UPDATE February 13 - All has been quiet for a long time on the fate of the controversial 'Bullseye Blast' target shooting game at Orlando ICON Park which opened and then quickly shut again back in July 2022.
The giant Observation wheel at Orlando ICON Park has now reopened and according to Screamscape, during the downtime, work has been done to prepare for a potential new experience called 'The Great Florida Road Trip'. Unfortunately there have not been any further details released so far about this assumed replacement to the disastrous 'Bullseye Blast' but we will update you on this as soon as they become available. We expect 'The Great Florida Road Trip' will see an upcharge of around $5.95 as was the case for 'Bullseye Blast'.
July 19 - It has now been reported that 'Bullseye Blast' is currently unavailable at Orlando ICON Park as a redesign is underway due to online backlash since its recent launch at the park. Orlando ICON Park released this statement;
"...the Bullseye Blast game satisfied guests who enjoy gaming, arcades, and virtual reality. From capsules, guests use a toy infrared device to compete and hit round, colorful targets on rooftops. The experience was thoroughly tested and well received by guests during a process spanning many months."
“Some non-guests and community members expressed that they considered the toy shooting device used 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. We look forward to leading this new innovation.”
We are assuming that the $5.95 upcharge for playing the new version of 'Bullseye Blast' will remain and we will look forward to bringing you details about the redesign and a date for the game's return when it is announced.
July 17 - This week Orlando ICON Park announced a new target shooting game, 'Bullseye Blast' which is set to be added to their 400-feet tall Ferris Wheel. Now, you would think that having a game which requires guests to use laser guns to basically snipe at targets below would set alarm bells ringing instantly. But, apparently for the Orlando ICON Park all is good.
Well, after this announcement was made, people online have not held back making their views clear on the insensitivity of this, especially after the recent mass shootings in a Buffalo New York supermaket and in Uvalde, Texas. The people of Orlando will also be forever scarred by the attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016.
For most it just feels like an inappropriate and insensitive game to bring to a park which is already under scrutiny after the incident on Orlando FreeFall back on March 24.
It has now been reported by Orlando Sentinel that Orlando ICON Park has currently paused 'Bullseye Blast' due to the amount of backlash it has already gotten online.
Orlando ICON Park describes 'Bullseye Blast' as follows:
"Players scan the rooftops of ICON Park to find 50 strategically pre-selected targets with varying degrees of difficulty," "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."
I don't think most people are against shooting style games in general such as Buzz Light Year’s Space Ranger Spin but it is the context of 'Bullseye Blast' which is proving very problematic.
One theme park fan tweeted a very good idea which could use exactly the same technology but in a very different context. Dave Cobb suggested; "You could make these things "magic spyglasses" & it can become a seek-and-find game with the exact same mechanic. Make the targets into characters that are "hiding" like Where's Waldo in the environment. So many options to make it ANYTHING but shooting."
Read the damn room, @iconparkorlando. Like you need more bad press. Did NO ONE consider how awful and insensitive this idea is? https://t.co/zZL1Hgugcx
— Dave Cobb 🏳️🌈 (he/him) (@davecobb) July 14, 2022
We will keep you posted on further details about 'Bullseye Blast' when they are announced. We guess Orlando ICON Park will have no choice but to rethink this new addition to the Ferris Wheel. Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on Facebook and by voting in our poll.
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