Fortnite is a video game that has taken the world by storm. It has kids glued to their screens for hours on end and flooded social media sites with videos of kids recreating its dances. In today’s GKIS Sensible Guide, you’ll learn all the things parents need to know to make an informed decision about whether your kids should play this wildly popular video game.
How long has Fortnite been around, and how popular is it?
Fortnite is a video game that was initially released in 2015 by a team led by the American game developer Tim Sweeny. The game has gone through radical changes in its short lifetime. In its first iteration, the game was centered around grouping with other players to take on computer-controlled enemies. While this version of the game received modest success, it wasn’t until the game’s Battle Royale game mode was introduced in 2017 that the game became a worldwide phenomenon.[i]
As of 2020, a staggering 250 million accounts have been created on Fortnite.[ii] In 2018, Fornite generated over 2 billion dollars from in-game purchases called microtransactions. Through these microtransactions, players can exchange real-world currency for an in-game currency called V-Bucks. The V-Bucks can subsequently be used to choose from an array of in-game purchases including dances, emotes, or outfits for their character.
Getting Started on Fortnite
In order to create a free Fortnite account, the user must be at least 13 years of age or have the consent of a parent or guardian. However, this restriction can easily be bypassed by simply lying about your age. Fortnite can be downloaded on all popular gaming platforms.
Before allowing your child to play a new app or game, we recommend you implement our free Connected Family Screen Agreement. The agreement is available for children and teens. Offering digital negotiation tips, it also covers family values and screen smarts. It’s far more than a digital contract. To claim yours today, go to the home page of GetKidsInternetSafe and fill in your name and email address. If the contract is not for you, you can simply unsubscribe.
Features of Fortnite
Save the World
- The original game mode.
- Players must collect firearms and resources to fight off waves of monsters.
- There are different objectives in each mission, but the enemies are always the non-player monsters.
Battle Royale
- The most popular game mode.
- Players are dropped from a flying bus onto a large battlefield where they must find firearms and collect resources to fight other players.
- Up to 100 players can be in the same game.
- The last player standing earns the victory royale, and thus wins the game.
- Once you die you must leave and join a different game; you don’t respawn.
Creative Mode
- Players can build their own world and are free to do almost anything they desire.
- They have unlimited resources and items.
- Players can be alone in their world to create without interruptions, or they can invite friends and collaborate on a project.
- If they desire, they can set rules and make mini-games in their world. This opens almost endless possibilities for custom player-made game modes.
Most of the game modes in Fortnite are optimized for multiplayer gameplay.
The Benefits of Fortnite
Fun
Fortnite is super fun for players. Like most video games, you start with 0 points, so there is only one way to go – UP!
Friendship and Cooperation
Fortnite has various benefits, most notably the cooperation aspect of the game. Players are required to cooperate with their teammates whether it be to create a building or fighting enemy players. It can be a great way to make new friends and spend time with the friends you already have!
Showcase Creativity and Ingenuity
The creative mode of the game also allows children to showcase their creativity and ingenuity with almost endless possible building projects.
Gaming Skills
The fast-paced competitive nature of Fortnite helps build hand-eye coordination, finely tune reaction time, problem solve in a fast-paced situation, and learn to cooperate and compete with others.
Monetization Opportunities
Expert players can be so good at Fortnite, that they build up a character and sell the account to the highest bidder. Players can also make money by becoming an influencer and streaming their play.
E-Sport Opportunities
Kids also pick up tech prowess and may even provide the foundation for an e-sports or a professional gaming career.
The Risks of Fortnite
Distraction and Addiction
Possibly the greatest risk of Fortnite is playing for extended periods of time. This could cut into children’s study time and real-life social interactions. Fortnite employs various brain hooks to keep kids glued to the screen as long as possible. The efficacy of these hooks was proven at the end of Season 10 when the game seemingly “disappeared,” leaving an image of a black hole in its place. This event caused a social media frenzy as players all around the world posted incessantly about it. Then after 48 hours, the game returned and ushered in a new season. The players were overjoyed – a genius move on Fortnite’s part!
Violence
Fortnite is a third-person shooter (TPS) style game. That means your character is visible on your 3D screen during the game. Although Fornite is inherently violent as a shooter game, parents often don’t mind because as the violence is depicted in the game’s seemingly innocuous cartoon art style.
- Shooting an enemy player with a firearm, rocket launcher, or harpoon gun.
- Killing an enemy utilizing a trap with retractable spikes
- Bludgeoning an enemy to death with a pickaxe, bat, hammer, etc.
- Lobbing a grenade at an enemy player.
- Slicing an enemy player with a sword or knife.
Vulgarity
One can communicate with strangers through the in-game voice chat. Fortnite is a game that appeals to players of many ages. Many times small children may be paired up with adults on the same team. This can be alarming as older players frequently use vulgar or inappropriate language.
Cyberbullying
Children may also fall victim to cyberbullying behaviors that individuals employ in order to intimidate competitors. Distracting and stressing out other players, called griefing, is extremely common in the virtual, cut-throat environment of gaming. Because players can be anonymous or known to each other, cyberbullying online is commonplace. It is also common for older players to cyberbully younger players just because they are young. Young players have dubbed squeakers. For further insight on the dangers of multiplayer video games please check out our dedicated GKIS article.
Fortnite falls under the GKIS yellow-light app category. It may not be as violent as many games on the market, but it is violent nonetheless. As with any other video game, it is also important that the game is played in moderation so a child allocates enough time to take care of other responsibilities. It is recommended that parents have a look at the GKIS Cybersecurity and Red Flags Supplement so you are aware of the signs that your child has encountered danger while playing Fortnite. This supplement can be added to our free Connected Family Screen Agreement.
I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetKidsInternetSafe.
Onward to More Awesome Parenting,
Tracy S. Bennett, Ph.D.
Mom, Clinical Psychologist, CSUCI Adjunct Faculty
GetKidsInternetSafe.com
Works Cited
[i] Hyatt, Edward (2019) Who created Fortnite, what is Tim Sweeney’s net worth and how much money does Battle Royale make? https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6285387/fortnite-creator-tim-sweeney-founder-net-worth-7-16b/
[ii] Loveridge, Sam (2020) How many people play Fortnite? Is it really as many as people say? https://www.gamesradar.com/how-many-people-play-fortnite/
Photo Credits
Photo by Whelsko on Flickr
Photo by Jess Sherchan
Photo by Whelsko on Flickr
