Anyone tried the "game" World of Guns?

[scoobysnacker]

Ok, my son is college aged, and he likes to game on his computer, as well as go to the range with me.

We found this new video "game" (it really isn't a game as such): World of Guns.

A brief synopsis, I promise to give a more thorough review after I fiddle around with it.

Apparently, this is just a 3D virtual gun, there are many different real firearms available inside. All it does is this- it shows you how to completely disassemble the gun in question, down to each pin, spring and every tiny individual piece. It supposedly is completely accurate in detail. The video I saw, it even shows you how to take apart the magazines. You can pan to any different angle to get a different view as you go, you have an "X-ray" view that shows you the internals as they are in place, ... basically everything you might need as a tutorial to take the real deal apart. Supposedly, you take it apart in order as you would a real model.
There are tabs that give a lot of info and schematics on the various models.

As far as I can tell, the only "game" aspect is you can time yourself in taking it down, and putting it back together, if you so choose.

I briefly looked at it, and noted that they list a number of different firearms I own, among them a CZ 75, a 1911, Beretta 92, a Makarov, and a few others.

It appears to be free, and the ability to load up a virtual version of the gun I might be taking down to clean or service, seems like a fantastic resource. God knows I would love to be able to stop, check out what comes out next and how, or how to reassemble it accordingly, before I move to a step I'm not certain about in reality.

I figure somebody out there is into computer games and might glance at this, and give their own impressions.

 

[scoobysnacker]

Ok, first impressions. I loaded it up on my son's computer (it was available on Steam, and he uses Steam for gaming).

It IS a puzzle, first and foremost. You have to complete 1 gun, in order to get to the next, unless you want to pay for instant access to the gun of your choice (disappointing, but I suppose it's understandable since it is free software).
Starts with an AK 47, which it walks you through. You simulate a field strip and reassembly, then a complete takedown and reassembly. You then click a few buttons to view simulation videos of various functions (fire, safety function and position, loading technique, etc). Complete the AK, and it moves you to a 1911.

Well, the POTENTIAL is definitely there, and for someone who owns an AK (or a 1911), I'd say it's a no-brainer. The simulation runs down to individual pins and screws, and you get down to a complete 3D schematic of all parts. You can pan and rotate the camera to get any angle view you want, and can click a button to show/hide the names of the various parts. It shows you the direction the pins etc go in and out, and in what order you can safely take things apart and when to reinstall. For some assemblies it can be stubborn (for example, on a complete takedown, after removing the barrel, you 'have' to remove the barrel pin and link at some point, before moving to the next part; but that's just one more click).
It does give you hints if you get stuck, but that limits the amount of points you get, and you need to gather enough points to open the next gun.

Basically, it forces you to run through 1 (2) guns completely, before going to the next one. As stated, if you do have an AK or 1911, it is absolutely worthwhile, as you WILL have those two in your library, and after fiddling around once for 20 mins, you will have the interactive schematic available at any time you wish.

For those who have other guns, I suppose the question is- how far down the line before you get to a model you do own, and would it be worthwhile to drop the money to unlock it instead. If you go look at the price of various books, it may or may not be.

I think it does depend on your desired manner of learning; for those who like just paper books, get that instead. For those who like interactive computer stuff (and as an example, a lot of college textbooks have a key code that will allow computer access), then this might well be your cup of tea. If you have a computer nearby when you clean or work on your firearms, this certainly can't hurt, and might be useful if/when you get confused, or are trying to diagnose something.

 

[scoobysnacker]

added-

once you complete a gun, it is available at any time.
To clarify, the game starts with an AK 47, after completing it, you get to a 1911. I did the 1911 down to complete disassembly, didn't yet reassemble it.
I quit the game, and when I open it, I can look at any aspect of the AK, and I can look at any aspect of the 1911, up to the point I left off. In order to look at more aspects of the 1911 in the simulation, I have to finish that step first.

ALSO- I did check this, and it works.
You CAN select any gun available in the database, and view some basic info, very similar to reading a website about the gun.
I clicked on the CZ 75, and was able to read about it, and I think it showed some basic 2D schematics (not a thorough walkthrough). Basically a wikipedia-type entry, with some picks. Interesting information. I was not able to do the 3D simulation, as I don't yet have the points available to add that firearm to my library.