NRA Gun Club (Gun Club in Italy) is described as a nonviolent first-person target shooting game by Crave Entertainment in North America and 505 Games only in Italy. Although not released in the UK, a few PAL UK units have been found in circulation in some 505 European markets (A German release was planned, but cancelled for unknown reasons).[1] The game allows gamers to enter the shooting range and shoot at paper targets, watermelons and sporting clays. The game contains over 100 licensed and recreated firearms. It was endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America, bearing their logo on the cover art.

NRA Gun Club
Developer(s)Jarhead Games
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
ReleaseOctober 2, 2006
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Singleplayer, Multiplayer

Background edit

Gun Club was one of a number of target shooting games backed by the NRA in response to the perception that violent first-person shooters were responsible for violent crime including school shootings. In 2012, NRA President Wayne LaPierre lambasted video games in a press conference following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting stating "Another little dirty secret the media tries to conceal is a callous corrupt and disgusting shadow industry ... vicious violent video games,"

Weeks later, the NRA released "NRA: Practice Range" - a mobile game for Apple iOS devices.[2][3]

At the time of release, the NRA commented on Gun Club that "In keeping with the NRA mission, this game tests marksmanship in a sporting environment and emphasizes responsible use of firearms,".[4]

Alongside Gun Club on PS2, NRA High Power Competition was released for Windows PCs in 2006.[5]

Reception edit

The game received very poor ratings and reviews.[6] It was rated by GameSpot 1.6 out of 10 (abysmal) as one of the worst games ever made for the PlayStation 2.[7] Another gaming site, IGN, gave the game a 1.5 out of 10 ("abysmal") and called the game, "a bold move in exploring new depths of sheer worthlessness."[1][8] The game was rated E10+ (for everyone 10 years of age or older) for mild violence by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.[9]

Particular criticism was directed at the poor quality of graphics and the generic audio, with sounds used across "over 100 licensed and faithfully recreated firearms.". Reviewers noted that in a firearm-oriented game, failure to differentiate guns in gameplay rendered much of the progression pointless.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b NRA Gun Club: The National Rifle Association's official, non-violent video game
  2. ^ "NRA: Practice Range Mobile Game Released". IGN. IGN. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  3. ^ "NRA draws heat over its new shooting game". CNN Business. CNN. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Here's What An Official NRA Shooting Video Game Looks Like". Business Insider. Insider. 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  5. ^ "NRA High Power Competition". Giant Bomb. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  6. ^ Cameron Lewis (10 October 2006). "NRA Gun Club review". GamesRadar. Future Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b Jeff Gerstmann (5 December 2006). "NRA Gun Club Review". Gamespot. CNET Media. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  8. ^ Ed Lewis (27 November 2006). "NRA Gun Club Review - Where's the option to shoot the disc itself?". IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  9. ^ Entertainment Software Rating Board. "Rating Information: NRA Gun Club". Retrieved January 8, 2013.

External links edit