NRA's iOS Game Lets You Blow Targets Away

[Karloff]

NRA's iOS Game Lets You Blow Targets Away

Your four-year-old can learn vital gun safety tips from our game, says the NRA.

You may recall that the NRA has dipped its metaphorical toes into the cesspool of gaming before [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121243-How-Would-the-NRA-Make-a-Videogame-It-Already-Did], with the PS2, but - since that console has gone the way of the dodo - the NRA apparently figures mobile gaming is the future of guns. Or something along those lines, anyway; feast your eyes on NRA: Practice Range, the latest weapon in the fight for freedom, intended for ages 4 and up.

It's free to play [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id584567057?mt=8], with in-app purchases - new guns, basically - and takes you on a magical journey with three shooting ranges, nine firearms, and three distinct difficulty levels. It's pretty clearly aimed less at virtual shooting than it is at informing the player of vital facts. It doesn't stop at telling you not to point your gun in an unsafe direction; it has all sorts of neat information on offer, about hunting season, gun laws, NRA news and so on, each button linking to an NRA-approved resource. Or to put it in its words:


NRA: Practice Range puts the NRA's broad scope of resources in the palm of your hand - with 2nd Amendment newsfeeds, gun law information centers and educational materials that you can access anywhere, anytime.

✔ Read up on critical safety and training tips!
✔ Get the latest news and legislation updates!
✔ Know your rights from state to state!
✔ Always stay informed!

This, mind you, from the same NRA whose Vice President Wayne LaPierre recently ranted about violent video games. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121240-NRA-Likens-Videogames-to-the-Filthiest-Form-of-Pornography] Perhaps target shooting isn't on the same level as LaPierre's "filthiest form of pornography" - that is, gaming - particularly since targets don't shoot back. Though I can't help wondering how those suspiciously human-shaped target silhouettes fit in with LaPierre's "fantasizing about killing people" shtick.

Source: Shack News [http://www.shacknews.com/article/77377/nra-releases-practice-range-game-on-ios]


Permalink

 

[tangoprime]

...well it does at least teach and promote gun safety, just like any NRA accredited instruction, so this is a bad thing? Obviously, this "game" looks like a terrible port of something from the windows 3.1 era, but calling them out on this saying they're hypocrites regarding their stance on violent videogames is at least a bit disingenuous.

With all the "modern realistic military shooter" games of late (which thanks to The Line I don't have much of an appetite for any more) which are little more than military fetish wank material, wouldn't it be a nice change of pace to have an FPS that involves being a competitor in IPSC events and the like, with all the production value and "realism" of a COD/MH/etc. and let you climb through the career and buy/unlock new equipment and whatnot and get sponsorships, sort of like the career progression in some professional racing games? Competitions handled like the Race Days in NFS: Prostreet, or the matches in that old paintball game for xbox? Wouldn't that be a nice, non-violent change of pace that could promote safety, and show responsible use of firearms for private citizens, that people could actually go and replicate safely if they're into it?

 

[Thyunda]

Because that's what automatic weapons were made for: pornography.

I always attributed pump-action to the porn industry.

 

[MortisLegio]

Ok... despite what Wayne LaPierre said (which is really, really, really stupid) it seems like an ok app. I already know my gun safety but this wasn't made for me so I'll give it a pass. Though, I do think I saw a kid playing something similar while at the range a few days ago.

(Why people think it's a good idea to bring five year olds to a gun range I'll never know.)

EDIT: Though I really should reword that last statement, I more or less meant the five year olds I "met" at the range. They were just playing with an Ipad in the store while their dad was actually shooting. I could understand if they were on the actual range/ learning how to shoot but they were just playing games and annoying people. Sorry for any confusion.

Spoiler: my apology gift

 

[Thunderous Cacophony]

This seems more like a way to teach gun safety in an interactive way, rather than an entertainment-focused product (which is what LaPierre railed against). I don't see much overlap.

 

[GAunderrated]

This seems more like a way to teach gun safety in an interactive way, rather than an entertainment-focused product (which is what LaPierre railed against). I don't see much overlap.

That was my opinion of it as well.

 

[Milanezi]

Ok... despite what Wayne LaPierre said (which is really, really, really stupid) it seems like an ok app. I already know my gun safety but this wasn't made for me so I'll give it a pass. Though, I do think I saw a kid playing something similar while at the range a few days ago.

(Why people think it's a good idea to bring five year olds to a gun range I'll never know.)

Maybe the same reason a friend wanted to celebrate his birthday at the gun range... With alcohol... And guns... And worse than all... HIM... hahaha

 

[David VanDusen]

The problem I have with all of the hate this game/app is getting is the media attack which is founded in fantasy land.

Apple decided the release date after an unknown approval submission.
Apple metrics decided the user age level.

I'm not sure why the NRA (douche as they can be at times) are getting so much attention for this.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Considering that recent Darwin Award winner who shot himself in-front of his family trying to prove that 'guns are harmless' this is good.

 

[DeltaEdge]

*Edited out for immediately jumping on the NRA hypocrisy bandwagon without bothering to re-read their statement or actually view a full synopsis of the game.*

 

[VoidWanderer]

...

/Sigh...

America...

I just...

*Walks slowly out of thread shaking head slowly*

 

[Apollo45]

Really? Releasing a shooting game directly after comparing games to the most vile kind of pornography? Astounding. I can't even bring myself to watch the gameplay video because I am utterly dumb-founded by this. *Double Face-palm through desk onto floor* is the only way to describe how I feel about this.../soap opera

Actually, I really don't care that much about this. It's probably a shitty game anyways and I hope that the press gets on their ass about how they released a shooting game right after that kind of press statement.

Violent Video Games. He compared Violent Video Games to pornography, not just video games.

I'm not saying he's right by any means, nor am I saying that this game is good at all, but this is by no means hypocritical. They made a target shooting game where you take guns and go shoot stationary bullseyes while learning about gun safety. It fits right in line with everything they've said.

 

[Scow2]

(Why people think it's a good idea to bring five year olds to a gun range I'll never know.)

Mostly to demystify the subject of firearms to them, so they're used to what a gun's like at an early age - It really helps.

This seems more like a way to teach gun safety in an interactive way, rather than an entertainment-focused product (which is what LaPierre railed against). I don't see much overlap.

It can even count as entertainment, as you improve your marksmanship ability with the app and get to handle different types of guns. The difference is, it's entertainment that isn't the virtual simulation of killing other people.

 

[MortisLegio]

(Why people think it's a good idea to bring five year olds to a gun range I'll never know.)

Mostly to demystify the subject of firearms to them, so they're used to what a gun's like at an early age - It really helps.

*Clarify - I was more annoyed by these particular kids and was referring to them than kids in general. My apologies for the misunderstanding.*

If the kids had actually been paying any attention OK, but the kids were just playing on Ipads the whole time and asking when could they leave. The kids were just in the store while their Dad was shooting.

 

[crazyarms33]

(Why people think it's a good idea to bring five year olds to a gun range I'll never know.)

That's when my Dad took me out to teach me about gun safety. We were only using a .22 LR though, not like a big hunting round or anything. I think the thinking is, "Expose it to them early and often and they won't be mystified or form bad impressions about these." But he also took me to a friend's house who has a shooting range on his massive property, so it wasn't like we were gonna disturb a bunch of people.