Does new hit game “Fortnite” greatly affect the lives of those who play?

Fortnite has become one of the most popular games these days. Whether you love the game or not, whether the game is addictive or not or whether it gets controversial or not, it’s understood that Fortnite impacts many people. However, Fortnite did cause some amount of controversy recently, but not from what’s in the game.

Image+by+Epic+Games.

Image by Epic Games.

Fernando Castillo

Fortnite has become one of the most popular games these days. Whether you love the game or not, whether the game is addictive or not or whether it gets controversial or not, it’s understood that Fortnite impacts many people. However, Fortnite did cause some amount of controversy recently, but not from what’s in the game.

 

As a disclaimer, this article shall not deliver bad intentions towards Fortnite. However, it should be pointed out that gaming addiction has become a problem that has risen ever since the introduction of the gaming industry. So, if anyone personally knows someone who has this problem or is suffering from the problem themselves, they should be encouraged to seek help for themself or the person.

 

For some background information to those who have never seen it or never heard of it, Fortnite is an online video game created by Epic Games in 2017. The game includes two modes: a Save the World campaign, and Battle Royale mode. Save the World is a “player vs. environment” kind of mode. After a fluke storm ravages the Earth, 98% of the human population was wiped out of existence. To those who did survive, they are attacked by zombie-like “husks.” As one of the team players, you must build shelters, save survivors, collect resources and work together to defend and overcome the storm. In Battle Royale, 100 people playing solo or as a team of two to four battle it out until one player or one team remains standing. Players drop from a flying “Battle Bus.” Once they land, all they have is a pickax, with which they use to get resources. They must go around to find weapons, resources and defensive equipment. They also must attack other players while avoiding getting killed themselves. After some period of time, the storm closes in, which shrinks the boundary size. This will prompt the players to eventually encounter one another more frequently. Both were released as early access titles, but each of them has found great success.

 

However, Fortnite hasn’t come to this moment without a concern that arose a few months after the release of Battle Royale. This is about the younger audience, and how Fortnite had placed an impact on their lives. Since most kids these days have a device, they tend to be on it for more than two hours a day. This involves watching YouTube non-stop, playing games non-stop, and especially playing Fortnite non-stop. This has caused a great deal of concern over children, because parents and teachers expressed some concern when it has been discovered that children and teenagers are distracted by playing the game and winning a Battle Royale or just eliminating someone. It went as far in some cases that they ditch one day of school just to play. Of course, this applies to some other games worldwide. “I don’t play Fortnite. I have only played it for about a week and a half. However, I have friends who play the game. I agree that some kids get distracted or don’t go to school because of Fortnite. Personally, I know one or two of them,” said Alex Jacobsen, senior. In defense of these concerns, gamers say that Fortnite and other games out there are not at fault and that it is up to the people to figure out for themselves if they able to join the gaming world or not. What’s more, people have been able to manage their lives because they know that they have other responsibilities. “I have a lot of fun playing Fortnite with my friends. However, it hasn’t impacted me,” said senior Lincoln Haugh.

 

Truth be told, the game is meant to provide some fun to people and, because it is so popular, everyone wants to criticize it. However, it is hard to put the controller down once the person is so drawn into it. It could be said that the game can impact peoples’ lives greatly, slightly or not at all. Whatever the case is, it depends on the individual.