Game safely with Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit
Localised help for Singapore parents on gaming safety
Parents in Singapore now have a new tool to help their children navigate the perils of online gaming. Microsoft yesterday launched the Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit for Singapore, a collection of tips and tricks to help families game safely. Created with help from government agencies and organisations, including the Media Literacy Council, Cyberlite Books and SG Her Empowerment (SHE), this toolkit comes with local links and age-specific case studies.
But the toolkit is still just a guide, the heavy-lifting is done by the Xbox Family Settings app (for iOS and Android). This app lets parents limit screen time, restrict content according to age limits, and manage in-game purchases. Users can also review and monitor online interactions, such as friend requests and chats. For those who engage in harassment and bullying, and violate Xbox’s Community Standards, Microsoft recently introduced an enforcement strike system for Xbox that can lead to suspensions.
At a discussion for the launch, panelists recounted their own experiences with their kids on gaming. My takeaway: Stay engaged in your child’s life, and not just rely on the app. But seeing as a Microsoft survey this year found that 67% of Singaporean parents are using at least one parental control, compared with 81% of parents internationally, the Family Settings app would be a good start for many parents here. For parents and caregivers who want to learn more, Microsoft’s retail partner Harvey Norman will also run a series of workshops in the coming months on the Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit at its Millenia Walk store.
In our latest reviews, we checked out a more compact Omnidesk table, a new electric vehicle from BYD, and Logitech’s new hot-pink gaming headset.
The Omnidesk Classic has a width of 60cm, so it may fit in places where space is a premium. There are, however, some compromises. For example, you can only place monitor arms at the back because there isn’t sufficient space at the sides. And naturally, there’s also less desk space for larger monitors.
The new BYD Dolphin is a basic hatchback EV that lacks certain niceties like a sunroof or wireless charging for your phone. But its interior design looks quite nice, with comfortable ventilated seats and sporty aircon vents. However, the biggest issue with the Dolphin is that the BYD Atto 3 is just S$10,000 more, and offers a lot more.
If you don’t mind paying a bit more for excellent sound, great comfort, and good battery life, then the Logitech G Pro X 2, which snagged our Editors’ Choice award, is the one to check out. This second iteration offers much better battery life, and comes with a fantastic mic that reduces wind noise effectively.