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Old 01-06-2014, 04:22 AM   #1
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How to block games in Kobo
Does anyone know how to block or delete games on the Kobo Glo or Aura?
I'm willing to perform the hacks.

I want to give my 8-yr old son a Kobo Aura but would like to prevent him from being tempted from playing the games (chess, unblock it, etc) on it. Draconian me wants him to just read.
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Old 01-06-2014, 04:54 AM   #2
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There is a easy way to disable the browser, but not the games. The database has a table called user that holds a row for the currently logged on user. Changing the value of the column "IsChildAccount" to "true" will remove the browser from the extras page.

For the games, the first thought I had to telnet into the device and delete the game executables. You need to look in "/usr/local/Kobo". The files look like "libchess.so". There are instructions for enabling telnet in the developers sub forum.

It might also be possible to disable them via the Kobo Patcher. I don't know if anyone has looked for the changes needed or not.
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Old 01-06-2014, 05:07 AM   #3
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Blocking access to chess seems to me to be the about the most counterproductive thing a parent could possibly do, but that's just me ...
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Old 01-06-2014, 05:57 AM   #4
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Sorry, I take that back. I don't know your situation or your son.
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Old 01-06-2014, 03:11 PM   #5
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Sorry, I take that back. I don't know your situation or your son.
Actually I wouldn't, take that back. The games are all games of the mind, meaning they exercise the brain. Which makes for a smarter kid. IF they were first person shooter games, or angry birds or something like that then yes blocking the games would be a mercyfull thing to do. But the games that Kobo has packaged are all brain developing apps and help to promote problem solving and abstract thinking. To take that away well.... that's wrong.

regards

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Old 01-06-2014, 06:56 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by jackastor View Post
Actually I wouldn't, take that back. The games are all games of the mind, meaning they exercise the brain. Which makes for a smarter kid. IF they were first person shooter games, or angry birds or something like that then yes blocking the games would be a mercyfull thing to do. But the games that Kobo has packaged are all brain developing apps and help to promote problem solving and abstract thinking. To take that away well.... that's wrong.
What do you mean Angry Birds isn't educational? It teaches ballistics and the importance of proper construction. Plus, other things.

I agree with about the games exercising the brain. But, they are time wasters. When UnblockIt first appeared, I recommended no-one try it as it was black hole for time. I could understand someone blocking their kids from it for that reason.
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Old 01-07-2014, 02:50 AM   #7
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Buy him a Nook touch instead. Solves problem and much cheaper and therefore you won't have lost too much money if his initial enthusiasm wanes
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Old 01-07-2014, 08:46 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidfor View Post
There is a easy way to disable the browser, but not the games. The database has a table called user that holds a row for the currently logged on user. Changing the value of the column "IsChildAccount" to "true" will remove the browser from the extras page.

For the games, the first thought I had to telnet into the device and delete the game executables. You need to look in "/usr/local/Kobo". The files look like "libchess.so". There are instructions for enabling telnet in the developers sub forum.

It might also be possible to disable them via the Kobo Patcher. I don't know if anyone has looked for the changes needed or not.
Hi Davidfor, thanks muchly for the tips. I was a little surprised that no one has asked this about kobo since I saw many "how to block games" in the kindle forums.
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Old 01-08-2014, 01:17 AM   #9
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Glad to be of help. I hadn't ever thought of blocking them before. I think from the type of games supplied, most people either ignore them or think they are good time wasters.

I did think of another way to do this.

The firmware updates and the hacks are installed using a file called "KoboRoot.tgz". This is a zip file containing a tar file to be unpacked to the boot partition of the device. Putting files into it will add them or replace the existing ones. If you created a "KoboRoot.tgz" with zero length files with the same names as the game executables, it would block the games. To get the names, grab one of the firmware package files and unpack it. That will also give you the structure that is needed.

There are instructions around for creating these files if you need it. A search of the developers subforum should find one (though I can't right now).
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Old 01-08-2014, 01:39 AM   #10
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Hi OP, if you want to buy your son a kobo then you have to know the fact that he can download games or any apps so better if you buy educational toys for him
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Old 01-08-2014, 01:51 AM   #11
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Hi OP, if you want to buy your son a kobo then you have to know the fact that he can download games or any apps so better if you buy educational toys for him
The OP is not talking about Android devices. The devices in question are the e-ink based Kobo ereaders. These have four or five games installed as part of the firmware. There is no simple way to add games to them. And there are very few extra games available.
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Old 01-08-2014, 04:13 PM   #12
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...There is no simple way to add games to them....
But what a great educational experience it would be. =]
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Old 01-09-2014, 01:03 AM   #13
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Glad to be of help. I hadn't ever thought of blocking them before. I think from the type of games supplied, most people either ignore them or think they are good time wasters.

I did think of another way to do this.

The firmware updates and the hacks are installed using a file called "KoboRoot.tgz". This is a zip file containing a tar file to be unpacked to the boot partition of the device. Putting files into it will add them or replace the existing ones. If you created a "KoboRoot.tgz" with zero length files with the same names as the game executables, it would block the games. To get the names, grab one of the firmware package files and unpack it. That will also give you the structure that is needed.

There are instructions around for creating these files if you need it. A search of the developers subforum should find one (though I can't right now).
Thanks, Davidfor. This is a good suggestion. If I un-tgz the "KoboRoot.tgz" (ver 3.1), and then change the game executables, and then recreate "KoboRoot.tgz", and then re-install it, will it install okay even though it's the same 3.1 version that I'm "overwriting"? Just want to be sure, so that I don't brick the device.
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Old 01-09-2014, 01:33 AM   #14
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Thanks, Davidfor. This is a good suggestion. If I un-tgz the "KoboRoot.tgz" (ver 3.1), and then change the game executables, and then recreate "KoboRoot.tgz", and then re-install it, will it install okay even though it's the same 3.1 version that I'm "overwriting"? Just want to be sure, so that I don't brick the device.
Yes, that should work. Rinstalling the same firmware version will not cause problems. And I others use the same process to replace or add some scripts. Doing this is unlikely to brick the device, If something goes wrong when doing this, a factory reset using the buttons should restore it.
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Old 01-09-2014, 06:30 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by cakepuller View Post
If I un-tgz the "KoboRoot.tgz" (ver 3.1), and then change the game executables, and then recreate "KoboRoot.tgz", and then re-install it, will it install okay even though it's the same 3.1 version that I'm "overwriting"? Just want to be sure, so that I don't brick the device.
I would create a KoboRoot.tgz that only contains the changed game executables (and the path to them).
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