Kotaku
Microsoft is teaming with the Companions in Courage Foundation to deliver Xbox 360 kiosks to children's hospitals across the country, the company announced today.
Each kiosk will include an Xbox 360 packed with select games, movies and television content as well asaccess to a private network that allows hospitalized children to play games and chat with one another across the country over Live.
The first kiosks will be showing up today 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 in California. Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, will even be on hand in Seattle to kick off the giveaway... and perhaps pwn some sick kids at Halo 3?
I kid because I care, seriously. As I've said before, I spent a chunk of one childhood summer in a children's hospital in Baltimore, so I know first hand how important it is to have toys and distractions when your hospitalized for long stretches of time.
Good for you Microsoft.
Xbox 360 Kiosks Bring Games and Entertainment to Children's Hospitals
Microsoft partners with Companions in Courage to give young patients an outlet for games and chat via private Xbox LIVE network.
REDMOND, Wash. — April 23, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new partnership with the Companions in Courage Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families who are overcoming life-threatening obstacles. As part of its commitment to providing fun, interactive entertainment for children, Microsoft is supplying hundreds of Xbox 360 game kiosks to playrooms in children's hospitals across the United States, intended to provide a respite for young patients and be a catalyst for fun. In addition to select games, movies and television content, the Xbox 360 kiosks will provide access to a private network that allows hospitalized children across the country to play games and chat in a safety-enhanced environment over Xbox LIVE, the world's largest social network connected to television.
Microsoft is celebrating this partnership and the installation of the first wave of kiosks with three simultaneous events today 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 in California. Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, will attend the Seattle event to commemorate the first group of Xbox 360 kiosks and the launch of the special Xbox LIVE network.
"Microsoft is committed to keeping kids entertained in a variety of ways within a safer gaming environment, so partnering with Companions in Courage to offer children in hospitals a way to connect through something as universal as games is a natural fit for the work we do," Bach said. "The goal for this program is to give these kids a chance to have some fun and just be kids."
Companions in Courage founder and National Hockey League Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine said, "Entertainment, creativity and personal connections can be important factors in alleviating some of the isolation and discomfort these children experience each day. Xbox 360 offers young patients a fun escape through games, TV shows, movies and positive interactions with others over the Xbox LIVE network. These gaming stations are a perfect complement to the interactive playrooms."
The customized and hospital-friendly Xbox 360 kiosks are pre-loaded with a variety of Y-rated TV programs, G-rated movies, games rated E and E10+, as well as Xbox 360 Headset and Xbox LIVE Vision Camera capabilities, which enable patients to communicate over a dedicated Xbox LIVE network. This network, created just for Xbox 360 kiosks and consoles in children's hospitals, allows patients to play games over Xbox LIVE, but limits chat via voice, text and video to only those children playing from select hospitals across the country. The industry-leading parental controls on Xbox 360, known as Family Settings, will be used to help restrict access to content outside ratings parameters, as well as the times during which patients can use the kiosks or consoles.
"It's extremely gratifying to witness the joy and excitement of these children and teens when they have a chance to break away from the normal hospital routine, and make new friends while playing video games," said Cynthia Sparer, executive director of Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian. "We are grateful that our partnership with Companions in Courage helps us meet the needs of our patients and allows kids to be kids even when they're sick."
To help bring even more Xbox 360 kiosks to children's hospitals across the country, individuals can visit the Companions in Courage Web site at http://cic16.org to make a donation.
Comments
This is a beautiful thing to do.
Go Microsoft!
Here come the inevitable RROD comments... hopefully followed by an immediate ban.
This is great though, and a nice thing to do, especially the private network thing to other hospitals.
Philanthropy is great. It is nice to see the big M giving back. Really, when the day is day hardware sales do not matter when compared to helping folks.
I think that's an awesome idea. Too bad they can't get the kids HDTV's to go with it. Lets just hope the number of RROD's is minimal.
Nothing like a crashed system to dampen the spirits of a kid, especially one who's already down and out.
i remember when my brother was in the hospital eons ago and all they had was nintendo.. it was fun play metal gear
I hate RROD comments but in this case u have to make a note of it. Those stands tend to heat up pretty badly. But then again they probably are all those newer systems so problem solved.
This is great- I'm in med school right now and when I see young kids in the hospital... man, that's painful. Seeing kids with leukemia, lymphoma, or other serious illnesses just tears me up inside.
I hope that this helps some of them have some comfort through their hospital stays- wonderful gesture Microsoft
Awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome!!!
This is fantastic! I recall when I was in the hospital for 6 or so weeks, there was an N64 in the hospital that they were able to roll from room to room. I didn't get to play it often cause a lot of kids wanted to play it, but it really helped me keep my mind off the crap I was going through while I was there.
Great job Microsoft!
good going there Microsoft. The customized live network is a brilliant idea, imagine the potential problems with using the normal xbox live? I hope this project goes well
I seriously hope they make this a mainstay of some extent for hospitals (of course, regulated...don't want kids going all nuts over playing).
@stupidfanboy: "Here come the inevitable RROD comments... hopefully followed by an immediate ban."
I honestly considered making one for all of two seconds, but it just wouldn't be right.
That is a really great thing. I remember when I was in the hospitol in 3rd grade they had a SNES that I didn't let leave the room for 3 weeks while I was in there.
This is great. I'd like to see this come to the Great White North, along with all the fixin's.
Whaaa? Microsoft... free... donate... same sentence? Apocalypse?
But seriously nice. the private network is a nice touch. I predict a spike in young people, non sick related, voluntering at children hospitals. Take that Mr. Patcher!!
I also wonder what the select games are going to be?
what if the kid has no hands
Awesome to hear...I spent a few years in the hospital as a child and the highlight of the day was when the teachers came...I mean when we got to have time in the rec room and playing the old NES was great. Nice to hear Bills philanthropy is ever expanding.
Good on Microsoft.
It's good to hear companies helping out there fellow man. I think this is a great gesture.
How log till Fox spins this into Microsoft trying to bring teabagging and interactive orgasmic rape to children's hospitals?
I just noticed that those things don't seem to be variable-sized. What if some of the child are restricted to bed, and want to play?
Glad to see something like this. To bad it's only at one childrens hospital tho.
I'm gonna throw a suggestion out there, because it's something I like to do as well.
If you getting rid of your older systems like a PS2 donate them to the childrens ward at your local hospital, along with any games your not planning on keeping. This makes a difference for children in your local community!
@ionwaffle:
Then you just have him on the mic calling all the other sick kids terrible names.
I think they are on carts so that they can be wheeled into rooms and be played bedside.
Sweet!
Awesome. The safey-enhanced version of XBOX LIVE is a nice touch.
This is a great thing, it is always nice to see people giving back like that. Way to do MS
Oh man this is awesome! I remember when I was little and was having surgery there was an arcade in the hospital. They had this amazing 3-D shooter game with real actors (it was a western game). I probably would have had the surgery over again, just to play that game!!
My 8 year old daughter was sick in the hospital for two weeks last year, and she was having a hard time with boredom. This would have been so helpful, especially since she loves video games.
Great idea.
OH SHI-
Cel phones and wireless devices are still banned right? I sure hope they know about this before someone gets hurt or killed.
[www.ubergizmo.com]
[www.networkworld.com]
[www.pcworld.com]
Cool. Good for you Microsoft.
I have never been hospitalized, but if I ever found myself in that situation, with something really wrong with me, I'd imagine being stuck in a hospital bed all day wouldn't be too great. This is exactly what I would want.
Good on you Microsoft.
Looks more like a blatant advertisement move...
Bravo MS.
I've donated my no-longer-used games to the local Children's Hospital. Microsoft understands their need as well, and this is great to see.
@Hylian: What do you expect them to do? Remove all markings of 'XBOX' or 'MicroSoft'?
Why do people have to question good things all the time?
Nice one MS.
great idea... Always love to see companies helping out! other companies should take notice.
kindhearted ms
It's the IV of 2008!
Worst PR stunt evar.
Why couldn't they just give the hospitals the systems without making a spectacle out of it? Why does Robbie Bach have to "kick off the giveaway"?
They think this is going to make people get all sappy and say, "you know, MS really does love me."
NO THEY DON'T!! THEY LOVE YOUR MONEY!!
Give the sick kids the toys because you want them to be happy while they're in the hospital. DON'T give the sick kids the toys because you think it makes you look like Mother Teresa.
For shame M$...
We were overdue for a new feel-good story. :)
@stupidfanboy:
Here come the inevitable RROD comments... hopefully followed by an immediate ban.
Oh, c'mon? 360s in a hospital? That's perfect fodder for a good RROD joke! Quick, someone get the paddles, stat! stupidfanboy's sense of humor is coding! ;)
Seriously, though, this is an awesome thing. For once, we can hope that the other game companies will immediately copy this idea.
lets hope they dont burn the hospital down...i kid i kid
@Fantus:
You're really trying to spin this aren't you? For shame.
I worked in a cancer center before and I used to donate my used games to the kids. It really helps some of these kids focus on something other than what they're in the hospital for.
@Fantus: lol, 'Worst PR stunt'? You serious? This shit is pure GENIUS. This will boost their popularity and hell, might even do something for sales.
Now, if you're questioning the moral and ethical aspects as to WHY they're doing it...maybe. It makes sense that they'd make somewhat of a deal out of it, though. It brings it to the attention of the people, and the press. Also, most things of this caliber are inaugurated, not just brought on 'without warning' so to speak.
Hell, i'd like to see most people make a donation of that caliber without making a fuss out of it. You'll find NO ONE will. Just be glad the kids have something to do while in the hospital to take their minds off the fact that they're THERE with nothing to do and the remote possibility that something might go wrong.
So instead of focusing your cynicism at Microsoft for this, focus on something that actually has a negative impact.
@Fantus: I see your point, but they can get all the PR they want, when the result is helping sick children, the ends justify the means.
The point is they helped regardless of how they did it.
I can't believe nobody mentioned Child's Play yet.
[www.childsplaycharity.org]
They're a charity run by the guys from Penny-arcade. I wish Kotaku had mentioned them in the article itself.
And I'm sorry, but the press release reads like a 360 sales pitch.... HOWEVER, understand that the people at Microsoft who worked on this are likely very happy that they were able to help sick kids, and the whole project shouldn't be bashed because of some marketing/PR pricks.
@Fantus: yeah Thyy should've definitely kept this a secret just to gain respect of all the MS haters... right... or maybe they should've gotten some wii's. amirite? amirite?
When I was a kid I ended up in the hospital for a week or so with a stomach problem. (They slapped an IV in me until I got hydrated and could eat again, no big deal compared to what OTHER people had to endure with their childhood.) They wheeled an Atari in and I learned how hard it is to play Frogger with your arm taped to a board so you won't pull the needle out of your arm. It helped pass the time where I would otherwise be bored out of my skull, so I have to say I support this move by Microsoft with two thumbs up.
@Meuacan: Those are renders, perhaps they'll have the supporting pillar so the height can be changed?
@fuchikoma: The controllers are wired in the render, and I've seen plenty of hospitals use wireless devices for patient tracking so I'd assume having the consoles be networked via wireless would be no big deal. I'm sure Microsoft is going to test the living heck out of these things before they give them to the hospital either way, it would be a PR nightmare if they caused health problems.
The hard plastic controllers should be great since they should be able to be sprayed with disinfectant, but I wouldn't be surprised if the controllers were slightly different just to avoid getting liquid under the thumbsticks.
@Hylian: Troll much? I suppose you hate Child's Play as well. Look at all the corporate sponsors! They must just be doing it to advertise!
[www.childsplaycharity.org]
Wait a second here.... If M$ is doing something good.... who is commiting all the evil in the world?? XD
I think they are doing a great thing here despite the obvious self promotion behind it. If it gives sick children hope or even just puts a smile on thier faces then I say let Microsoft do all the grandstanding that they want. It sounds like a great program and I hope that they keep it going long after the press stops covering it. Being one of the biggest M$ haters it pains me to say this but......
Thank You Microsoft.
@Fantus:Without this publicity, no one would know about this program. I think if it gets some press, people are exposed to this program and may tend to donate their hard earned money to Companions in Courage.
@Fantus: Are you serious? You really have trouble understanding why they would make this a PR event?
Corporations only do things that can, in some way, generate value. It is their legal obligation to their shareholders to operate under this mandate. This whole program was designed to be a PR event. That is why these things are done.
I dont care if its a PR stunt,that was a great act from MS.The only thing is i dont think a couple of hundred consoles will be enough.The other publishers should also follow the example.
@NateN: I sincerely hope so, or there will be some new medical problems to explain from the kids trying to make their bodies adjust in bed just so they can play, lol.
are they trying to comfort the children by showing them that even machines die?
While it's a nice gesture, I can't help but feel it's more a part of MS's global branding, and less about helping out the sick kids.