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A Parent’s Guide to Fortnite
“Building and shooting… Do I have that right?”
With a popularity that sent Fortnite soaring into the stratosphere, this is a game that has stuck in the minds of the young and old for years! First released in July of 2017, this game is a battle-royale focused on 100 people dropping into a map and fighting for their chance to achieve the coveted “Victory Royale”.
This survival-action game is a bit like what you’d get if you combined a sandbox-building game like Minecraft with an action shooter like Call of Duty. Fortnite has a lot to offer and parents appreciate Fortnite’s emphasis on teamwork and thoughtful collaboration. But with all of that being said, we here at Esports Tower would like to give you all of the insights you need to understand Fortnite better. Ready to hop into Tomato Town?
What is Fortnite?
Fortnite has two major game modes; that of their Battle Royale mode and their Save the World Mode. But from conversations with your kiddos, you probably know most about the Battle Royal mode, the free-to-play multiplayer offshoot of the action-strategy game Fortnite from developer Epic Games. This ultra-popular video game blends elements of sandbox-building games with fast-paced action.
Battle Royale allows up to 100 people to participate in a match together. Players are dropped onto the game map and must compete to be the last one standing. During the game, players collect weapons, build structures, and try to avoid the Storm that damages all players outside of a safe zone. Unlike the Save the World version, there aren’t any zombies to kill.
Do They Play Solo OR Can They Play with Friends?
There are three modes of play in Battle Royale: Solo, Duo, and Squad. In Solo mode, you’re dropped into the game alone. In Duo, you’re dropped in with a partner. In Squad mode, you play on a team of four. Duos and Squads can either be friends, choosing to play together, or randomly matched players. All players in a match play in the same mode.
Is Fortnite Safe For Kids?
As most things are, it is really up to the parents’ discretion. For some parents, the cartoonish, bloodless style of the action in Fortnite makes the violence less problematic than the aggressive gore in other popular shooter games. But the game’s online chat feature – especially in Battle Royal
– could expose younger players to offensive language or mature content from random strangers. Open chat for kids under 13 should probably be turned off, but with the right controls and parental guidance, this can be a tween-friendly alternative to violent first-person shooters.
How Much Does Fortnite Cost?
Players can currently download and play Fortnite: Battle Royale for free. But even within the free-to-play version, there are frequent opportunities for players to spend real money on items in the game. Fortnite encourages purchases such as upgrades to editions Deluxe and Super Deluxe, as well as in-game currency called V-Bucks to buy bonus items.
There’s also the Premium Battle Pass, a $10 subscription that lets players compete at more levels and win exclusive game skins/costumes (although players can now compete in special promotions and earn a free Battle Pass). Epic’s partnerships with popular entities including: Marvel, The Mandalorian, Predator, and Tron mean that a constant stream of new characters, costumes, and other crave-worthy elements are frequently introduced to the game — keeping players’ interest and their money coming in to fund the free-to-play experience.
You Mentioned a Battle Pass. What is it?
The Battle Pass is a way the Epic Games fuel the free-to-play experience. Players can purchase the Battle Pass and play frequently till the end of the season to earn as many cosmetic rewards as they can. But even if you do not purchase it, you can still earn the free in-game rewards.
What Platforms Can You Play Fortnite On?
Fortnite can be played on the latest game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch), computers (Mac and Windows), and Android mobile devices. The one place you can’t play it is on iPhones, since Epic Games launched a very public battle against the Apple App Store over the way Apple collects in-app purchase fees — money Epic relies on, as it offers Fortnite: Battle Royale for free. Users need an internet connection to play.
A mobile version is also available for iOS and Android. Players can play “cross-platform,” which means, for example, that a Windows player can be on a team with a console player. Gamers also can create an account on any device and carry over their progress in a game to another system. For example, you could start on a cellphone, then pick up a game on a computer or console later in the day and continue where you left off.
In Conclusion
Though the learning curve can be quite steep, Fortnite is a game that is great for kids of all ages. With a rating of T for Everyone, it is a game that has minimal violence or questionable content. Providing players with a game that is vibrant, colorful, and full of life, this is a game that is not only suitable for your kids, but for people of all ages!
If your kid loves Fortnite and wants to take their game to the next level, then enrolling at Esports Tower can be the next step in their development. At Esports Tower we offer bi-weekly coaching sessions, and weekly opportunities to play in a tournament setting, all for $5 a week… the same price as a fancy latte!
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