Xbox 360 kiosks headed to children's hospitals across the US
[Via OhGizmo]
Filed under: Gaming
[Via OhGizmo]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
elliot.sawyer @ May 5th 2008 2:41PM
Let people flame you all they want. I completely agree with you on the books (though not so much on ADD).
Ian @ May 5th 2008 2:33PM
well i must say thats pretty kool to give kids in hospitals the chance to play some games.
Richard Lai @ May 5th 2008 3:27PM
I just hope the kids won't start deliberately injuring themselves just to get on one of these in the hospitals.
Vic20 @ May 5th 2008 8:32PM
...and in related news, Workers' Comp claims have gone through the roof...
APasserBy @ May 5th 2008 10:45PM
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.
nojok3 @ May 6th 2008 9:52AM
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.
William @ May 5th 2008 2:34PM
GTA installed I hope?
phez @ May 5th 2008 2:37PM
"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.
Tim @ May 5th 2008 4:22PM
For those wondering...
It will play Doom.
Sachin @ May 5th 2008 4:39PM
I can hear it now:
addgirl123: "I have ADD, what about you?"
dramadude456: "I took 'break a leg' too seriously during the school play..."
Vic20 @ May 5th 2008 4:59PM
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.
fanman @ May 5th 2008 2:42PM
"LOLZ SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WII!!!11!!1!one!!!1!"
In there first...
Ethan @ May 5th 2008 2:43PM
Oh god, Fusion Frenzy.
Low Ranked @ May 5th 2008 5:20PM
Too much liability comes into play when children are aimlessly flailing their arms in the lobbies.
theidoctor.org @ May 5th 2008 2:44PM
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.
kingofwale @ May 5th 2008 2:46PM
is making sick kids stand there for hours to play game really worth it?
roach @ May 5th 2008 2:59PM
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.
natenovielli @ May 5th 2008 3:10PM
@roach
Yeh, but they could put a chair there, or something.
Nathaniel @ May 5th 2008 3:34PM
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).
project @ May 5th 2008 4:27PM
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
Dustin @ May 5th 2008 4:46PM
The spacing looks just about right for the unit to roll up to/under the side of a bed, actually.
Moo2 @ May 5th 2008 11:30PM
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
Nando @ May 5th 2008 2:46PM
:thumbs up, Mike:
Matt @ May 5th 2008 2:49PM
First to comment on RROD and Terminally ill children.
TSM @ May 5th 2008 2:50PM
How long until these unit, which I am sure will be in continuous use will get the RROD? Five maybe six days.
Zeus.:God @ May 5th 2008 3:22PM
Or maybe never? Chances are never, considering the failure rate. If they're as reliable as my launch 360, then never.
TSM @ May 5th 2008 2:53PM
Also, I am sure it will be fun for nurses to explain the RROD to terminally ill children.
Daniel @ May 5th 2008 4:28PM
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."
sburko @ May 5th 2008 2:54PM
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.
Ryan @ May 5th 2008 2:57PM
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.
Teetdogs @ May 5th 2008 3:35PM
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.
siddharth s @ May 6th 2008 6:40PM
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 ...
eoin @ May 5th 2008 3:00PM
nice way to harbour and spread infection between the wards. Disposable controllers i hope.
JC @ May 5th 2008 3:12PM
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.
oblenob @ May 5th 2008 4:39PM
WTF?!? not everyone in hospital has infections. I have been in hospital quite a few times before with no infections or diseases
Sam Zebian @ May 5th 2008 3:04PM
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*
Teetdogs @ May 5th 2008 3:38PM
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."
Sam Zebian @ May 5th 2008 3:56PM
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.
Zeus.:God @ May 5th 2008 3:24PM
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.
LongshotX @ May 5th 2008 3:28PM
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.
jtc970 @ May 5th 2008 3:38PM
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
bartoron @ May 5th 2008 3:40PM
The heat from the Xbox 360 will cause the kids' proteins to denature, making them even more sick.
thebig33tuna @ May 5th 2008 4:10PM
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.
ncsustash @ May 5th 2008 4:13PM
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
michaelportent @ May 5th 2008 4:28PM
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.
Zeus.:God @ May 5th 2008 4:44PM
Who says' they're standing- the kiosks could be wheeled into anywhere with a bed, and said kids could play from their bed.
fred @ May 5th 2008 4:22PM
whats the point. they're all going to get rrod.
Ratz @ May 5th 2008 4:39PM
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.
Zeus.:God @ May 5th 2008 4:46PM
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.
Goatee Man @ May 5th 2008 4:40PM
RRoD and GTA jokes aside, I think this was pretty cool on Microsoft's part.