Parents who are eyeing the hot package that is this year's Xbox 360 Elite Spring Bundle are sure to appreciate a great value with its premium black finish, a large hard drive, a swanky black wireless controller and headset, HDMI port (cable not included), and two great games.

Especially for young impressionable children, their new gaming horizon with a wide range of online possibilities will benefit from appropriate parental supervision via Xbox LIVE, which can be easily exercised through the website of Xbox Australia.

Xbox LIVE is free. There, you'll find goodies like free game trials and gateways to HD movies and Game Add-ons, such as songs and characters that extend the fun experience. With Xbox LIVE players can invite friends to connect and fire up online multiplayer games or watch thousands of streamed HD movie titles. This is why Xbox LIVE also allows parental controls to protect the interest of youngsters.

Family settings There is a Family Settings section in Xbox LIVE that makes it possible for you to manage the console video games that your kids enjoy, as well as their online interactions.

There are also Xbox 360 Console Family Settings that help you maintain a family-friendly entertainment and gaming experience.

Once you have configured Family Settings for your Xbox 360 game console, they are invoked whenever the console is powered on, thus enabling you to exercise appropriate oversight not only on the games but also movies and online access.

As for the Xbox LIVE Family Settings, you can set different levels of protection for online gameplay, online communications, and downloading member content or purchase items from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Xbox LIVE Family Settings allow you to:
* Manage access to online features of Xbox LIVE.
* Assign a pass code to control who can change your Family Settings.
* Control what your child can play whether online and offline.
* Supervise or decide who your child can communicate with online.
* Restrict who can view your child's profile or friends list.


Because there are Family Settings for both the video game console and for Xbox LIVE accounts, you can set pass codes for both.

Xbox LIVE Pass Code When you configure an Xbox LIVE pass code for your online profile, anyone who wants to make use of your profile must enter the pass code before being allowed to sign in to Xbox LIVE.

Setting an Xbox LIVE pass code is as simple as:
1. Going to My Xbox and opening your profile.
2. Selecting Manage Account, Xbox LIVE Pass Code.
3. Entering a custom four-button code with the triggers, X and Y buttons, directional pad and bumpers on your controller.
4. Confirming your pass code by entering one more time.


If you wish to reset your pass code, just repeat the procedure but first entering your original or old Xbox LIVE pass code before creating the new one.

Managing Xbox LIVE Activity Xbox LIVE Controls are in play whenever you use the console online. These controls are linked to your child's profile and gamertag. It is at the time of the creation of an Xbox LIVE account that the service inquires about the applicant’s age to ascertain whether to apply Family Settings to that account.

As more families become more familiar with the wide range of entertainment and gaming possibilities on the Xbox 360 video game consoles, it's good policy for parents to take proactive roles in exerting a positive influence on their children's gaming experience.