Fortnite Battle Royale - Tips and information for parents

Fortnite Battle Royale is a currently popular online game in which the goal is to kill all the other players in order to survive. Since April, it has also been available free of charge for mobile iOS devices. What parents should know and consider about this digital game, you can read here.

Fortnite Battle Royale - Tips and information for parents
Source: Spieleratgeber-NRW
www.spieleratgeber-nrw.de/Fortnite-Battle-Royale.5418.de.1.html

The online game "Fortnite Battle Royale" is currently very trendy among many children and young people. Due to the rather childlike cartoon graphics, the survival shooter seems comparatively harmless at first glance. However, parents should take a closer look, as the content is unsuitable for younger children.  

What is Fortnite?
The digital game "Fortnite" currently includes two game variants. In the paid version, a fort (= fortress) must be built with other players to protect the last human survivors from zombies. However, the secondfree variant, called "Fortnite Battle Royale", is much more popular. Initially, you are dropped over a deserted island with up to 100 other players. On this island, you now have to find weapons and resources in order to survive as long as possible. The players have to kill each other and the last survivor or team wins the round. Weapon violence is the only action option, but "Fortnite" does not contain any detailed violent scenes. In the game itself, no blood flows and there are no corpses.

Since March 2018, the mobile version of the game has been rolled out for smartphones and tablets, and it can be assumed that the hype around "Fortnite - Battle Royale" will continue.

What age is Fortnite suitable for?
The game "Fortnite" is approved for children over the age of twelve - the PEGI rating behind it, however, only refers to the content of the game. For example, it does not include in-game communication via the in-game voice chat. The Independent Self-Regulation Body (USK) has also approved the paid original game "Fortnite" for children aged twelve and up. The free game mode "Battle Royale" is not reviewed by the USK because it is only available online. The Spieleratgeber-NRW recommends that the game mode "Fortnite Battle Royale" is suitable for young people aged 14 and over at the earliest, even though the main game "Fortnite" is approved for ages twelve and over. The conclusion of the pedagogical assessment is: "Despite the great distance to reality, it is a survival shooter, which deals with content unsuitable for younger children and can be too nerve-wracking for sensitive players. Older teens may classify the action as a fictional game."

What should parents know about Fortnite?

  • You have to create an account. To play Fortnite, your child must create an account at EPIC Games. For this, an email address must be provided and a name must be chosen. It is not asked how old someone is.
  • You play against other players of all ages. Since Fortnite is an online game, your child will compete against players of all ages worldwide. It is not possible to choose who is played against.
  • Chatting risks. While playing, users can converse via text and voice chats. This can lead to cyber-grooming or cyber-bullying.
  • There are in-app purchases. The game itself allows the purchase of virtual currency, so-called V-Bucks. This can then be used to buy virtual items such as outfits, new victory dances or even access to weekly challenges. However, these items and functions are not absolutely necessary for playing. The additional packages currently cost between €9.99 and €99.99.
  • There is animated violence. In Fortnite, players fight each other - the animation of these violent scenes is comic-like and comes without blood. Still, it's important to be aware that the goal of the game is to kill each other.

What can Fortnite be played on?
"Fortnite Battle Royale" is currently available as a free download for PC, Mac, PlayStation and XBox and is currently being rolled out for smartphones and tablets. Since April, the game has been available as a free download for newer iOS versions. A release for Android devices is expected in the next few months.

Tips

  • Talk to your child. Look for the right opportunities to talk to your child about what he or she is doing online. Ask your child why he or she is playing Fortnite.
  • Agree on rules. Talk to your child about how to behave online and how to reign in inappropriate content. Especially communication in chats and rules about in-app purchases while playing should be discussed. Also agree on how long your child is allowed to play. A good guideline: A round in "Fortnite" lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. The online tool Media Usage Agreement, for example, can provide assistance in defining usage times and rules.
  • Play with your child. This may sound unusual, but to become more familiar with the game yourself and, for example, the possibilities of reporting other players, this is a good opportunity.
  • Learn how to report assaults. In Fortnite, players who behave inappropriately can be reported via the game menu. Impart this knowledge to your child.
  • Stay calm. Take your concerns seriously and address them with your child. Remember that digital games alone do not make you violent.  


Text largely taken from Saferinternet.at withkind permission fromChildnet International.

 

More on the topic