New Jersey parents fret over Wii's 'gun-like' Zapper
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Sep 14th 2007 at 7:10PM }
One reader inadvertently praised Nintendo's clumsy plastic shell design by failing to discern a difference between it (see above image) and a real weapon. "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?" A fair question to ask, especially when you're a powerless parent forced to sit back and wonder "what is happening" in a world where video games poison our armed children. Not that the Zapper can teach anybody to operate a gun on the outset -- it's really more of crossbow training tool.
Another parent was a little more introspective and wondered, "What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?" Aside from highlighting mommy's inability to say "No, you can't have that," past experience with the Zapper would reveal the message to be a compelling argument for hunting ducks and, failing that, any stupid-looking dogs in the neighborhood. Kids shoot the darndest things.
[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
C @ Sep 14th 2007 7:19PM
QQ
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:21PM
I blame you Jack Thompson... I. Blame. You.
Rob Accomando @ Sep 14th 2007 7:21PM
What kind of message are we sending to our kids? Umm.. that videogames are fun?
If the game that uses the gun is M rated, then kids shouldn't be playing it.
If it's an E rated game (like a shooting gallery) then I don't see the problem.
People are WAY too uptight nowadays.
Dan @ Sep 14th 2007 9:09PM
"What kind of message are we sending as parents when we buy these things for our kids?"
Poor parents...with their arms twisted up their backs while they are dragged helplessly into gamestop, where they are then forced to obey the every wish and command of their fat, weak little 10 year old, and buy GTA for him.
upz @ Sep 15th 2007 3:07AM
When I was six, my parents tried to send me some messages by buying me an NES along with the zapper. Today, much to their disappointment, I have yet to turn into a murderer. They're afraid that I'll never amount to anything.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Sep 14th 2007 7:24PM
Then again, those who opt to live in Jersey aren't that smart to begin with.
(keep in mind I've lived over half my life in both N/S Jersey)
hvnlysoldr (NDF - Wind Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:33PM
I was born in NYC and grew up in NJ until grade K. And no I don't know the area so don't ask me. If the parents buying them can't tell their guns when they're buying them it's their own fault.
Flyy (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Sep 15th 2007 9:24AM
I've heard of people being held up in that area by a man with a plastic spoon, thinking he had a knife..
Imagine the potential of this thing!
Patrick @ Sep 15th 2007 9:37AM
I can appreciate that as a former New Jersey resident. BUT I GOT OUT!!! i GOT OUT. *starts crying* ummmmm.....
Anyway, the parents really have all the power. Lil Billy: "Mon, can I have GTA IV" *Goes to store* Mom: "But this is M rated and not appropriate for you, maybe when your older." Lil Billy:"But I want it now!" Mom:*slap*
Andrew @ Sep 17th 2007 11:17AM
It's funny because it's true. I'm the one that brought this article to the attention of Wii Fanboy and Joystiq. I'm a life-long Central Jersey resident and I am so sick and disgusted by the hyper-liberal idiots that live around here and the corrupt sleaze they vote into office that I take every chance I can get to bad mouth this state and show the rest of the world what a joke it is. If I had no family or friends, I would have left here a long time ago.
Koopaknight29 @ Sep 14th 2007 7:24PM
Saw this one coming. Suprised that Mr. Thompson hasn't picked up on it yet. Usually he's the one leading the charge...
Stupidiot @ Sep 14th 2007 7:25PM
Christ... Do people actually posess brains anymore, or do they share one collectively? This whole "video games are a threat to society and our children's innocence" bullcrap really is getting out of hand.
Abscissa @ Sep 15th 2007 12:44AM
"Getting" out of hand?
blooh @ Sep 14th 2007 7:26PM
jesus christ people are retarded these days
i was shooting real guns at about 10 years old, this zapper won't do shit to make a kid crazy. their retarded parents will make them crazy
Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:32PM
Cross-posting myself from WiiFanboy:
"Oh, but I thought that Water Guns (Whats the most recent release of the Super Soaker? 1,000,000,000?) were ok, for kids! They even sell these water targets that disolve once you get wet for about a buck.
Thats totally different, right?
How about NERF guns, y'know, the ones with the yellow darts? Those are fun. Oh, they promote violence? :/"
Blessed @ Sep 14th 2007 7:27PM
I blame society. Heaven forbid parents have to take credit for raising their kids, because we all know they have no say in their kids upbringing.
And the word of the day kids is Projection. Yaaaaay!!
Rask @ Sep 14th 2007 7:28PM
I used to go Duck Hunting and Thug Shooting, vigilante-style with a Nintendo peripheral that looked a lot more like a handgun that this thing's resemblance to a rifle.
Yuccadude @ Sep 14th 2007 10:33PM
I remember playing Lethal Enforcers 2 on the SNES and Duck Hunt on the NES, and I loved those games. Shooting all those people who deserved it, especially the people who would stand up in the middle of a blazing firefight and then crouch back down. Also, the Duck Hunt dog...
Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 14th 2007 7:28PM
So what of the cap guns, the water guns, and uh I dunno, the REAL guns? This is becoming beyond pathetic.
So, so, sad, the state of this country is in.
How can you take away more freedoms without the masses of lemming of this country complaining?
Answer: Tell them it's about "protecting" the helpless children.
I played with toy guns, yet I have not shot anyone. I guess I better go and do that. I just saw a picture of a white piece of plastic so I cannot resist and on a killing spree I will go.
How do you load bullets into that? I need to know, so I can KILL KILL KILL.
Thierry @ Sep 14th 2007 7:32PM
Jeez, didn't people these days grew up with toy guns? Usually, it goes from plastic guns, water gun and the bb gun. I'm pretty sure that the Nintendo zapper is safer than the toys mentioned.
LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 14th 2007 7:34PM
I don't see why those parents would get upset over this. The games made for the zapper will probably not be aimed at the child demographic. Plus they have tons of light gun games at the arcades and I've seen young kids play them all the TIME! Why do they want to banned this when there's been alot of gun controls through gaming history. And how about those plastic soldier guns they sell at toy stores, kids pretend to shoot each other.
The media always attacking videogames. :(
Yuccadude @ Sep 14th 2007 10:37PM
Because they can now shoot people in their own house! Which is much more dangerous than shooting people in an arcade, because things that happen in your house will make your children do it everywhere!
Oh wait, kids make finger guns and shoot at each other all the time. Kids play cowboys and indians with fake guns and little bows. People like to react to threats that aren't even there, when they just shouldn't buy their kid the video game and teach the poor little guy about the world the hard way; by giving him a BB gun and letting him shoot his eye out.
Trenchalicious @ Sep 14th 2007 7:34PM
Games are fun as are guns. Might as well teach them young.
Psaakyrn @ Sep 14th 2007 7:39PM
Frankly, I think Nintendo chose this design because it DOESN'T look like a normal gun. Unlike the 3rd party one we saw a few articles back, which I can understand why people would be worried.
Maybe people mistook the 3rd party guns with Nintendo's one? I'd not improbable..
Levi @ Sep 14th 2007 7:40PM
Will someone please think of the children?
Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:41PM
Parents! Do what I do. If I don't think something is appropriate for my 3 kids... I don't buy it for them. And I sure as shit don't go around trying to impose my choices on other people. That is the job of religion and fanboys.
Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:43PM
LMAO!!! I should proof read before hitting submit. It's good to laugh at yourself sometimes. Here is what I meant to say:
If I don't think something is appropriate for my 3 kids... I don't buy it for them. And I sure as shit don't go around trying to impose my choices on other people. That is the job of religion and fanboys.
NintendoFanbot @ Sep 14th 2007 7:42PM
Guns are synonymous with videogames! Ralph Baer invented the association by wiring a shotgun to one of his brown box thingamabobs!
RIOT!!!
Chris @ Sep 14th 2007 7:43PM
" Children with guns learning how to aim and shoot"
Im sure these parents kids will already know what a gun is,how to operate it and its prupose. better shooting zombies than real people.
Some people.. sheesh, dont ruin it for all of us. You can keep your shildren away from plastic toys but dont stop other people from having this.
Mr Khan @ Sep 14th 2007 7:46PM
And besides, if they learn to "aim and shoot" from the Wii, they won't be much danger with a real gun anyways
"Hey, where's the targeting reticule?"
please @ Sep 14th 2007 7:48PM
Turn it around and it is in the shape of the Virginia Tech logo. Now thats irony
Johnny Bloom @ Sep 14th 2007 8:06PM
Well I'll be damned. You're right.
On another note, what's your opinion of Daft Punk? I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm asking this legitimately.
hvnlysoldr (NDF - Wind Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 8:28PM
That's not irony it truly is a coincidence.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 14th 2007 9:12PM
It's neither ironic nor coincidental. It's awesome.
Adv2k1 @ Sep 14th 2007 7:53PM
what do these people just come out the cave of ignorance to complain. light guns have been around for decades. However I'm not surprised at all
DCBlack @ Sep 14th 2007 7:59PM
I happen to agree in part with the parents. I remember when I was 5 and played Duck Hunt for the first time, I wanted to get a real gun and go out and shoot the neighbors, then have my dog drag the bodies back to me.
**rolls eyes**
There's always going to be an overblown reaction to anything. These are probably the same people who sympathize with Dick Cheney for "accidentally" shooting his friend in the face. Maybe if Dick got himself a Wii Zapper, his aim would get better. (I doubt it.)
Autopsy15 @ Sep 14th 2007 8:34PM
Did you have flying neighbors? Otherwise, that wouldn't be much of a challenge.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 14th 2007 9:14PM
I had the same problem. So my parents wouldn't let me play Duck Hunt until I killed the dog. Without a dog to drag bodies back to me or laugh at me, I no longer had an urge to kill my neighbors.
greatslack @ Sep 14th 2007 7:56PM
Take a kid into your backyard sometime, and see if every single stick he finds can turn into either a gun, a sword, or a slingshot. Down with trees!
Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 7:56PM
Oh shit... you are right. Flip the image horizontally and is the VT logo.
Off topic: This is my design for the DK Jungle Climber Contest. The Last Bananaa Tree in the Universe
http://dkcontest.smugmug.com/gallery/3327865#195569747-L-LB
LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 14th 2007 8:08PM
That is a pretty good DK jungle climber pic! Congrats!
Johnny Bloom (NDF - Heart Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 8:13PM
That... is quite good. I feel a wee bit happier for having seen it. Donke. On another note, does anyone know how to do that thing that makes two dots appear above letters? Like, in German.
hvnlysoldr (NDF - Wind Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 8:31PM
Start Menu->Programs->Accessories->Character Map
You should find a bunch of letters. You can change their shortcuts like CTRL + ~ (vowel)
Slaziman @ Sep 14th 2007 8:05PM
Jesus are you shitting me? I guess water guns should be forbidden, they teach children how to aim and shoot :ZOMG:
And let's not forget the mass school shootings after Duck Hunt was released!
KiraXD @ Sep 14th 2007 8:34PM
this is just a case of parents that suck at parenting and need a crutch to fall on to make parenting "easier" for them since they are so bad at it to begin with.
etc @ Sep 14th 2007 8:54PM
Oh, New Jersey. It's no wonder that we still have a Assault Weapons Ban in effect while it sunsetted in most other states. It does absolutely nothing at controlling crime and violence since it bans guns based on cosmetics like pistol grips, removable magazines, bayonet lugs, and flash hiders. Any gun is lethal regardless of what furniture it has on it or whether it is being used in the military.
Synner @ Sep 14th 2007 8:58PM
So What I learn from this article is that people in new jersey are too stupid to tell the difference between a piece of white plastic and a gun. Wow, they deserve to be oppressed if they are too stupid and afraid of the rights given them by the framers.
DangerMouse @ Sep 14th 2007 9:15PM
Kids have been killing each other with guns for years. Luckily, most of the population (who have the time to partake in meaningless polls) are segregated from the neighborhoods where it happens on a daily basis. It's not video games, it's kids who are raised to have little or no compassion with regards to the life of other human beings.
These lazy parents would rather plop their kid in front of a video game instead raising and teaching them life lessons. Ignore your child, and someone or something else will raise them the way they see fit.
Russell @ Sep 14th 2007 9:30PM
I remember the playing with the NES Zapper(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NES_Zapper) but I don't remember anyone complaining about how bad it is for kids. I did not hurt anybody back then it wont hurt anybody today. Parents these days suck.
N-Zero @ Sep 14th 2007 9:39PM
Why the hell are they just bringing this up now. There have been gun-like controls for consoles since the nes. Remember the light-gun. What the fuck people. Learn how to be a parent. Educate your kids that guns are dangerous, they can kill people, and don't play with them. As long as you watch your kid then the world be a better place.