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Episode 19: Boom, Headshot!

Unlocking Games
Unlocking Games
Episode 19: Boom, Headshot!
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the Nintendo Zapper, a gun-shaped controllerIt’s not often there’s breaking news in the world of academic articles on gaming, but a potential retraction of an article is worth talking about.

A 2014 study called “Boom, Headshot! Effect of Video Game Play and Controller Type on Firing Aim and Accuracy” concluded that playing games with a gun-shaped controller, even briefly, will make the player much more accurate at shooting a real gun.

That study went on to be cited in policy documents and the news, but there’s just one problem: some of the data may have been falsified or manipulated.

What does this mean for academic gaming research? Can or should we trust a single published study?

Show Notes & Links

Other games mentioned in this episode:

  • Mario Kart 8
  • Duck Hunt
  • Resident Evil 4
  • Wii Play
  • Super Mario Galaxy
  • Halo
  • Super Scope
  • Pong
  • Asteroids