New York - The video game industry's Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) announced on Monday that it partnered with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) on a nationwide educational campaign that will see the distribution of a booklet explaining the ratings system to all 26,000 PTAs in the U.S. The groups will also offer a webcast explaining the ratings and how to set up the parental controls on gaming consoles, hosted by ESRB president Patricia Vance, PTA president Jan Harp Domene and Andrew S. Bub of GamerDad.com.

Washington - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) on Wednesday announced a new parental control feature for its Xbox 360 video game console, as well as a partnership with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to create a "family contract intended to foster family discussion about screen time guidelines." The Xbox 360 Family Timer, set for release via Xbox Live next month, will allow parents to set the appropriate amount of gaming and entertainment time on the Xbox 360 for their kids on a daily or weekly basis. Meanwhile, information on the "family contract" will be distributed to millions of PTA members nationwide, and also made available on Microsoft's website.