The ICON amusement park of Orlando, Florida where earlier this year a teenager fell from a ride and died has suspended a new sniper-like laser shooting game named Bullseye Blast amid criticism following a recent spate of mass shootings
The riders of 122-meter wheels at ICON park were paying an extra $5.95 just so they could play the Bullseye Blast game. They had to laser shoot at 50 targets which were placed along the rooftops throughout the park.
UPDATE: Facing criticism, Orlando entertainment district ICON Park is pausing plans on a “Bullseye Blast” game. pic.twitter.com/Bbu9rcfLlS
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) July 16, 2022
ICON Park in Orlando will “pause” its Bullseye Blast game.
“Some non-guests and community members expressed that they considered the toy shooting device used to be insensitive… During the design process we will pause the current version of the game.” pic.twitter.com/L86Jmrs8Oa
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 16, 2022
Bullseye Blast Game Explained And How To Play It After It Is Paused At ICON Park Orlando After Accident
The Officials said in statement on Saturday, July 16th, that despite the ride being “well-received” by customers, a few criticized it after a mass shooting at July Fourth Parade in Chicago’s suburb.
The statement read as, “Some non-guests and community members expressed that they considered the toy shooting device to be insensitive. The attractions industry has many similar games which use similar shooting devices, so that is what we were limited to when exploring the game.
“However, we believe that a device can and should be designed which does not offend anyone in the community”. Meanwhile the park officials said that they were looking forward to “leading this new innovation”.
ICON Park Officially Removed Bullseye Blast
The Bullseye Blast has been officially removed from the park’s website, which previously offered the following description as, “To get the highest score possible, players need to hit as many of these as possible with their laser blaster during the 18-minute ride”.
Their promotional photographs showed riders pointing laser guns from the popular ride. However, the game sparked a heated debate over social media in the past days.
The ICON Park, has unveiled the Bullseye Blast in a press release on Thursday, July 14th. The statement in the press release states as, “The Wheel at ICON Park is the only observation wheel in the world to provide this amazing, new infrared technology, and effectively gamify and reinvigorate the experience to an entirely new audience of gamers”.
According to a report by the New York Post, the blasters of Bullseye Blast feature a scope and IR beams to help the players to play the game strategically.
During an interview with Orlando Sentinel, Dennis Speigel, the CEO and Founder of International Theme Park Services Inc, said that he was surprised by ICON Park executives that they didn’t consider the negatives before approving this game.
The ICON Park is located along Orlando’s International Drive. It has been the centre of controversy since the tragic demise of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell and died from the Free Fall Tower earlier this year.