iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence Activists

March 31, 2009

Anti-violence campaigners in the U.K. are upset by iPhone apps which simulate real-world firearms, reports the Evening Standard.

At issue are freely-distributed titles such as Bang Bang and Shotgun Free, which advertise a gun-like user experience. From the Evening Standard:

Software available free from Apple's online store allows the devices to emit a loud gunshot sound when the owner points it and shakes it... Several different guns are available, from revolvers to shotguns, including a "gangsta edition" where the serial numbers have been filed off.

John Beyer of mediawatch UK, a frequent critic of violent video games, told the newspaper:

In view of recent events in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, I think anything that glamorises guns and shooting is in extremely poor taste. I would hope that whoever is responsible for this would withdraw it immediately.

Via: Mediasnoops

Posted in

Comments

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by hayabusa75 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 21:41.

All criticism of the watchdog groups aside, I have to say that IMO an app that simulates a gunshot sound and does absolutely nothing else is a pretty ridiculous notion. I'm having a hard time picturing anyone with the IQ of a Cro-Magnon or better actually enjoying it.

Then again, maybe I'm giving the human race a little too much credit.

"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde

"De minimus non curat lex"

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by cpu64 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 21:38.

Thank your government for the wussification of your countries..

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by mr_mlk on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 05:16.

Government? Why? Mediawatch (not gov.uk) are crying about it. No one else.

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by PumaFau on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 19:38.

LOL just today my friend took his Ipod Touch before class and used the shotgun

Never underestimate the power of idiots in large amounts.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by CyberSkull on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 17:45.

Of course it is in poor taste. Why do you think it was made and people buy it?

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Quindo on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 14:48.

Someone needs to create a comparison of the real sounds to the fake sounds and see how real and how close to the correct volume level they are, My friend has this app and i think i might get him to play it for my cop friend and see how real the cop thinks it is.

-- Currently doing a research project on the short-short term effects SWBF:2 has on peoples abilities to focus.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Shahab on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:53.

By the great Diety, what the hell is wrong with people? Ooh, that phone is making gun noises. Ban it! When someone shoots someone that is bad, so the gun they used must be bad, so the sound it makes must be bad and if iphones make that sound, they must be bad! Oh noes, apple is the devil!

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:43.

Wake me up when DOOM and Unreal(and halo) weapons are added....

Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.

http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Tony on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:59.

Mediawatch.. figures.

They're the UK equivalent of Jack Thomson, except nobody gives a crap about them except the tabloids.

The spoof site is fun though.. http://mediawatch.org.uk/

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by DarkSaber on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:21.

Not quite. Whenever you hear of some ad being withdrawn due to 3 complaints, odds it are its due to these guys.

Mediawatch are self-important petty minded spods, the sort who intently study things like shampoo or soap ads for the slightest nano-second of nipple so they can write another letter of complaint about how offensive they found it,

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:12.

And that's different than John Bruce how?

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:18.

Probably the fact that they aren't lawyers. IDK, I may be wrong.

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"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by DarkSaber on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:22.

Well neither is JT.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:47.

OK, if you wanna get technical, fine, they were never lawyers in their pathetic, worthless lives, whereas Jack was, to our misfortune.

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"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:42.

He wasn't really much of one even when he HAD a license.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Kincyr on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:03.

ZING!

岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」

岩「…」

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:55.

I'm kinda disappointed...

No phaser. :(

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by lumi on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:15.

I would be shocked if there were no iPhone app that emulates a ST phaser.

There's one that displays the hilt of a lightsaber, and makes the appropriate SFX when you wave the phone (yay accelerometers!).

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Zerodash on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:52.

There are plenty of movies released in theaters and DVD featuring guns all the time. Books too. Why don't these pansies attack those too?

I am really getting bored with the whining of pussies who want to live in a world where everything is censored, everyone wears helmets, and everything is coated in rubber. It's like they want to live in the nursery forever.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:41.

Cue Jack calling this a murder simulator like GTA in 3, 2, 1...

[/sarcasm]

This is getting old. (not the sarcasm, but people saying stuff can make kids violent)

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"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by hayabusa75 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 21:36.

Still not reading the articles before you comment, eh Shadow? They never said these apps will make kids violent, the issue is the glamorization of guns and how this software sends a poor message, and to a certain extent I agree with them.

And as far as people saying and doing stuff that's getting old? Well, I suppose you are the expert on that. Case in point:

"Cue Jack calling this a murder simulator like GTA in 3, 2, 1..."

"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde

"De minimus non curat lex"

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by mdo7 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 16:34.

This is what Jack would say:

"arrgh, that shooting program on the Iphone. It's a murder simulator. Quick, somebody bring lawsuit to Apple. They're corrupting the children by using Iphone and murder simulator application. Won't somebody please think of the children!!!"

Because the Iphone is the same thing as a gun, right?

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by sheppy on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:35.

Activists: Making everything safe by leaving you nothing...

Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by JB on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:34.

"allows the devices to emit a loud gunshot sound "

My only concern is how realistic does this sound and how loud can it get? Couldn't messing around with this in a crowd could be just as dangerous as yelling "fire" in a crowded theater?

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Brokenscope on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:26.

Considering many people have no clue what a gun actually sounds like or how loud a weapon discharge actually is, those aren't issues.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by insanejedi on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:50.

I don't think the Iphone can generate a sound lound enough to emulate a gunshot, because everyone knows that a gunshot is very very very loud in real life. Dropping your school hardcover textbook flat on the ground probebly emulates a sound more like a gunshot than any Iphone could.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Brokenscope on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 15:05.

Most people who have never shot a gun have no clue how loud they are. I'm always amazed at how first timers are so gung ho about not needing hearing protection. They seem to think that movies and games give accurate portrayals of how loud guns are.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by illspirit on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 15:48.

Even so, I doubt the tiny speakers would be loud enough to be heard from more than a few feet away in a crowded room. If you're that close to the sound, chances are you would be able to see the noise came from the person playing with their phone.

Besides, one could just as easily produce gun sounds by playing a movie clip from, say, Heat or The Matrix. If this was enough to cause a panic, then there should be thousands of documented cases.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Zevorick on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:32.

It isn't an issue?

Seriously, the first thing I thought when I read it was "holy hell, when an idiot gets a hold of this in a public speech...".

People are stupid. I guarentee you someone is brainless enough to use this in a crowded setting and people will react accordingly. Someone is going to get really hurt if they get trampled, freaked out, or their lives are going to be ruined by their own idiocy. Now it's nobodies business to protect people from their own stupidity, and anyone who uses a program like this in a crowded environment deserves to have the tar beaten out of them and then have little to no future, but there comes a point when you got to protect others from the idiots themselves.

Use this program at a political event and see what happens.

By itself it's a harmless program, but I can see morons taking this and making a big mess with it.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by axiomatic on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 13:21.

Then punish the MORON. Not the app publisher or the app!

PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. A gun is only one means to that end. The possibilities are endless.

(and I'm not even a gun advocate... I am however a common sense advocate.)

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Zevorick on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 15:49.

Who said anything about punishing the app designer/publisher?

All I was saying was that some moron is going to be stupid with it, and it's going to cause problems. Not once did I advocate for the punishment or call for the product to be removed.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Brokenscope on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 15:02.

The loudness and the realism of the sound is not an issue.

If it emits a bang and its abit louder than a crowded room, people will think its a gun(This is situational most though). That was my point.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by 1AgainstTheWorld on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:32.

Just don't do it at the airport. TSA has zero sense of humor.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by mr_mlk on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 05:08.

No do it in an airport. Shooting the Beepwits that think it is funny to walk through Gatwick saying "I'm a terrorist" (thus holding up the stupidly long line of people waiting to have their belts xrayed) can only be a good thing.

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Praetorian on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:31.

I dunno, i think they need one that sound like an AK or MP5 or...OOOOO! A 60 cal!

Praetorian

"I've been told I'm the resident skeptic, but I wouldn't believe that."

http://www.myspace.com/pree_tawr_ee_uhn

Praetorian

"If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy floating by."

http://www.myspace.com/pree_tawr_ee_uhn

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 12:56.

RC-P90! Or the BFG 9000! IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!

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"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Brokenscope on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:22.

What?

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence

Submitted by Cheater87 on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:29.

Haha my bro has the shotgun one.

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by lumi on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:28.

Ugh...I can just see the headlines when some teenage kid "fires" his phone and is immediately assaulted by nearby police trying to "disarm" him =(

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by Nocturne on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:44.

Or goes to get on the London Underground

(a bit of political commentry for the UK commentors there)

Re: iPhone Gun Game Apps Draw Criticism From Anti-Violence ...

Submitted by mr_mlk on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 05:03.

As long as I'm not living in a house close to the guy with the iPhone + silly gun app. :scared:

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

Shout box

Andrew Eisen: LEGO: The Movie! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPnY2NjSjrg06/18/2013 - 9:39pm

Zen: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130614/OFFDUTY02/306140030/New-Xbox-sin-against-all-service-members-06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Zen: Been out for a few days, but has anyone brought up the possible ban on Xbox One on military bases because of security concerns that it could be a listening device by Commanders?06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Andrew Eisen: Sleaker - Fixed.06/18/2013 - 6:34pm

MechaTama31: CMiner: Another issue is that every camera/webcam combination is going to be pretty different, in terms of the software/hardware exploits available. A homogenous hardware/software combo like a console, in millions of homes, will be a much juicier target.06/18/2013 - 6:31pm

Sleaker: Vox pay what you want link is busted.06/18/2013 - 6:27pm

ZippyDSMlee: Mics have to breath put tape over it.06/18/2013 - 6:25pm

NyuRena: You nailed it James! Yikes..06/18/2013 - 1:56pm

james_fudge: With MS willing to share with the government, an always listening device should give everyone pause.06/18/2013 - 1:37pm

james_fudge: you can't turn off the Microphone on the Kinect and it has to be plugged in. It's not rocket science.06/18/2013 - 1:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: The Humble Bundle Guys just don't like me having money in my pocket do they? https://www.humblebundle.com/06/18/2013 - 1:12pm

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, I know that my Android camera is off unless I am using an application that turns it on. Same with the microphone.06/18/2013 - 12:38pm

CMiner: Can you turn off the camera on an iPhone? Like, -really- turn it off, not just change a setting that -tells- you the camera is off?06/18/2013 - 12:13pm

james_fudge: when they make it a requirement, yes they are06/18/2013 - 12:10pm

CMiner: I just don't think Microsoft bears any more (or less) responsibility for privacy with its Kinect camera than do the makers of laptops or smartphones with integrated cameras.06/18/2013 - 12:00pm

Imautobot: The ability to operate the console without the camera is key. It's a peripheral, not directly integrated into the console, and yet it behaves as if it is. Thankfully I don't have kids, and won't have an Xbone either.06/18/2013 - 11:49am

CMiner: Oh, I agree that the decision to make the kinect mandatory/always listening is terrible.06/18/2013 - 11:48am

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, and the easier the provider makes to do such things, the better. The fact that the XBone will not even funtion without it plugged in and turned on in some fashion makes a world of difference from a PC Webcam.06/18/2013 - 11:38am

CMiner: It takes steps on the user's part to ensure 100% privacy (unplugging, uninstalling, putting tape over it, not putting it in the kid's rooms, etc)06/18/2013 - 11:29am

CMiner: My point is that no webcam producing company can guarantee that no one will ever ever ever be able to access video from that webcam without your knowledge and permission06/18/2013 - 11:28am

All shouts

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