Game room security...

[Mianrtcv]

Okay people, here it is. I have a 7 month old (girl). I love her. The dilemma... the game room feels a tad less secure than in the past. A day will come when she may seek access to the lair. Of course I have to share, I want her to enjoy games like I do. But, I have too many treasures and memories to risk here. If she does something wrong iam dad and as such have authority to take revenge... I mean show her what she did wrong. However if her little pals spill a vanilla pepsi all over say the tower o' consoles... My brain does'nt even want to compute what the deal would be!

So. Do I install the old locking door knob? Deadbolt? Keypad security? Retinal scan, Mission: Impossible type deal??? (All the above?) WHat?

Seriously, my paranoia while early is not unwarranted. In the days of Intellivision and the space network (feeling old right now, grabbing the centrum silver and DP AARP), I had wanted to pick up Space Hawk. Problem, no $$$$. It was known in circles I wanted it. Then one day it was given to me as a gift. I gladly accepted and game on from there. What does this have to do with security? you may ask. The gift giver stole it from another friend of his to give to me. I didn't learn this till many months after the whole event (and even then only because the kid moved and the procurer of goods told the story once he felt the statute of limitations was up). I never will forget that. I didn't know the kid who "lost" his game, but felt horrible considering the circumstances.

Story 2 while not a video game, it was a game. My friend gets us allowed in to his dads pool room in the basement. Long story short, accident happens soda all over pool table.

The guys I hung around with were'nt even really bad kids. They usually were even pretty careful with your stuff (always an exception somewhere though).

You see my need for advice I'm sure. Fire away

[drwily008]

At the age she is, I'm quite sure she hasn't harnessed and perfected lockpicking skills, so a key-lock doorknob will be fine.

As for potential theft from outside people, I would make sure that everything is inventoried and insured.

[McBacon]

Well, its my bedroom, so a lock would look a little wierd.

I suggest maybe lending/buying your daughter a gameboy or something, that will keep her occupied in the game department, and perhaps put some kidn of lock on the door, but don't make it some huge bolt lock that looks like it was put jsut to stop her.

When she is old enough, you can introduce her to the room of doom.

[Jumpman Jr.]

I just tell my brothers (and parents ) to stay the hell out unless I'm in there with them.
Sometimes I'll be in my basement (on DP) and I'll here these weird noices coming from the top floor. I'd go up there and see my dad playing my Super Mario Bros. cab.
My little brother sometimes takes out and plays my Gamecube without asking me. He's dumb with it too. Because I would probably never catch him, but he always leaves the controller and the console right in the middle of the floor.

[Emily]

Little kids + game room?

When I was a little, little kid, I remeber spacing out on cartoons with a mario bros cart in my grubby little hands. After a while I realized I had been peeling back the plastic layer on the label with my fingernails.I hadnt even noticed. I still have that cart.

We( my brother and I ) decided we needed space guns to play shoot at each other... so we cut the cords off of a couple Zapper Guns :/ We were little and my mom must have been busy somewhere...

Little kids in my family just have a tendency to screw stuff up without realizing it.

I have gotten many free games from my Aunt, but her little rug-rats always gross them up

I have gotten games with boogers on/in them, and hve recieved a SNES with the remains of some milk and fruity pebbles in the cartridge slot

If you let your daughter in there(eventually) make a no food rule.

[davepesc]

My daughter is 3 and loves the 2600 and N64. And you know what, I want her to be interested in my games.

She knows to be easy on the games, but I don't let her in the game room unsupervised. The door's shut but not locked, she knows.
Just make sure to keep anything "truly" valuable out of reach. If she cracks a Frogger cart, so be it, but keep little hands off the Video Life, OK?

[Daria]

I suggest maybe lending/buying your daughter a gameboy or something, that will keep her occupied in the game department

Bad idea. Well ok- buying your kid a gameboy is never a bad idea but the concept here is flawed. No matter what you give her, your stuff will always be cooler. More so if you make it strictly "off limits".

Your better off forgeting the locks and teaching your daughter from an early age how to respect your belongings and to use proper care in the game room. Maybe even making it clear to her while she's allowed, her little friends won't be.

[NESVIDIOT]

No kids live at my house, no family either (other than my wife) yet I've always put a lock knob on my gamesroom. It is hardly ever locked but it is there in case I feel the need to lock it. Call me paranoid.....

[Streetball 21]

I don't have a lock on my room of doom, I usually close the door when I don't want anyone in there. I also dont allow any kids in my room unsupervised. I don't have any kids but I do have nephews who know the rules of the room, no touching, no food, etc. etc.

Hopefully, I don't think I would need a lock on my room anytime soon.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

What, are you gonna try to get past her?

Didn't think so.

[§ Gideon §]

What, are you gonna try to get past her?

Depends... what kind of cab is that in the foreground?

BTW, I believe a dog is just about the best security system money can buy.

[K3V]

Back off my Vectrex!

[Jibbajaba]

My game room is a loft, so there is no door, hence no lock. There is a discouraging flight of stairs though. I also don't have any kind of food or drink policy, but if someone is sitting there eating greasy food, I'm not going to let them touch anything.

Chris

[PapaStu]

I've got sharks..... with fricking laser beams on their forheads.

Actually my room is so full of stuff its pretty much impossible to get in there and do much of anything. I've got some cats that have done things in there before (peed on the carpet) so at most the door just stays closed.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Depends... what kind of cab is that in the foreground?

This kind. Note also the second layer of security.

You only think you're gonna stick your hand in there and roll the trackball for no good reason. :P

BTW, I believe a dog is just about the best security system money can buy.

I disagree - our pupster was a freebie.

[oesiii]

I see a few of you use feline and canine protection systems as well. My hyper cats and dog keep the little toddler away from trouble and my stuff. Although I sometimes catch the help snoozing on the job.

[Flack]

My kids are 3 1/2 years old and 2 weeks old, so I can relate to the whole kidz n' konsoles dilemna.

I started my son on those Plug 'n Play joysticks. Through those, he learned the rules. You throw a joystick, you lose it. You don't turn it off when I say, you lose it for a day. Then after a while, I moved my Xbox out into the living room. It's modded with all the emulators, so I don't have to worry about my son ruining or losing any of my games. The same rules apply. If he doesn't turn it off when time's up, he loses it the next day.

[Damaramu]

Don't let them fool you. They might appear to be sleeping....but as soon as you stir them from their unholy slumber.....



Neko Death Beam!

[Damaramu]

...

[Push Upstairs]

No lock on my game room...its going commando!

But i then again dont have a "Room of Doom"....more like a corner.