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Microsoft Responds To Obama's Anti-Gaming Rhetoric

sjohnson
92 Comments

Posted July 20, 2009 - By Stephen Johnson

ObamaPresident Obama is awesome; even though he wore Mom-jeans to throw out the first pitch at a ball game, will turn the United States into Soviet Russia in 1974, and wants to destroy video games for everyone, He's still the coolest president we've ever had, face it. Here's what Big O said about games in a speech in New York on Thursday:

"To parents, we can’t tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them when they get home. For our kids to excel, we must accept our own responsibilities. That means putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It means attending those parent-teacher conferences, reading to our kids, and helping them with their homework..."

These statements echo Obama's long-held positions on both video games and bed-times, but he hadn't called out Microsoft's products by name until this speech. Microsoft responded thusly to the Associated Press:

"We agree with President Obama that it’s a time for families to work together so that kids use media in ways that are safe, healthy and balanced. Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching.L

Wow! This war-of-words is really heating up, eh? It's like when The Hulk and Andre the Giant used to battle it out in the squared circle!

Here's my take on the matter: If you're a follower of TheFeed, you already know that the Obama family owns a Wii, so his anti-Xbox rhetoric is clearly console war fanboyism. As a hardcore gamer, Obama is angry that The Conduit didn't sell that well, so he's taking it out on those smug Xboxers. Please leave barely informed political opinions in our comment section below.

 

Microsoft Responds To Obama's Anti-Gaming Rhetoric
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/697508/microsoft-responds-to-obamas-anti-gaming-rhetoric/
http://images.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/167374_S/Obama.jpg
BlogThread_697508
  • Designinja

    I'm not sure if that's as much a "war or words" as Microsoft jumping at an opportunity to market their product. "Xbox helps you be a more responsible gamer parent. Our system has timers and parental controls. Buy it."

    Posted: July 21, 2009 6:37 AM | Reply | Report
    Designinja
  • Gamegeek587

    It's cool to see the president addressing the families of the nation in a way that supports education, but I know as a life long gamer, games don't rot the brain like some people would tell their kids. Video games are mind stimulating, forcing the player to solve puzzles and use their reflexes. Teach hand eye coordination *cough*rockband/guitar hero*cough* which is proven to create dendrites enabling the person to retain more information. Now I'm not trying to say President Obama is wrong, all I'm saying is his comments are geared toward the wrong target. Education is certainly important, but there should be no direct comment toward a company like microsoft, when television is way less beneficial than games are IMO.

    I'll close by saying I have to agree that President Obama is a great guy and he has taken on a huge burden in the life of our country right now, but he needs to address more pressing issues than bashing Xbox. Our community will continue to grow despite what anyone says, and it's because video games rock. Nuff said.

    Posted: July 21, 2009 5:53 AM | Reply | Report
    Gamegeek587
  • BrockymanTM

    Pretty soon there will be a "Video Game" Czar and a "Bed-Time" Czar to make laws regarding how long children can play video games and what time they should got to bed...

    In all seriousness:
    It's sad that any president would even have to say this to the population. Parenting in this world is horrible, but its not because of video games, the media, tv, and the internet, its because there a bunch of lazy, ignorant PARENTS out there that don't make there kids mind, teach them any discipline or values that become the entitled losers of the future. It's like the "Guns" and Violent TV/Games arguments that are done to death, if a sane person with some form of values, ethics and discipline plays games within reason, its a healthy part of a person's life, but if you're an entitled loser, then you'll let your life and your kids life revolve around the console, or the TV, or the meth

    Posted: July 20, 2009 10:16 PM | Reply | Report
    BrockymanTM
  • MegaMark26

    obama obama obama. geez man quit telling people what to do. we are all helpless when the supposed leaders we elect to represent us go to reject us on godly forms of self indulgence. i'm sure he's an effing hypocrite himself. granted there are parents out there who should never be parents. i'm not a parent but i've seen how my parents have parented. there are tons of vices out there to just single out video games as one. moderation is a key he should have pointed out instead of flying off his rocker.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 8:25 PM | Reply | Report
    MegaMark26
  • MegaMark26

    obama obama obama. geez man quit telling people what to do. we are all helpless when the supposed leaders we elect to represent us go off on godly forms of self indulgence. i'm sure he's an effing hypocrite himself. granted there are parents out there who should never be parents. i'm not a parent but i've seen how my parents have parented. there are tons of vices out there to just single out video games as one. moderation is a key he should have pointed out instead of flying off his rocker.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 8:24 PM | Reply | Report
    MegaMark26
  • Babyimabadfish

    everyone knows the wii is a robotic "human controller." you may think that you're in control of your actions, but the only reason you're moving like that is because the game is telling you to! our future robot overlords are already trying to program our minds! FOIL HATS FOR THE WIN!

    Posted: July 20, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Report
    Babyimabadfish
  • sixwings

    HAHAHA GREAT article!!!

    Although the crux of his point is true, I don't think he should have called out the Xbox by name. Microsoft's response was entirely appropriate.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 4:09 PM | Reply | Report
    sixwings
  • sixwings

    HAHAHA GREAT article!!

    Although the crux of what he is saying is true he really shouldn't have called out the Xbox by name and I think that Microsoft's response is entirely appropriate.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Report
    sixwings
  • Xechatigs

    This made me laugh so hard. It's funny when you see the most powerful man in the US at the moment, degrade himself by trash talking one of the most entertaining ways of having fun in the US. If you don't like video games, that's great Obama, just focus on the economy, and when you're kids get to bed. Meanwhile, everyone else will be waiting for you to fix the country.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Report
    Xechatigs
  • IntelliMoo

    Don't worry parents, he'll just tax the xbox to hell soon. LOL

    Posted: July 20, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Report
    IntelliMoo
  • o_NIGHT_TRAIN_o

    So he is saying put the xbot down and pick up a ps3 and nes ok. jk

    This is a stupid article, I come to this site to read gaming articles not articles on what someone says about raising kids and shuff. And people are complaning way too much about nothing, I think it is worst than a flame war theard.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Report
    o_NIGHT_TRAIN_o
  • IcemanMX

    Obama is a Wii fan boy? Wow. Now I know why his ratings are slipping. Nobody likes whining fan boys.

    -M

    P.S.- Nokia N-Gage FTW!!

    Posted: July 20, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Report
    IcemanMX
  • master_peterm

    Obama isn't a cool guy he is the farthest left president we have ever had and because of him all of us will have to pay enormous taxes so that a bureaucrat can tell us if we can see our doctor. The government owns 3 car insurance buisnesses and unemployment is more than 9%. Obama himself said if there was no stimulus unemployment would be 8%. He also said we are out of money so lets just have a 4 billion stimulus package that's smart!!

    Posted: July 20, 2009 1:40 PM | Reply | Report
    master_peterm
  • RedRingsOfDeath

    Has anybody seen the new JibJap of Obama???? its lawlz
    Heres the link http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=kVFdAJRVm94 (delete the space)

    Posted: July 20, 2009 1:37 PM | Reply | Report
    RedRingsOfDeath
  • anubisthelegend

    wow i have to say the first line of this story is insane. Obama is a dumbass just like the guy supporting him.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 1:08 PM | Reply | Report
    anubisthelegend
  • bigboi21

    Y is every1 baggin on Obama, he's not sayin to stop playing video games, he's jus sayin, don't play them all night.

    I'll admit it was wrong of him to name a specific system

    Posted: July 20, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Report
    bigboi21
  • bigboi21

    Y is every1 baggin on Obama, he's not sayin to stop playing video games, he's jus sayin, don't play them all night.

    I'll admit it was wrong of him to name a specific system

    Posted: July 20, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Report
    bigboi21
  • Omarphious

    I will create a game for the wii that will answer all homework questions. That way parents can continue to abandon their children and go back to letting all forms of media teach kids whats right and wrong.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 12:02 PM | Reply | Report
    Omarphious
  • Oinkness

    The only hardcore gaming Obama does is against the American people. :P

    People knew his stance on socialism, video games, abortion, and continuing war, but they voted for him anyway.... so now you just have to deal with it.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply | Report
  • chocolatejeebus

    Yea, who cares about the policies and practices of the leader of the free world, so long as he seems hip. Give be back the sax-playing non-inhaler C-man any day. Why did nobody ask the O-man if he ever did drugs, remember when that used to be a big deal? Ah, he was probably just a dealer.

    Posted: July 20, 2009 11:57 AM | Reply | Report
    chocolatejeebus

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