The Playstation 3 has many great games. Unfortunately, the majority of those games are violent, bloody, and utterly inappropriate for children. Fortunately, the PS3 has a parental control system that lets you make certain your kids can play Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, but won't be able to load the ultraviolent Ninja Gaiden Sigma or The Darkness. The Playstation Portable contains a similar control system, so this handy guide can help you watch what your children are playing, both at home and on the go.

Please note: Unlike the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, the PS3 and PSP don't use the Entertainment Software Ratings Board's rating system. Instead they use a series of numbered levels ranging from 1 for only the most acceptable titles to 11 for almost all games. Level 5 approximately corresponds with T-rated games, though parents should experiment with the different levels to determine which level is most appropriate for their family.

Step 1: Start your PS3 and enter the main menu.

Step 2: Scroll left and enter the "Settings" menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and enter the "Security Settings" menu.

Step 4: Scroll down and select "Parental Control."

Step 5: Enter the PS3 password to access parental controls. By default, the PS3 password is "0000."

Step 5: Enter the preferred parental control level you would like to use. To only play T-rated games and below, use level 5 or above. To only play E or E10 games, use lower levels.

Step 6: Back in the "Security Settings" menu, scroll up and select "Change Password."

Step 7: Enter the system's password (default "0000").

Step 8: Enter a new password. Use a 4-digit number that you will remember, but that your children won't be able to guess.

Step 9: Enter the new password again to confirm it.

Step 9: Select "Yes" to confirm the password change. Your PS3 will now only play games at your preferred parental control level. To play a higher-rated title, you must enter your password.

Using the parental control settings

The PS3™ system includes parental control settings that restrict the playing of content with parental control restrictions (such as game or video content) or the use of the Internet. You can adjust these settings so that content intended for mature audiences cannot be viewed by children.

Although the restriction method and the setting method may vary depending on the type of content, all such content is restricted by one password. * A password is required when adjusting parental control settings or when using content with parental control restrictions.

*  Does not include content from PlayStation®Network.

Setting a password

Content that can be restricted

Content	Restriction scheme	Method of setting restriction
Games	By setting a parental control level on a PS3™ system, you can restrict playback of games that exceed the set level.	You can set this option in [Parental Control] under (Settings) > (Security Settings).
DVDs	By setting a parental control level on a PS3™ system, you can restrict playback of DVDs that exceed the set level.	You can set this option in [DVD Parental Control] and [BD / DVD Parental Control Region Code] under (Settings) > (Security Settings).
Blu-ray Discs (BD)	By setting a parental control level on a PS3™ system, you can restrict playback of BDs that exceed the set level.	You can set this option in [DVD Parental Control] and [BD / DVD Parental Control Region Code] under (Settings) > (Security Settings).
Web site browsing	By setting a parental control level on a PS3™ system you can restrict the ability to start the Internet browser.	You can set this option in [Internet Browser Start Control] under (Settings) > (Security Settings).
	You can use a Web filtering service to check the type and appropriateness of Web sites and automatically block the display of inappropriate Web sites when using the Internet. Fees may apply to use of this service.	You can set to use this type of service in (Internet Browser) under (Network). *1 *2
PlayStation®Network *3	By holding a master account, a parent or guardian can restrict voice / video chat usage or the monthly spending limit for the wallet that can be used on PlayStation®Network by sub accounts (accounts that can be used by minors).	You can set these restrictions by logging in to the PS3™ system using the master account, selecting (PlayStation®Network) > (Account Management), and then using [Manage Sub Accounts] from the PlayStation®Network page. *4