Fortnite: The Video Game Craze You Don’t Need To Worry About
It’s taking gaming households by storm. Fortnite is the new video game craze capturing excitement of kids, and adults, everywhere.
Fortnite is a survival game that drops 100 players on to an island. You skydive out of a plane… (err…battle bus…my son just corrected me) and are thrown immediately in to survival mode. Last man standing is the winner. Although this is a hunger-game type battle to the death, the cartoonish characters and landscape make the game fun and lively. This game is rated T for teen due to mild violence, but truly this feels more like a paintball game than a bloody battle scene.
Why is Fortnite so fun?
I don’t fully understand it, but I do know I can’t pry my boys off the xbox without a fight or desperate plea of “After this round?!?! PLEEEAAAASE?!?! There’s only 10 of us left!”.
--insert eye roll and angry-mom-sigh--
Parenting Tip: Rounds can take up to an hour so don’t let those little rugrats drag you in to approving “just one more round” 20 minutes before bed. Let me tell you, I have been known to pull a power cord here and there.
Another piece of the game that gleans giggles from even my toughest teenager: dance moves. So many dance moves. If only my life could garner the same excitement as it did for my children when they discovered the “floss” had been released as a dance option in Fortnite. In fact, a lot of dance moves have been hijacked from our favorite characters and shows.
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As gamers try to survive they will collect weapons, build structures and even work as a team to survive as long as possible. All the while a “storm shield” inches closer and closer to the middle of the island, forcing players closer together for a battle. And you don’t want to get stuck outside the safe zone because then… you guessed it, you die.
There are a lot of explosions and references to real-life guns and weapons, but no blood. It’s all fun and games. There is a fair amount of “taunting” from other players via emotes (aka actions of other players such as slow claps) but nothing terrible — just a little bit of playful banter.
Be aware that like any other online game, your gamers can converse in real life with real people. These individuals can be added to a friends list or online party. Based on settings and the gaming console (or computer) you are on, anyone can join a “party” which allows real time conversation (like being on the phone together). Be sure to check your privacy settings if this is a concern of yours.
With constant updates and additions to the game (new dances, outfits, etc) your kids won’t be getting bored of Fortnite any time soon. All in all, it’s just good fun; a strategy game that makes them think and work as a team to survive. My kids even convinced their Grandma to play online with them. Best. Day. Ever.
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