Parents in Furor Over Wii Zapper

When the videogames = violent kids debate rages, Nintendo is usually far from the fray, but as CVG reports, some parents have big problems with the soon-to-be-released Wii Zapper. Here's a sampling of the comments sent in to the Parental Guidance blog at the New Jersey Star Ledger:

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?

That's a hack just begging to be made, now isn't it? Keep reading for more.

The gun like remote will get someone killed.... unless it's pink with a flag in the muzzel [sic]. Toys guns of yesteryear were red, blue and whatever... no ligitimate reason to risk anyones life. The idiot that made the remote should have his/her brain checked....if they have one.

Yes, it's easy to see how the pearly whiteness of the Zapper could easily be confused with, say, a Glock. To be fair, however, the wording of the question these folks are answering doesn't paint an entirely accurate picture of what the Zapper is:

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?

That said, here's my personal nominee for the Forehead Slap of the Day Award.

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?

Great question. What message, indeed, are you sending as a parent when you buy something for your child that you're morally opposed to? Clearly, the irresponsibility here rests squarely at Nintendo's doorstep.

What do we think of Wii? [Parental Guidance, via CVG]