Are you the parent of — by Mike Daugherty a child between the ages of 8 and 25 ? If so , you ’ ve probably heard them say the F-word . They say it to their peers all the time . They say it in class , at the dinner table , and even in church . I ’ m not talking about THE F- word . You know , the one that Ralphie accidentally lets slip in “ The Christmas Story ”? No , I ’ m talking about the other F word … Fortnite .
Many parents that I have spoken to allow their children to play the wildly popular game , but the majority admit they don ’ t know much about it . It is difficult to make time in an already hectic schedule to learn about the latest video game craze . That ’ s understandable . I ’ ve created a “ Cliff ’ s Notes ” type of summary of the things you need to know about Fortnite as a parent , along with some ways to connect with your kids through the game .
Playing the Game
There are several ways to play the game , but the most popular is Battle
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Royale . One hundred players compete to be the last person or team standing . Players can choose to battle solo ( alone ), in duos with a friend , or in squads with three other players .
The game begins with players leaping out a flying bus as it passes over the battleground . Competitors deploy their parachutes and navigate their way to the ground . Once they ’ ve landed , players need to arm themselves by searching buildings , homes , factories , trucks , etc . for weapons and other items that range in ability and availability . The arsenal available consists of simple handguns all the way to rocket launchers .
The goal is to survive by eliminating all the other players or teams . The winning player or team earns a Victory Royale . A storm surrounds the outskirts battleground at the start . Every few minutes the storm closes in , forcing players toward the center and ensuring the fast-paced action . It ’ s no Super Mario Brothers 3 , but I will admit , the game is fun to play .
Terminology
There are several terms and phrases you should be familiar with to understand the world of Fortnite better .
● Skin - A skin is a costume players can wear . Skins allow a player to stand out while on the battlefield . Most skins can be purchased , but a few can also be won by achieving a specific tier .
● Seasons - Fortnite is divided into seasons . The game is currently in Season Five which is set to end on Sept 24th . Seasons are approximately ten weeks long . When a season changes , there are new locations added to the map and new cosmetic upgrades for characters to earn .
● Battle Pass - Fortnite is free to play . A battle pass introduces rewards and challenges which makes the game much more fun to play than the free version . Players can earn skins and other customizations by just playing the game as well as completing the daily and weekly challenges . A new battle pass must be purchased each season . The battle pass costs 950 vBucks , or roughly $ 9.00 .
● vBucks - vBucks are the in-game currency used to buy various upgrades and customizations to a player ’ s character . 1000 vBucks cost $ 9.99 . There are bonus vBucks available for buying more significant amounts .
Why is it so popular ?
Fortnite ’ s popularity can be attributed to several factors . For starters , the game is free to play . Just download the game , create an account , and you ’ re ready . It ’ s easy to learn , and the humorous gameplay attracts non-traditional gamers . Fortnite works on standard video game consoles ( Xbox , PS , Switch ) as well as smartphones , tablets , and traditional computers . Lastly , gamers can easily play with their friends , although some limitations do apply . In short , Fortnite is an entertaining , free game that can be played with friends at home or on the go on most devices that can connect to the Internet .