BEIJING, Nov. 28-- Sony Corp. has become the latest of the video game console makers to announce parental controls in it newest machine, PlayStation3.

Sony will place parental controls on its forthcoming PlayStation 3, according to the Entertainment Software Association(ESA). Users of PlayStation 2 could limit access, but only to movies, not games. Now, all three major console makers are promising parents the means to help restrict their children's access to violent video games.

Sony officials were not immediately prepared to comment.

Microsoft has parental controls in its new Xbox 360, which debuted last week. It also offers parental controls on the company's Xbox Live online gaming service, limiting whom their children can interact with.

Earlier this month, Nintendo announced similar plans for its next-generation machine, Revolution, due 2006.

The video game industry has been under tougher scrutiny in recent years as lawmakers enacted legislation restricting sales of violent video games to minors. Industry groups have so far successfully challenged the laws in court, citing violations of the First Amendment.

"With the average age of game players now 30, our industry naturally creates content appropriate for a wide range of audiences, just as there are TV shows, films, music and books for people of all tastes, interests and values," said Doug Lowenstein, president of the ESA.

Lowenstein commended the game console makers for voluntarily applying parental control technology that is not yet found in other media devices, such as DVD or music players. Enditem

(Agencies)