September 14, 2007
Earlier this week, New Jersey's The Star-Ledger polled the readers of its Parental Guidance blog on what they thought of Nintendo’s forthcoming Wii Zapper, a plastic shell that combines the Wiimote and Nunchuk into a rifle-looking device for use in first-person shooter games. The majority of the responses, the paper reports, were highly negative:
Great, this is what we need. Children with guns learning how to aim and shoot. Then we can sit back and wonder what is happening to our country with kids killing kids......what's next? Could we make it squirt blood, too?
Nintendo ought to be fined for introducing to 4-9 years old kids a "toy" that promotes guns. The next thing you know they will include an application to the NRA in the game. Who ever thought up this stupid game ought to be fired. I would NEVER purchase a Nintento product for my grandkids from here on...
I think it's irresponsible for Wii to come out with a controller that looks like a gun so kids can play games simulating shooting. What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?
While the published responses were uniformly negative toward the Wii Zapper, that may have something to do with how the original question was presented (emphasis The Star-Ledger’s):
Wii announced over the summer that it's coming out the a gun-like remote, so kids can play shooter games, with, well, a shooter.
What do you think about making a wand in the shape of a weapon so play is more realistic? ...Is it harmful? ...Will you buy one for your kids?
Even so, not every reader was ready to brandish the pitchforks and light the torches.
...I really hope that those people out there who believe that a gun-shaped remote will turn every kid that touches one into a homicidal maniac, don't ruin the fun for us Wii-playing adults who can handle the reality. I grew up with toy guns and also shot a rifle in the sixth grade and never killed anyone....If you don't think it's a good idea, then please, feel free to exercise your right to protest by not purchasing the product.....
I think this a really dumb thing to do.. however, as a parent.. i make the choice what comes in my home.. This will not.... Just because it is available doesn't mean we have to buy it.
-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen
Comments
Which exit?
This story is very funny. I've never seen a gun that looks like the Wii Zapper. This is from a generation of kids that grew up with capguns. I guess the intial question was too "loaded."
Heh... Pretty soon "A Christmas Story" will be banned because it promotes guns!
What's more dangerous... using a toy that look slike a gun, or a video game meant to simulate a gun. cmon.. this is just stupid.
Parents of today: parenting and raising children involves teaching your children what is acceptable behavior and action, and what isn't. If, after playing with some fake instrument of death and pain, you realize that they become much more violent in general, you, as a parent, are responsible to set them straight. Everyone needs to be taught that when James Bond kills a bad guy, it's only a movie, and there is a big difference between that and real life. So take a reality check. Your kids aren't murderers, and if you just teach them right from wrong as best you can, it's extremely doubtful that they ever will be.
On your list, you forgot:
a stick or twig
As a kid, how many of us picked up a fallen stick or twig and played cops and robbers?
Reading the first few comments at the Star Ledger blog is really disturbing. Are parents and grandparents that out of touch with reality? The Wii Zapper being viewed on par with a real gun? Give it a rest. When has anyone seen a gun like that?!?!
I wonder how many of those parents also purchase Star Wars light sabers, SpiderMan web slingers and Pirates of the Caribbean swords for their kids?
And as a sidenote, maybe we can talk about how the zapper doesnt even look anything like a real gun. Maybe we can blame candy cigarettes for people smoking. Or how about the gum cigars for people liking cigars. Big League Chew could be blamed for chewing tobacco. IBC Root Beer (since it comes in an actual bottle) for kids wanting to drink beer. Yeah. Lets go overboard everywhere. Seriously, people need to get a life.
Are you out of your mind, Dennis? There is a problem with gun violence in this country, and Nintendo is feeding that problem. What a dork.
Jack Thompson
See my response to DragonBomber.
I have other reasons, but people die if I get to angry.
To me only M-Rated games are good (With some acceptions). That is because they are usually the only games that appeal to me.
And, thank you, but I will not be cutting back on the language. It helps vent frustration, which is something that I have a lot of funnily enough.
I can only hope this is the case. I want to sport one of those amazing gangster coupes one day. I would rather have it converted to electric or biodiesel than run gas, but in the long run I likely will never own one and am merely dreaming. Cool cars and zoot suits. That's where the danger's at.
When Nintendo first showed off their new controller, I laughed. I thought it was the dumbest thing in the world. Then I listened to the reason behind the design. Nintendo wanted to break out of the hardcore demographic. They did not want to abandon them, but expand. They designed the remote to look and feel more like the tv remote, something almost everyone feels comfortable using. This allowed people who have never used a game controller before pick it up and feel like they knew what they were doing.
Dispite what you think, Nintendo has done more for video gaming this generation than Sony or MS could have dreamed. They are getting people over 50 interested in gaming.
As for your M rated games argument, Nintendo software has always been about family friendly. That is just the way they are. They have always relied on 3rd party developers to bring in the M rated games. If 3rd party developers didn't underestimate the Wii before launch, there would be more quality M rated games. So don't blaim Nintendo for 3rd party developers not doing their jobs.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
I love how they panic when a game uses a gun like toy, but never when stores sell water guns to kids at like 99 cents, or the super soakers, or nerf guns for that matter.
@Scottland89
Technically all that is is plastic. You just place the Wii-Mote and Nunchaku in the slots. Not a new electronic. It's the same concept for the Wii-Mote steering wheel.
I thought you were talking about the Sega Master System Phaser for a minute. I kept thinking to myself, when did they release a model II Phaser, then a Model III Phaser? I was certainly stumped, then jumped to the logical explanation that you meant Trek. ;) I have had more game guns over the years than I can recall. Odd ones for old classic systems, several types of Zappers, Sega Phaser, the Menacer, the SuperScope, the Lethal Enforcers gun, and a couple others. I never had the Time Crisis compatible ones big on the Dreamcast and Sony PS1, but I think I was spent by then on gun games.
Slings aren't weapons to be scoffed at. A number of ancient armies had soldiers who were proficient with slings. The sling bullets were carved and sharpened rocks that were most definitely deadly in the hands of someone who knew what they were doing.
Additionally, there was a weapon called a staff sling. It was basically a sling on the end of a three to four foot stick. It was more difficult to use, but it could generate even more velocity.
They were used in King's The Dark Tower series, but (no groaning here) a historical usage was David slaying Goliath. (There was a good History Channel show on this -- I think it was an episode of Ancient Weapons.)
There was another story from New Jersey yesterday regarding a city councilman taking a water gun away from a kid at a swimming pool. If I can find the link again, I'll post it.
Only since the PSOne? Someone get that child an Atari 2600, Commodore Vic-20, and an IBM XT!
:D
DragonBomber,
I ruled at Duck Hunt. But then, since I have been near sighted since birth, I've had to sit right in front of the TV to watch it or play games. Kinda takes the fun out of it when you sit so close that you can touch the screen with the gun. So I never got into the light gun craze. S'okay though, I wasn't into that much realism back then anyway. I guess that's why I'm drawn more to the advancement of storytelling than the advancement of graphics and audio.
Nightwing2000
NW2K software
Why exactly are you trying to turn this topic into a nintendo - sony - ms console fanboy war?
I really couldn't give a monkeys which company made the lightgun, the issue here is the clueless people on the "omg! a lightgun for a console? it's turning children into murderers!¬!¬" line of thought
And yet you are going after the fake guns, and doing nothing about the fucking REAL guns. What a joke you have become.
What a compliment! I wish I knew that much
Asmodeus, If you complete basic english courses, I will not only give you a cookie, but Id love to have an intelligent chat. ok?
Until then, stop slamming people if you can't slam right.
Yours, with greatest hope for all remaining human morality,
Zehn
I'm not even going to bother that i'm likely older than you.. Foolish Child..
The only people out of their mind are people who act like gun violence never existed before video games. This article was pedantic tripe just like the crap you spew around. I guess the fact that children starting at age 11 are allowed to use their own real guns for hunting is just beside the point with you. No, only video games and now the Wii Zapper are the only ways that children get introduced to guns. What childish notion you have.
ok back to blue dragon
Every time I think he's hit rock bottom, he finds a way to sink even further into a world of rubber walls and neuroleptics.
I played with plastic toy weapons and other imitiations and it didn't make me a killer.
Either the people who are complaining are complete morons (no offense but they are) or a lack of toy history. (from gun darts to BB guns)
But then, when has blatant hypocrisy ever been a problem for you?
But, err, the whole point of the Second Amendment is so that The People and the several States could protect themselves from said standing army should the Federal government ever abuse it. Go read the Federalist papers. Or go read the recent Circuit Court decision in Parker vs. DC.
Anyhoo, if you don't like us having guns, Molon Labe. ;)
Umm, this is New Jersey we're talking about. If anything, the proper troll line would be "godless commie liberals."
Ask your parents to let you out of the closet for once. Or at least ask them for a book or something. Your ignorance is making the anti-gamers look intelligent here..
Just because a kid holds a knife doesn't mean he's gonna be a killer.
"What is... Proper parenting? Alex."
By the way, for those of you over-protective, paranoid "parents" sheilding your children from "harmful" material until they're 18, they will have no way to cope with the outside world, filled with violence, sex, drugs, and... Bad parents.
Dun dun dunn!
I feel the Nintendo will really ruin gaming, and that the most violent game will be allowed to play is cricket, if this keeps up.
Plus doesn't the zapper go against what the wii is about? No peripherals, just the controller? Glad to see that nintendo kept their plan, and not just trying to go for more money.
Again, adults show their ignorance by claiming video games are just for kids.
"What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?"
Don't buy it then. Be a parent for once and just say no to the kid.
does anyone know how much the Zappers are supposed to cost?
1st (hopefully)
Jesus Christ, a what bunch of freakin' idiots.
Plastic Dart Guns.
"Realistic" plastic machine guns, AK47s, even the "realistic" wodden riffles.
Cap guns.
Paintball guns.
Laser Tag.
Water pistols.
Water soaker rifles.
"Guns" that fire cars.
Guns that shoot Nerf balls.
Guns that shoot... pretty much any "bullet" design (circle, ball, etc).
Plastic bows and arrows.
Toy crossbows.
Plastic lightsabers.
Plastic swords.
Plastic knives.
Plastic battleaxes.
Big foamy "bats" for hitting each other.
Plastic grenades.
Plastic batons.
Rock 'em Sock 'em.
Darts (plastic, velcro, sharp tip, etc).
Etc
Etc
Etc
Nah, only video games have EVER encouraged young children to be violent or how to practice preparing to use long range weapons better.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Or maybe I just can't "aim".
This zapper is not a peripheral. It is a gun shaped casing that houses the Wiimote and nunchuck(funny no one complains about that name). Resident evil and other M rated games will be using this, but you don't have too.
Nintendo is not trying to sell this as a kids console. They are trying to sell it as a console for everyone, from kids to geriatrics. They will not ruin gaming for everyone. So get a life.
@ Deathnote
$19.99(US)
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
"Nintendo ought to be fined for introducing to 4-9 years old kids a “toy” that promotes guns."
So what about Nerf, Supersoakers, Capguns, BBguns, Air rifles *list goes ever on ever on (a cookie to who knows where that last bit came from)* Do all those companies need to be fined even more for marketing their products exclusively to children?
Anyways, where were people claiming to be worried about "teh childrenz" with the original NES/Famicom that had it's own light-gun controller?
Oh no...!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_gun
Evil is everywhere!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun
EVERYWHERE!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerf
NOOOOOO!
But you see cap guns are just innocent fun for kids.
With the Wii, the despicable folks at Nintendo are letting children use a massive white plastic thing to shoot at low resolution images of low-polygon terrorist and zombie models on a screen. Or at least at Eledees, that being the only E-rated FPS.
But cap guns let children go outside and enjoy firing replica guns at their friends in real life. Pure wholesome fun.
"Could we make it squirt blood, too?"
One of the most ignorant comments ever.
"I would NEVER purchase a Nintendo product for my grandkids from here on..."
Whoever said this is really overreaching, out of touch, and overly sensitive.
"What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?"
I have the perfect answer to that question. If you, the parent, feels uncomfortable to buy the Wii Zapper, then DO NOT buy the peripheral.
The first three quotes in the article a damn good display of ignorance. Kudos to the final two quotes, though.
This fool makes a very big stupid point in his second sentence. "Children with guns". Now, I may have this wrong, but as far as I know, the nintendo zapper combined with Wiimote and Nunchuk is not a real gun! I could be mistaken, could someone clarify for me if it fires real bullets?
You could learn to aim with a toy gun I suppose, but to shoot? Compensate for recoil? Reload and maintain a firearm? Don't make me laugh. I had the highest score on Time Crisis 2 at college for 4 years running, but I still don't know how to load a real gun and would be scared out of my wits if I was actually to use one.
"Then we can sit back and wonder what is happening to our country with kids killing kids……what’s next?"
Your kid playing with a wii zapper will not lead to him killing another child. Your kid having mental problems, who is bullied at school, who does not receive the correct attention or treatment and who has access to a REAL firearm? Now that could certainly lead to a lethal scenario. Nothing is "happening to our country". There have been isolated incidents all through modern history of people who have gone crazy and killed multiple people with guns, before and after video games became popular. There will continue to be people who go crazy. The best we can do is try and find ways of better diagnosing or recognising people who may be prone to this and ensuring early treatment or close supervision. The worst we can do is pretend that video games or heavy metal or (insert cultural scapegoat) is responsible for it.