Timing is everything.
Just two days after various leaders of the videogame industry met with Vice President Joe Biden, the NRA has taken a step into the 21st century, releasing its very own target practice app, NRA: Practice Range, rated for ages 4 and up.
While guns are obviously involved, it's far from a violent game. Users pick from either an indoor or outdoor target range, or a round of skeet shooting, and are offered various gun safety tips while the app loads, such as "Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction." The app also boasts both analog and gyroscopic controls for their weapons. Users are also provided with various news and legislation updates pertinent to NRA enthusiasts.
To avoid the dilemma of being accused of profitting from virtual gun violence, a charge the organization has levied at the video games industry, the app is free to download. However, like many other apps on the market, if you'd rather change your initial equipment, best fork over a dollar to get your hands on each new gun.
Admittedly, I tend be a little more on the conservative side, politically speaking, but I was still disappointed with the organization for their accusations of the video game industry, and made the fact that they were utterly out of touch more than evident. But to put political feelings aside, the NRA could take a lesson from the industry they've hurled charges at, as Practice Range suffers from non-responsive controls, and abyssmal load times. My screen has been frozen with a "Please Wait..." message remains plastered against a backdrop offering me a Beretta for $0.99.
While the official iTunes description claims that "it strikes the right balance of gaming and safety education, allowing you to enjoy the most authentic experience possible," whatever your feelings are for guns, or the NRA itself, their app is best left avoided.