Short answer? No...unless they are child molesters into handheld gaming, but Fox News 6 out of Milwaukee seem to think otherwise. In a special report entitled "Playing Games With Your Kids Safety," Reporter Brad Hicks delves into the disturbing, implausible possibilities. It is pretty much one of those grab the viewer stories that they tease during prime time television. Things like, "Could those french fries give you testicular cancer? Find out at 11." The stories are generally use fear to entice people to help stations generate advertising dollars, and are generally ridiculous. Even more so in this instance.

They begin by showing how much kids love the DS. "It has lots of graphics." says one adorable little cherub. Sooo many graphics. Then it features some more adorable children, much like the average viewer's children, to help the story hit home. They even have a clip Reggie hyping up the DS's capabilities, saying the DS would redefine handheld gaming the way the iPod redefined music. This leads to the reporter's story hook, which I am officially stealing.

"Well, stop the music."

Of course the music stops dramatically, and the great danger inherit in the Nintendo DS is revealed.

Pictochat. Evil, evil Pictochat. The unadvertised backdoor that leads directly to your child's backdoor. Clips of stunned parents. Anyone can contact your child if they have Pictochat open. Anyone!

Mr. Hicks performs a demonstration, sitting downstairs with a girl's parents as she and a friend play Pictochat upstairs. He connects and starts asking them personal questions, which they answer. The mom is not happy when one of the girls writes out her address. Mind you, they know who they are talking to, but still it is shocking!

He then calls out Nintendo, who stated the DS Lite has a range of 65 feet for Wi-Fi connectivity. He heads for the mall, where he finds out that they are vile, vile liars. He can still send messages up to 300 feet away! That of course means that any child molester within 300 feet of your children can grab em, just like that!

As a gamer, I was of course impressed with the signal range.

What the reporter doesn't tell parents, is that no one uses Pictochat unless they are drunk, and yes, perhaps then it becomes an efficient deliver system for hand-drawn penis pictures, but generally only then. Tee hee.

My suggestion? I'd say anyone under 17 should bookmark the video I have linked below, and whenever you want a new DS game from your parents, show it to them. "But mom, the only game I have is Pictochat, and there's child molesters on there!" If your parent doesn't immediately buy you a new game they obviously don't really love you. You're probably adopted. Sorry.

As for Mr. Brad Hicks, might I suggest you expand on the concept presented in this piece? How about, "Could going outside expose your children to child molesters? Find out at 11!" Dork. Michael Fahey

Nintendo Hand-Held Child Molester Target - Video Report [MyFox Milwaukee - Thanks Rob]
MyFox Milwaukee Contact Page - In case anyone wants to voice their opinion.

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