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For those of us who remember playing Pac Man or Space Invaders against a machine or a friend, boy, have things changed!!!

The world of gaming, along with other aspects of the Internet, is rapidly changing. The days of one-to-one, or multi-player gaming played in your family room, have morphed into a different realm; interactive gaming.

While there are various concerns regarding children and video games, this column is devoted to gaming and connectivity information.

Some adults may be unaware that certain gaming consoles can connect to the Internet or connect with other devices that are nearby using short-range wireless technology. For example, it’s Saturday and you have taken your children to the nearby park. Your child brought along his handheld gaming console. Did you know he may be connecting with another person, perhaps a total stranger, on the other side of the park, or perhaps in a restaurant or other “hotspot” location? No wires, no cables needed. Those who own certain gaming consoles, take note! The world of make believe, wrapped up in a nice console box, might just be another venue for online strangers or predators. We as parents need to remember, predators go where the children are.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360, for instance, has a service available called Xbox LIVE or LIVE Vision, which allows the user to connect and chat online with users worldwide, using a headset and microphone, or in case of the Live Vision, includes a camera for real-time video chat. The ability to simultaneously connect with other users by simply using a console with a microphone, headset or camera, be it via voice, video or text, now exists. Gamers, depending on what game device they are using, can chat while playing video games, listening to music or watching movies by connecting to the Internet or connecting with other nearby devices. While this can provide great fun and entertainment, we must talk to our children about online “strangers”.

Although not all gamers use voice or video chat, the capability to connect with friends as well as strangers, is available, depending on what system you have. Companies, including Microsoft, have added extra safety precautions and parental controls. For instance, voice masking may be available—to change the voice of the user to a robot or adult or others. Although this may be a good idea for children to disguise their voices, keep in mind, predators can also change their voices as well. It is crucial we remind our children, people online are not always who they say they are, even if we can hear their “voices” or see their pictures.

The Microsoft Xbox Live community has approximately 6 million Xbox Live users worldwide that reportedly send several million text and voice messages daily! In a recent press release, beginning in May, Xbox 360 users will be able to connect with Windows Live Messenger Instant Messaging users. This will allow Xbox Live users to chat directly using Windows Live Messenger, which reportedly has more than 260 million active accounts. Users will be able to text chat using a variety of existing methods and a new accessory is expected to launch this summer.

While due care is made to keep the desktop PC or laptop computer in a safe and open area of the home, electronic devices capable of wireless connectivity, needs to be addressed as well For those with gaming consoles that are able to connect to the Internet or by using short-range technology, we need to be aware who our children are talking to while they are using these devices.

Whether children own one of these gaming consoles or not, chances are they will come in contact with one sooner or later. Although parental controls can add peace of mind and extra safeguards, it is imperative to openly discuss online safety issues with our children that may put them in harms way, whether they access the Internet from home, from school or elsewhere. Children must stay safe online, no matter where they are, or how they get there. Talking to strangers online, be it using a gaming console, PDA, cell phone, or desktop computer, can end up with the same perilous results. 

Tip: Whether children use social networking websites or interactive gaming, the potential dangers still exists--the method just changes.

©  Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, 2007