Microsoft has announced a new Xbox Live pack as it gears up to attempt to attract families away from the Wii to its own platform with its upcoming Kinect controller.

Out in November - a clue to the Kinect's UK release, no doubt - the Xbox Live Gold Family Pack bundles four memberships for £70.

In addition to the usual membership advantages, Family Pack subscribers get a single, central set-up hub for all four members.

A single member - let's call them 'Daddy' - takes the lead, looking after the other three folks' Microsoft Points, "helping to manage the family’s entertainment budget", because they clearly can't be trusted to do so themselves.

This paternalism extends even deeper. One of the other Family Pack benefits, says MS, is "activity monitoring reports viewable on Xbox.com to help encourage discussions about safer more balanced gaming and entertainment habits".

And that's what we all do after a hectic Xbox gaming session, isn't it - sit down and talk about balanced gaming and entertainment habits?

Having parental controls to prevent Wee Willy inadvertently viewing something he shouldn't is all well and good, but, Microsoft, do you really need to gush about it as if it were something wholesome out of Good Housekeeping? ®