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The iPhone that turns into a gun
Mark Prigg and Justin Davenport30.03.09
Apple has distributed thousands of copies of a game which turns iPhones into toy guns.
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. The company behind the game claims it means players can "experience the sweet release you can only get from firing a finely crafted firearm".
Several different guns are available, from revolvers to shotguns, including a "gangsta edition" where the serial numbers have been filed off. Today groups combating crime and video violence called for it to be withdrawn immediately. They accused Apple of glamorising gun crime.
Claudia Webbe, who chairs an independent advisory group at Operation Trident, which tackles gun crime in London, said: "This is just another sign of businesses putting profits before responsibility.
"This is hugely irresponsible in a climate when we are trying to get guns off the streets.
"I am stunned this game should ever have been allowed to have been made. We have spent years trying to get imitation guns out of shops and this sort of product undermines that effort."
John Beyer of mediawatch UK, which has campaigned against video game violence, added: "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."
Jean-Paul Florencio of French software firm Damabia, which makes one of the virtual guns, called Bang Bang, said in a statement on the firm's website: "What better fun can you have than to shoot all your friends, and not hurt them?"
However, the firm did not respond to the allegations that it is glamorising gun crime. Apple also refused to comment on the applications, or withdraw them from sale.
Apple was last year forced to withdraw a "Slasher" game which brought up the picture of a blade on the user's handset and played the music from movie Psycho when the owner mimicked a stabbing motion.
It was selling for 59p in the entertainment section of Apple's iPhone application store.
Reader views (9)
Just goes to show you can't be too careful.
- Reactionary, Milton Keynes
Better yet, ban sticks. I mean, really. As a kid, I always looked for sticks that were shaped just right to look like guns. Playing cops and robbers (lets even forget the PC arguments about cowboys and "indians") should be banned. After all, SOMEONE has to play the "robber".
I will, however, agree that some fool out there will "play a joke" that isn't funny. Especially at just the wrong time. Like at airport security. Or at school. Or at the workplace. Or, heck, even in front of a police station. There ARE idiots in the world. This I do not deny.
I am, however, disappointed that there is no phaser. Or, even for the Euro crowd, a sonic screwdriver.
Andrew
- Andrew Rhodes, Wilmington, NC, USA
"Was revealed today that the pointing of a finger and saying "BANG BANG" or "POW POW" or any words or noises from a still-secret list, is to be outlawed under the strict new laws now up for consideration ..."
- Trunk, US
Shock horror, ban toy guns, ban them now, everyone who has played with a toy gun is obviously a killer and therefore there's a direct correlation, etc, etc, etc.
How about we ban small minded liberals who are scared of everything, they've done more to cause the gun problem in this country than toy guns. If we sentenced criminals appropriately rather than putting them in rehab centres then the problem undoubtedly wouldn't be as bad as it is. But apparently there's no correlation between using a gun and being scared of the consequences.
- Bob, Cheam
Oh, it's a representation of a toy gun. So it doesn't actually turn the iPhone into a gun.
- Keith, Kings Cross, London, UK
In other news, STARTLING revelations that TOY SHOPS are found to have been selling ACTUAL physical replica guns to CHILDREN for the last ONE HUNDRED YEARS!!!!
Ban all water pistols and cap guns now.
Utterly ridiculous.
- Gp, London
I can't agree with Jim A it is clearly a bloody stupid thing to do.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
Thanks for that Kiwi boy.
- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London
Britain, your head-long rush into being PC and taking offence is turning you into...the laughing stock of the world.
- Jim Allenby, Wellington, New Zealand.
