Firearms Expert Reveals Most Common Gun Mistakes in Games

Ever fired a shotgun in a game and felt like you were shooting marshmallows? You're not alone. Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, has seen it all. He's the voice behind the loadout descriptions in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, and he's also a consultant for studios like Team17, Facepunch, and Rebellion. His mission? Help games get guns right.

One of the most persistent mistakes Ferguson sees is shotguns being completely less than lethal, or even non-lethal, at a set distance. "I think a lot of developers have wised up on this," he says, but it still pops up. Games like Insurgency: Sandstorm and Red Dead Redemption 2 are notable for their more realistic depictions, showing that the loud knife era is ending.

But even when shotguns are done right, Ferguson notices the little things. "There are lots of little tiny details, like realistic patterns of cartridge case ejection," he says. These don't affect gameplay, but if you spot them, they add to the experience. However, increased visual fidelity is a double-edged sword. Ferguson admits that when he's actually playing, he often misses the details he critiques. "My attention is where it should be: on the gameplay, the story, the enemies," he explains.

Sometimes, realism has to be sacrificed for feel. Take pistol slides: in reality, they move faster than your eye can perceive. But in games, animators make them move slower so you can see the motion. "If you can see them moving, that showcases the animator's skill," Ferguson says. Players expect to see that bit move, and if they don't, it feels unsatisfying.

Ferguson isn't immune to nostalgia either. He remembers firing up GoldenEye 64 and thinking the AK felt like a real rifle. "Of course, it's not at all," he laughs. But back in '97, it was super impressive. The AK-47 itself has become a literal icon, especially with its distinctive curved magazine. "I don't use 'iconic' in the lazy way," he says. "I use it in a literal way."

So next time you're in a firefight, take a moment to appreciate the细节. The devs might have done their homework, and experts like Ferguson are here to help. What's the most unrealistic gun you've ever used in a game? Will you be picking up Hell Let Loose: Vietnam to hear Ferguson's descriptions?