Fortnite

Abstract  The video game Fortnite, which was originally released July 21, 2017, has become increasingly popular over the last two years.  In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that Fortnite is the video game of the summer of 2019.  Children of all ages, but especially younger children, have spent their summers playing this video game.  However, many adults, especially older generation adults, really do not understand what the Fortnite fuss is about.  This tutorial covers the basics of Fortnite.

 It answers questions like: what is Fortnite; how do you get Fortnite; how do you play Fortnite; and what is a Fortnite tracker?  It also discusses commonly used terms, such as battle royale, Fortnite skins, Fortnite costumes, and Fortnite dances.  Finally, it discusses the impact of Fortnite on society and on the development of the children who play it.   Introduction Even people who do not play video games have heard of the popular game Fortnite.

 This game, which has become the rage among video players, especially younger video players, has become a pop culture sensation.  Gamers play the game, but even non-players may have incorporated elements of the game into their everyday lives.  For example, popular dances like The Floss went viral because of the game.  In this way, Fortnite has done something that only the most popular video games are able to do; it has passed beyond the world of video games and become a larger part of popular culture.

  What is Fortnite? Fortnite is a video game, which was released by Epic Games on July 21, 2017.  Although now popular as a free game, Fortnite was initially released as an early access game.  That means that the game was still in development, but could be purchased at the time of release.  Its initial release price as $59.99 (LeBoeuf, 2018).  In the paid version, the game was designed as an open-world survival game, set on a modern day Earth with a drastically reduced human population.

 It was a survival game, with elements somewhat similar to the very popular game Minecraft, in that players had to “collect resources, make tools and weapons, and try to stay alive as long as possible” (LeBoeuf, 2018).   What is Fortnite Battle Royale?  While the initial Fortnite game saw modest popularity, the game really began to hit its stride when Epic Games released Fortnite Battle Royale.  First, this release was free, making it accessible to all gamers, which undoubtedly contributed something to its popularity.

 However, the real secret to its popularity is probably the difference in game play between the free Fortnite Battle Royale version and the original Fortnite game.  Rather than just a survivalist game, the Battle Royale version pits play against player in a game type known as the battle royale.    A battle royale game is a game “that has strong elements of last man standing gameplay.

 Players are often locked in tussles with opponents, with the core objective being that you must be the only competitor who survives the action” (Plarium, 2017).  In Fortnite, these battles are epic; 100 people begin the fight for survival, and only one of them can win, which is accomplished by outlasting the other players.  This competitive type of gameplay is taken very seriously; unlike many other online multi-player games, collaboration is strongly discouraged in Fortnite.

 In fact, unless a player is in teams mode, a player can be banned for collaborating with other players. While the initial Fortnite game was popular, Fortnite Battle Royale became a huge hit, with millions of players within weeks of its release.  In fact, Fortnite Battle Royale has become so popular that it has become synonymous with the game, itself.  When most people are discussing Fortnite, they are really referring to Fortnite Battle Royale.   How Do You Get Fortnite? Fortnite is a free, downloadable game.

 To get the game, a player can download the Epic Games launcher, and go to the Fortnite page.  Because the game is free, a player can simply install it.  The game is available in multiple platforms, including: computers (PC and Mac), X-Box, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.  If a player wants to be able to play in save the world modes or other non-multi player modes, there is still the option to purchase the original game.

  How Do You Play Fortnite? One of the reasons that Fortnite is so popular is that, unlike some other online multi-player games, players do not have to customize their characters in order to play the game.  The game comes with default characters, known as skins, and players are automatically to a skin, which may switch, when they open the game.  In addition, players can purchase different skins.   Fortnite skins are an important element of the game.

 There are five basic types of skins: legendary, epic, rare, uncommon and common.  Skins may also be referred to as outfits.  In addition, some people may refer to Fortnite skins as Fortnite costumes, but this usage is less usual.  Instead, the term Fortnite costume probably refers to an actual physical costume.  While the different skins can make players look very different from one another, it is important to realize that they do not actually impact game play.

 All of the various skins have the same abilities and weaknesses, regardless of their physical appearances.  However, players can gain additional capabilities by being able to use the different weapons and tools that they gather.   Players begin in a lobby, where they can choose a mode.  Modes include teams, duos, and solo players.  After a player chooses a mode, the player hits the play button, which results in the player being placed in a map.

 Once there are enough players in that map, the players get onto a battle bus, which is above the map.  The battle bus takes players around the map, and the player chooses where to drop into the game.  The drop is quite literal; the players skydive from the bus down to the physical location on the map.   Players begin with one melee weapon: a pickax.  With the pickax, players can harvest materials from buildings to make their own structures.

 These structures can serve as a home base or as a place to escape from other players, but other players can enter these structures and the structures can be destroyed.  However, a player with a pickax is unlikely to be the last one standing; it is important for players to go searching for other weapons, tools, and other types of loot such as bandages and shield potions.  To find these extra items, players need to search over the map, in buildings, for chests.

 All chests will contain at least three items.  Players can carry unlimited amounts of some items, such as ammunition, but are limited to five slots for carrying weapons, potions, or bandages.  The weapons available in Fortnite include most types of guns, grenades, and bows.   Because Fortnite Battle Royale is a last man standing game, in solo play when a player encounters another player, then the player either attempts to kill that other player or attempts to evade a more powerful player.

 In team play, the same rules apply when encountering a player from a different team, however a defeat in battle does not result in immediate death, because other team members have the opportunity to revive a player within a certain period of time.   What is Fortnite Tracker Fortnite Trackers is a leaderboard site for the Fortnite Battle Royale game.  Players do not have to opt in to Fortnite Tracker; they can find their stats by logging in to the Fortnite Tracker website using their EPIC name.

 The Fortnite Tracker website is located at https://Fortnitetracker.com/.  At Fortnite Tracker, players can find their stats for the last 7 days and their lifetime stats.  Figures available include score; the number of times in the top 3; the number of times in the top 6, the total amount of time spent playing the game; the number of wins; the percentage of wins; the number of kills; and the killed to death ratio.

 It also has additional information like average match time; score per match; score per minute; and kills per minute.  This website helps player see their standing and compare themselves to other players.  In addition to compiling player statistics, the Fortnite Tracker website does other things to enhance gameplay.  For example, it creates challenges, and winners of challenges are eligible for various types of rewards.

  What are the Effects on Child Development of Playing Fortnite?  There have been numerous studies that have examined the impact of video games on child development, because video games, particularly violent video games, often get blamed for things that are wrong in society, as a whole.

 In fact, currently violent video games are being blamed for the number of mass shooters that exist in the United States, despite the fact that there are violent video games in other countries that do not have the same problems with mass shooters.  In addition, while Fortnite is a violent video game in some respects, the cartoonish violence makes it a far less violent game than other video games, such as the popular Call of Duty or Halo video game series.

  According to Mike Brooks, a psychologist, playing Fortnite is not inherently dangerous for a child (2018).  However, that does not mean Fortnite cannot contribute to existing problems or that the amount of time spent playing the game cannot become problematic.  To assess whether Fortnite play has become a problem for an individual child, one must examine the benefits and the downsides to the game.  The primary benefit of Fortnite may be that it is fun for players, a benefit that cannot be ignored when looking at recreation.

 If played in groups or teams, it helps foster cooperation and teamwork.  Whether played solo or as a team, the game promotes problem solving.  However, because it is such a fun and engaging game, Fortnite can easily become extremely time consuming.

 It is not that playing too many video games is inherently harmful, on its own; it is the fact that playing video games for too many hours tends to supplant other physiological and psychological needs, such as the needs for sleep, physical activity, in-person interactions, academics, and other hobbies.  While every child is different, the general rule is that children should be limited to 2 to 3 hours of recreational screen time each day (Brooks, 2018).

 Once children surpass this amount, then the potential negatives of a game begin to overshadow its potential positives.   What are the Effects of Playing Fortnite on Society?  While video games have long been a scapegoat for societal ills, they can actually have a very positive, community-building impact on societies.  Multiplayer games can actually help bring together people from diverse communities.

 This is because multiplayer games have an impact that spreads from the game and into the real world, so that “even when they are not playing it, players of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds have a common language to communicate with one another through which they are sharing tips, strategies, and adventures they’ve had playing the game” (Brooks, 2018).  The seemingly-universal appeal of games like Fortnite help translate a game into a pop cultural phenomenon.

  For example, while Fortnite is extremely popular with players, it is also surprisingly popular with observers.  Non gamers may not realize that it is extremely common for people to watch others play video games.  In fact, several of the social media celebrities have become celebrities because the combination of their video game playing skills and the humorous commentary that they offer while playing the games.

 Fortnite fits perfectly into this niche of entertainment; “there’s something distinctly watchable about this battle royale; its art style, mechanics and fanbase provide endless entertainment, and even celebrities like Drake are getting in on the action” (LeBoeuf, 2018).   While this may seem like a far-fetched idea to people who do not play the game, one need only reflect on how the video game Pac-Man played a significant role in 1980s culture to understand how a video game can really permeate pop culture.

  To see how far the Fortnite game has infiltrated popular culture, one need only consider the popularity of Fortnite dances.  In the game, after killing another player, “players can dance on the body, adding a fillip of humor and split-second grace to the victory” (Kaufman, 2018).  In the game, these dances are called emotes, and players can purchase different emotes from the game’s Item Shop.

 The ability to purchase these dances, as well as the various skins available in the game, are one of the reasons that this popular, but free, online game is making so much money.  In addition, these emotes are one of the reasons that many non-gamers have heard of Fortnite and its dances.  Some of the emotes are basically common movements, like fist bumps or shoulder brushes.  Others are more like actual dances.   The most commonly recognized Fortnite dance is easily the Floss.

 This dance did not actually originate in the video game, but was first introduced to the world in a Kay Perry performance during a taping of the show Saturday Night Live.  It was added to the game Fortnite as the Floss emote, and quickly went viral.  Not only was it incredibly popular within the game, but also within real life, and it was possible to see people everywhere doing this dance.  The appeal of the Floss was partially due to its apparent simplicity.

 Not even involving any foot movements, it seems like a basic combination of hip and arm movements, but it can be surprisingly challenging, at least for those without any inherent dance skills.

 Other popular Fortnite dances, which you are likely to see in real life, as well as in the game, include: Infinite Dab, Zany, Wiggle, Groove Jam, Swipe It, Disco Fever, The Worm, the Fresh, Take the Loss, Dance Moves (the default Fortnite dance), Best Mates, and the Electro Shuffle.  However, while the Fortnite dances are incredibly popular, they are not without their own controversy.  In 2019, Epic Games faced a series of lawsuits centered on the Fortnite dances.

 These lawsuits alleged that Epic Games stole people’s intellectual property in the form of dance moves, and then.