History Main / EveryBulletIsATracer

* When Zorg demos the ZF-1's "replay button" feature for the Mangalores in ''Film/TheFifthElement'', not only is every bullet a tracer, but they ''[[HomingProjectile self-guide to the target even when he is pointing completely the other way]]''.

RealLife [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition tracers]] work by leaving a streak of burning chemicals behind the bullet to allow shooters to "track" where their shots go. This effect is really [[RuleOfCool cool]] in reality, but is only deployed every Nth bullet[[note]]where N is a different number depending on several factors, but is usually every 5 or 10 shots[[/note]]; in fact, tracer rounds generate extra wear on the barrel[[note]]A gun barrel deteriorates due to friction and heat - it's designed to channel an explosion after all - and tracer rounds, due to the ''ignited chemicals'', cause more heat than a normal bullet, which wears the barrel out much faster as a result[[/note]]. They also tend to be somewhat less accurate, especially over long range. In a squad, the squad leader's weapon may be loaded with this pattern of tracers to direct fire. Sometimes a couple tracers are added to the end of everyone's magazines to alert them to being almost out.

* Every round of ammunition fired in ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' is visible. Even the grenade launcher fires a tracer-looking projectile. Not to mention the flat trajectory...

* A variation on this appears as a gameplay mechanic in ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'''s sci-fi shooter-RPG ''Gun Gale Online''. Bullet paths are highlighted ''before'' firing, allowing players with fast reflexes to [[DodgeTheBullet dodge incoming fire]] (and those armed with [[LaserBlade photon swords]] and the skills to wield them to block bullets with the blade).

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'': the last three rounds of the assault rifle's magazine are tracers every time. If you had the [[BottomlessMagazines infinite ammo bandana]], it was sorta fun to slap it on for those three rounds, turning the gun into a [[EnergyWeapon frickin' laser]].
** Generally averted in ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 3|SnakeEater}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 4|GunsOfThePatriots}}'', where only the belt-fed machine guns fire one tracer every ten rounds.

* Absolutely every weapon in ''Franchise/MassEffect''. The ammunition consists of tiny particles of steel shot with such a high velocity that they turn the air they pass through into glowing plasma, making them look like energy weapons. Yet for the sake of visual effects, they appear to travel at slow enough speed to be clearly visible.

RealLife [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition tracers]] work by leaving a streak of burning chemicals behind the bullet to allow shooters to "track" where their shots go. This effect is really [[RuleOfCool cool]] in reality, but is only deployed every Nth bullet[[note]]where N is a different number depending on several factors, but is usually every 5 or 10 shots[[/note]]; in fact, tracer rounds generate extra wear on the barrel[[note]]A gun barrel deteriorates due to friction and heat - it's designed to channel an explosion after all - and tracer rounds, due to the ''ignited chemicals'', cause more heat than a normal bullet, which wears the barrel out much faster as a result[[/note]]. They also tend to be somewhat less accurate, especially over long range. In a squad, one weapon may be loaded with this pattern of tracers to direct fire. Sometimes a couple tracers are added to the end of everyone's magazines to alert them to being almost out.

[[folder:Film]]

** The most notable exception is the Railgun, which paints a distinctive glowing line surrounded by a double-helix smoke trail back to your firing position with every shot. The free browser-based remake, Quake Live, takes this UpToEleven by letting you customize the color of your railgun trails, just so everybody knows who fired that last shot. Given that the Railgun is a OneHitKill on an unarmored target, though, this may be more of a subtle taunt than a liability.

* In games where the bullets are {{Hitscan}}, it's not uncommon to add a dull grey tracer to each bullet to simply [[AntiFrustrationFeatures inform the player that the bullets exist]]. In these cases actual in-universe tracer rounds (if any) will be much brighter and flashier, while stealth weapons will likely lack the dull grey tracers.

** A base near the Rhodesian border was being fired on by guerrillas. No-one was alarmed because it was night and they were using excessive amounts of tracer, so it was clear [[ATeamFiring all the shots were going over their heads]]. Suddenly the soldiers ducked for cover when an invisible burst struck uncomfortably close. They concluded there must be an East German 'adviser' among the rebels, using ball ammunition.

RealLife [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition tracers]] work by leaving a streak of burning chemicals behind the bullet to allow shooters to "track" where their shots go. This effect is really [[RuleOfCool cool]] in reality, but is only deployed every Nth bullet (where N is a different number depending on several factors); in fact, tracer rounds generate extra wear on the barrel[[note]]A gun barrel deteriorates due to friction and heat - it's designed to channel an explosion after all - and tracer rounds, due to the ''ignited chemicals'', cause more heat than a normal bullet, which wears the barrel out much faster as a result[[/note]]. They also tend to be somewhat less accurate, especially over long range. In a squad, one weapon may be loaded with this pattern of tracers to direct fire. Sometimes a couple tracers are added to the end of everyone's magazines to alert them to being almost out.

RealLife [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition tracers]] work by leaving a streak of burning chemicals behind the bullet to allow shooters to "track" where their shots go. This effect is really [[RuleOfCool cool]] in reality, but is only deployed every ninth bullet; in fact, tracer rounds generate extra wear on the barrel[[note]]A gun barrel deteriorates due to friction and heat - it's designed to channel an explosion after all - and tracer rounds, due to the ''ignited chemicals'', cause more heat than a normal bullet, which wears the barrel out much faster as a result[[/note]]. They also tend to be somewhat less accurate, especially over long range. In a squad, one weapon may be loaded with this pattern of tracers to direct fire. Sometimes a couple tracers are added to the end of everyone's magazines to alert them to being almost out.