Working as a team isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Anyway, this is rather old (not that I'm complaining), as I saw it on FiringSquad a few weeks ago... Still, hats off to Microsoft for this.
These things are wonderful in the hospital. I remember when I broke my leg they had a SNES, and Sega Saturn kiosk...helped me passed time while I rested with meds and pain.
How about adults, Im 38 and would love to give those kids a challenge.
It's good to see Microsoft continuing to do nice things, At this rate we'll see some nice Ultimate Extras soon
The heat from the Xbox 360 will cause the kids' proteins to denature, making them even more sick.
Ok let me preface this by saying its a great idea and I'm not trying to detract from what they're doing.
*However*, there is already a charity doing this - its called Child's Play and its run by the guys at penny-arcade, and they've put millions of dollars into putting video games in the hands of children in hospitals all over the world. Notable sponsors include Valve and Bungie (which is owned by MS... oddly enough)
http://www.childsplaycharity.org/
Feel free to donate, if you think the above is a good idea. I believe they usually give out PSPs and DSs and the like, so the kids get their own... rather than a 'community' kiosk.
How dumb is it for sick kids to have to stand up? If they are in a hospital, more then likely they are in a bed, tied up to an IV, or are weak.
^childsplay is the way to go
The kiosk idea is kinda dumb, but the thought is really neat. Good on Microsoft for at least attempting.
I agree though, Child's Play is the utmost in gaming charity at this point. They do fantastic work.
Who says' they're standing- the kiosks could be wheeled into anywhere with a bed, and said kids could play from their bed.
whats the point. they're all going to get rrod.
Are the nurses going to be trained in tech support? Do we really want sick kids throwing their controllers at the door mad because the Xbox just died?
My daughter goes in every 3 weeks for chemo treatment for 4 days. I think this is a great idea. You can roll it up to the edge of the beds which are also height adjustable. It's good to see companies doing things like this because the kids need whatever they can get to help them get through it.
Agreed. At this point, it doesn't matter who does it. I find it kind of odd that it's Microsoft doing it, though, considering everyone's pre-determined assumptions about them being so money hungry and greedy.