GameDr destroys recreation of youth

Evil incarnate.

(Credit: Digital Innovations)

Parents, I've found a device that you will love and your children will hate. Just don't tell them you heard it from me, I have my geek cred to look out for. It's an evil video game timer called the GameDr.

It attaches to the power plug on your kid's console via a combination lock. Then you can program the amount of time left until it kills the power, losing your child's progress, and making him or her resent you. It will give them 10- then 1-minute warnings, so that's something.

Sure, they'll get their homework done, but is the rage they'll feel toward you for all time really worth it? We don't think so. But for $30, you're free to disagree.

(Source: OhGizmo via Gizmodo)

[peoplecraveme]

it looks like you could just cut the zip tie and plug it in somewhere else

[viper396]

You could also just swap the plug out at the other end.

Any seriously motivated kid can work around this meaning it would still be up to the parents to parent their kids.

[PvtPockets]

what happened to parents actually being parents?

[sdf0013]

This is terrible. I've seen other kinds of items like - like one that cuts the internet connection. I understand why inventors want these items, but they don't really understand what it does to it's victims. Cutting a game off before you can get to a save point (and these devices don't have any grace period) will only enrage the victim. Worse, if they are playing multiplayer and the power is cut and the entire team loses because of that - there's a peer cost associated with that.

"parents actually being parents" - couldn't have said it better myself.

Forced measures like this seldom go smoothly. I suspect this company (or at least the product) will be gone in 3 months.

[viper396]

If things like not being able to save game progress or his team losing in multiplayer were to cause as much rage as you imply it does then that kid has some serious problems and should be getting therapy.

To more normal, better adjusted kids this would just be a punishment and thus motivate them to not be in that situation. (Yes, I know, a "normal" kid can be a matter of opinion)

[NervClaX]

How long before some enraged/depressed pre-teen stabs his parent over installing this device?