video game: Outlaws

Outlaws was released in 1997 by publisher and developer LucasArts. It is one of the few Western first-person shooters ever released. In Outlaws the player assumes the role of the retired U.S. Marshal James Anderson. The game begins with Anderson returning home to discover his wife murdered and his daughter kidnapped by a group of outlaws hired by the railroad baron Bob Graham. The goal is to find Graham and rescue Anderson's daughter. The player travels the Old West, completing a series of missions and shooting enemy outlaws in their search for Graham. Acclaimed for its unique and detailed storyline, Outlaws has a dedicated cult following with new maps and levels released as recently as 2010.

Outlaws introduced a number of innovative features to the gaming world. Unlike contemporary first-person shooters, Outlaws discouraged the "run and gun" style of play in which players run headlong into a fight. The foes in Outlaws were well-armed and capable of ducking for cover to avoid bullets, making it necessary for players to use caution and strategy when approaching enemies. Outlaws introduced the sniper rifle to the video game world and was the first game to feature sniper zoom. This feature allowed players to zoom in on enemy targets and pick them off from a safe distance. Sniper zoom is a staple in today's most popular first-person shooters such as Halo, Ghost Recon and Modern Warfare.