Where does the fascination for the shooting game Fortnite come from?
Why does the shooting game fascinate so many young people? And how do parents recognise that their child is addicted to the game?
I'm floating on a parachute over a foreign island. The ground is getting closer, soon the shooting starts. Because 99 other players are landing with me. We will fight, everyone against everyone else - until only one of us is left.
to stay alive wins.
The winner is decided after about 20 minutes. For me, however, the game ends after just 120 seconds: A female character finishes me off with a shotgun blast. I take my hand off the keyboard and my pulse slowly calms down. Should I try again? Better not. The others are just too good for me. Too young - and far too fast.
Fortnite Battle Royale
The game that made me fail so early on is called Fortnite Battle Royale. It is currently the most popular video game in the world. The «biggest hype», as my 17-year-old son explains to me, that he has ever experienced. «Everyone's playing it right now.»
And it's the same as always when something casts such a magical spell over children: Parents start to worry. Is the new game taking up too much time? Should it be banned? And what makes Fortnite so appealing to children? There are many extreme answers to these questions in the newspapers and on the internet. Most of them have one thing in common: they are not true.
Seven misconceptions about Fortnite - and seven truths parents should know.
1st misconception: Everyone plays Fortnite
That's nonsense, of course. There are around 40 million active players worldwide every month (as at the beginning of June 2018). That's an incredible number - but significantly less than «all». Figures for individual countries are not available. Many children and young people in Switzerland have never played Fortnite. But they have probably all heard of it.
The American computer game researcher and professor Dmitri Williams draws attention to another fact: around 15 per cent of all people cannot play Fortnite for more than a few minutes. They get seasick - because the images move so quickly and frantically.
2nd misconception: Fortnite Battle Royale is for children aged twelve and over
That's not quite true. There is only an official age rating («12+») for the original paid game Fortnite. In this version, you don't fight against other players, but against zombies. The clearly more popular online version called Fortnite Battle Royale is not subject to any age restrictions at all.
The game guide of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia estimates that the game is aimed at «young people aged 14 and over». It could be «too nerve-wracking» for younger children. In fact, however, many 8 and 9-year-olds are also among the users. This is far too early for most of these children.
3rd misconception: Fortnite is a pure shooter game
Fortnite is not a game for pacifists. If you don't fight, you can't win. Nevertheless, you don't just have to run and shoot, you also have to build things. For example, a staircase to climb a mountain, a wall to hide behind or a tower to see your opponents better.
Fortnite is like a mixture of Lego world and paintball. Experienced players say: when in doubt, it's not the better shooter who wins - but the better builder.
4th misconception: Fortnite is free of charge
The game actually costs nothing at first. All you need is a computer, Xbox, Playstation, tablet or mobile phone - and a fast internet connection. Nevertheless, the manufacturer Epic Games earns almost 300 million dollars a month with Fortnite.
Where does the money come from? It's simple: you can buy so-called «skins», i.e. particularly cool outfits, in the game for just under nine francs. These characters are also able to perform certain victory dances - which are already imitated by professional footballers. The skins do not bring any advantages for the game. Marketing works just like in real life: A special taste costs money - and when everyone else is wearing expensive branded clothes, no one wants to stand in the corner as an H&M type.
Transferring money is child's play and, incidentally, also legal, as the sums involved are within the bag money range. However, children can get rid of a large part of their savings in this way.
5th misconception: Fortnite's success was precisely planned
The designers of the game have done their homework. At first glance, Fortnite looks like a harmless comic, as bright and colourful as Heidi or Maya the Bee. Blood never flows. Figures disappear in pretty clouds of light. But while many games are well made these days, only a few are successful.
It's like in pop music or Hollywood: «Nobody knows anything» - basically nobody knows exactly what will be a hit. However, once there are a certain number of fans, there is an avalanche effect: your friends play Fortnite, so you try it too. «You just want to be part of it, that's one of the basic human needs,» says Dmitri Williams. «As banal as it sounds: But Fortnite is popular mainly because it's popular.»
6th misconception: Fortnite is «totally social» - or «totally dangerous»
You can also play Fortnite in team mode: This teaches you to be a team player and strengthens your relationship with your friends. «For some children, the time spent together with friends is actually the most interesting part of the whole game,» explains Dmitri Williams. The makers of Fortnite know this. That's why a so-called «voice chat» is automatically activated between members of a team. This means you can talk to your team mates by default. But what if you're playing with strangers and one of them turns out to be an adult with bad intentions?
The British press has reported two such cases. A 10-year-old and a 12-year-old were harassed by men. One asked for his name and address, the other for sex. Children and parents should therefore know where to switch off the audio channel. Conclusion: A single feature strengthens social contacts for some - and becomes a danger for others. For some players, neither is true. The truth about Fortnite is not black or white. It lies somewhere in the grey in between.
7th misconception: Fortnite is as harmless as football
Some children spend every spare minute on the football pitch. But do they throw a tantrum when their parents call them to dinner? «The likelihood of this happening is far greater with computer games,» says Dmitri Williams. The reason: games like Fortnite are very precisely tuned to the human psyche . «You see quick learning success at the beginning. And, of course, this provides enormous motivation to get the next sense of achievement.»
What's more, in Fortnite you play against 99 opponents at the same time. The chances of winning are more like a lottery than a football match. "Psychologically, it works like a slot machine," says Williams. "And not all people are good at simply quitting in these situations."
In other words: you may be able to lose yourself reading books, playing football or chess - but the risk of addiction is undoubtedly much higher with Fortnite.
The child plays Fortnite - what can parents do?
- Limit the playing time. The lure of Fortnite is huge. Children can handle it better if parents support them with firm - and mutually agreed - rules. Parents should also help them to stick to these rules. For example, by setting an alarm clock. When it rings, it means: After this game is the end of the day.
- What is the limit? US psychologist Leonard Sax recommends: No more than 40 minutes on school days. No more than 60 minutes on weekend days. Play only when homework and household chores are done. These rules are relatively strict. You will come to an agreement with your child that everyone can live with.
- There is only one recommendation for the smartphone version of Fortnite: a complete ban. If the game is always available everywhere, the temptation is too great for many children. In most cases, a single sentence is enough: «I don't want you to ever install Fortnite on your mobile phone.» If necessary, an occasional check of the mobile phone can help: Let them see which apps are currently loaded on the smartphone without telling them.
- If you play Fortnite in team mode, «voice chat» is automatically activated. This means you can hear what your team-mates are saying. How do you protect your child from strangers? Firstly, by following the rule: in team mode, you only play with friends, not strangers. Parents and children should also know how to deactivate the chat function: You go to the game settings, click on «Sound», switch to «off». The third option: In a team game with strangers, the voices of the others must be audible via loudspeakers. And a parent must be in the room.
- «Play the game with your child,» is Dmitri Williams' most important piece of advice. «After all, you want to know what they do in their free time and what they are interested in.»
- Williams' second tip: "Let your child explain to you what's so cool about the game. Your child will be thrilled that you're interested. They will literally tell you everything." This method has a second advantage: «You stop making your educational measures solely dependent on preconceptions. Your own experience and knowledge are better guides.»
How can I recognise whether my child is an addict?
It is difficult to say how many children are addicted to computer games. Depending on the study, the figures vary between 1.4 and 8.4 per cent. Teenage boys are particularly affected . Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed seven criteria for recognising addiction.
- The child thinks about the game all day long.
- The child plays longer and longer from week to week.
- The child plays to forget its worries.
- Others (e.g. the parents) have tried in vain to reduce the child's playtime.
- The child feels bad when it can't play.
- The child argues with friends or family members about the game.
- The child neglects other things (homework, sport, hobbies) because of the game.
Rule of thumb
If at least four of these criteria apply «frequently» or «very frequently» for the past six months, gambling addiction is suspected. Affected parents should seek help. More on the topic and media consumption by children and young people: Pro Juventute: www.projuventute.ch, Sucht Schweiz: www.suchtschweiz.ch.
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