Controversial new app lets people live out the fantasy of shooting their boss
Mobile Gun Android app uses augmented reality technology similar to Pokemon Go
A controversial new app has been created to let people "shoot" their enemies through their smartphone screen.
Like Pokemon Go, the augmented reality app uses the phone's camera to capture the real world and then overlays effects onto the screen.
Players can choose from a pistol, assault rifle, sniper rifle or rocket launcher to attack whoever they point the camera app. On-screen blood and optional sound effects are used to enhance the effect.
"If you are a gun lover and you don't have access to one then this application is for you," proclaims Tigsel, the India-based app developer behind the game.
Amazingly, this app has been rated suitable for anyone over the age of three by Pegi, the European ratings board responsible for classifying apps and video games.
The creator of the app, 26-year-old D Genesis Manuel Antony told the Times newspaper his creation was meant as "fun between friends".
"I might quietly shoot my friend and post a clip online - then he'll see it and get me back later," he said.
Despite many years of violent video games like this being available to the mainstream, experts are not convinced that they have a negative effect on players.
A team of researchers in Germany who used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of regular gamers.
They found that long-term gamers had exactly the same neural responses to a set of emotionally provocative images as non-gamers did.
"We hope that the study will encourage other research groups to focus their attention on the possible long-term effects of video games on human behaviour," said Dr. Gregor Szycik, who led the research.
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