Want to know about Fornite?

Written by: Emily Deaner (Research Exec at Sherbert)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or have no contact with anyone with a Games Console) you’ve probably heard of the game of the moment, Fornite. After a paid for pre-release period during the second half of 2017, the now free co-op survival game has taken over the lives of gamers across the country. We managed to pull an obsessed 11-year-old away from his game for a few minutes (be it with a chance to get some V-Bucks to spend on the game) to hear what it’s all about and why it has taken over his life and the lives of most of his friends!

“Fortnite is a game where 100 players go into this made up world and they basically have to fight to the death, it’s kind of a bit like the hunger games. There are different guns and ‘healables’ (which increase your health when you are running low) which you can get when in the game. You skydive from a plane and land in the made-up world, then you find and get guns and you battle until the last man standing wins. There are 4 game modes…Squad - 4 in a team, Duos – 2 in a team, Solos – 1 in a team and 50 vs 50. Outside the game you can buy characters and pixel axes, you get these with V-Bucks (Fortnite currency). V-Bucks cost real money. There is something called a storm, you get in the circles to make sure you don’t die but the storm and the circle gets smaller and smaller. There is also a new update where meteors hit. I am in love with Fortnite because it is a fun game to play and it is exciting with all the updates that happen every week. I love it because of the amazing graphics made by the gamers who make it. But the best bit about playing Fortnite is that I get to play with all my friends and get to play and speak to them every day. I also like it because it is a really good feeling when you win and also there is no blood.”

So why do we think that so many kids can’t get enough of it?

Gameplay – with each game being around 15 minutes, these short sessions keep excitement levels up throughout and fit in perfectly with the short attention spans of young people today. This also means that there’re no breaks in the fight for survival and no way to pause so once the game begins they’re locked in! (much to the annoyance of parents potentially waiting to go out, eat dinner etc!)

Team play – although most adults will suggest otherwise, kids believe that playing online with their friends means they’re being sociable. It’s a great way for them to interact with friends and other people within the gaming world as they fight for survival and you can hear them playing/shouting from anywhere in the house. 😉

Cost – IT’S FREE!! Yes, there is in game currency which can help you survive, but there is no need to use this (although most want to!) which means everyone can play without calling to the bank of mum and dad or having to decide which game they value most to spend a hefty £40+ on! However, once drawn in V-bucks become important to a player and this online currency is now making its way onto the birthday wish lists of many.

Updates – regular updates are a must when it comes to technology these days, kids expect them and in order to keep up and keep them hooked regular updates are key. Fortnite has got it spot on with weekly updates that keep the game exciting and fresh,

And finally, everyone is playing it…who wants to be left out (FOMO) when all their friends (as well as their favourite celebrities and influencers) are talking about the game they played last night, how many wins they’ve had, what the best new weapon is and who got the last man standing – instantly Instagram-able!

So right now, Fortnite can do no wrong, it’s got them hooked, everyone is talking about it and they’re working to keep this going. But how long will the obsession Last? Another 11-year-old boy told us recently that we’ll probably all be talking about something else by the summer. Will it last the year out, will Fornite survive as a free game in the long run, or will they stop their access now they’re hooked and make them pay to continue to feed their addiction? Watch this space…and let’s be thankful (from a kid’s point of view) that although there is death, there is no blood!