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Original poster

Fortnite, is it that bad?

77 replies

ilovetomatoes · 13/06/2021 20:44

Just had yet another tearful exchange with my 9 year old about Fortnite. He discovered today his cousin, who is the same age, has it. Help me understand if I’m being harsh or I should stand my ground. Advice welcome please. I can’t cope with days and days of side eye, stomping and moodiness.

OP posts:

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 13/06/2021 20:47

I played it myself to work out how I felt about it. I dont think it's that bad for my dc but they're a little older.
The only thing is how compulsively he might want to play. It is quite moreish.

NiceGerbil · 13/06/2021 20:48

IMO it's fine.

Shooting and stuff but not graphic.

Just asked DD who is 11 and she said 'it's a kids game'.

I watched them playing it and I didn't see anything worrying.

Had a go but I was total shit

The only issue it's an online game and presumably has chat etc. Mine aren't interested in that. Dunno if you can switch it off. That would be my only caution.

princesslarmadrama · 13/06/2021 20:50

My kids similar age play it and have no issues.

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Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 13/06/2021 20:52

It's fine for a 9 year old IMO

idontlikealdi · 13/06/2021 20:52

It's shit. It's so addictive Dts act like walkers when they have access, so they don't.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 13/06/2021 20:52

Depends on the child. Mine has ADHD and autism and OCD. He cannot have any games, no matter how many meltdowns he takes about it.

RightOnTheEdge · 13/06/2021 20:53

Mine have it, they are 8 and 10.
I haven't seen anything worrying. There's nothing graphic.
They have headsets and play in teams with their friends which was a life saver over lockdown.

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 20:53

It resulted in the removal of all consoles from our lives and the house has never been happier.

TotorosCatBus · 13/06/2021 20:55

It's not too violent for a 9yo but you are highly likely to have to endure tantrums and shouting while he plays because they've designed it to be infuriating and addictive.

tryingtocatchthewind · 13/06/2021 20:55

There’s nothing wrong with the game (if you turn chat off), the problem is how addictive it is and the pester power for endless money to spend on mindless costumes and characters and battle passes. That said it does allow you to chat with allowed friends which has been very welcome over lockdown.

TotorosCatBus · 13/06/2021 20:57

I forgot about V bucks (in game currency)
He's likely to want V bucks to buy in-game stuff which is a new thing for him yo nah you about.

If your credit card details are saved on his console delete them immediately so he doesn't accidentally buy any V bucks

Spied · 13/06/2021 20:58

The stomping and moodiness will only get worse with the introduction of Fortnite to your home ime.
My ds became quite obsessed with it and needing v-bucks. Can be expensive if you like to keep up with the skins,passes etc.
His behaviour definitely took a turn for the worse.

Blossomandbee · 13/06/2021 20:59

Its not so much the content, if does seem to have addictive properties. We had to stop my DS from using it as he was spending too much time on it and flying into rages coming off it (never had this with any other game.) He had what can only be described as withdrawal symptoms for a few days before returning to his normal self.
I would definitely be cautious with it and monitor usage.

NiceGerbil · 13/06/2021 21:01

Mine get s hard no on in game spend.

I have explained that many games want to monetise. Get you hooked and then it gets really hard and you're tempted to cough up to progress. Not this game but others esp free phone apps.

I said if it's pretty much impossible to continue without spending then that's what it's for and they know how to get people hooked.

Having said that I have coughed up for some seriously cool Minecraft stuff in the past

It's not a given that they'll want to do nothing else, pester, get stroppy etc.

Depends on the child. OP you know your kid.

The fact it's online with other users and assuming there's a chat function that would be my worry.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 13/06/2021 21:03

@UhtredRagnarson

It resulted in the removal of all consoles from our lives and the house has never been happier.

Yep. My son ended up in a rehab and I will throw him out of this house before living with him with one of those fucking things again. If he wants to go and wreck his life with those damn things he's not doing it in here with me. No way.

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 21:04

I can’t cope with days and days of side eye, stomping and moodiness

You aren’t seriously considering letting him play fortnite to avoid the above behaviour?? What sort of message does that send him? Strop and you get what you want?

Luzina · 13/06/2021 21:07

If you are ultra clear about when he can play it, for how long etc then IMO it’s no more addictive than lots of video games. Depends on your child if he can handle boundaries around it or not

Stormyequine · 13/06/2021 21:10

Can't say it has caused much of an issue in this house. It is fairly cartoony, so they don't see anything worrying. I have noticed DS can get quite angry playing it, and I would always want to limit how long he spends on it, but it was a great way to keep in touch with friends over lockdown. He seems to have gone off it a bit now, and spends more time playing Minecraft.

WeWantTheFinestWines · 13/06/2021 21:16

All kids are different. Maybe your 9-old can handle it, maybe not. My DS x 2, now 12 and 14, have been playing it for years, along with other games. Their friends are online too, it's very engaging and I totally get why it's fun. They play when allowed to, stop when asked to, occasionally asked for V bucks but not excessively so. Gaming was a life saver in lockdown.

If I'd had different kids there might have been all sorts of trouble, it just so happens that they've been fine with it. There are no rules, it all depends on your DS.

seepingweeping · 13/06/2021 21:16

I think it's fine, my son plays it for a short while before he gets bored and moves onto something else

BeeBobny · 13/06/2021 21:21

The age recommendation is 12, so there's no way my 9 yo would be allowed to play. Age restrictions are there for a reason. The game is highly addictive and frustrating. So if you want to protect your son's mental wellbeing it must be a no (BTW, my 9yo's cousin has it too,but we are not getting it)

TableDesk · 13/06/2021 21:21

Game wise, I 'allowed' it at 9 - nearer 10yrs old & I'm quite strict.

Addictive wise, I bloody hate it & would happily through the console out the window. It's like a personality transplant occurs when it is played

Thistles24 · 13/06/2021 21:25

Behaviour in this house took a huge turn for the worse once we got it. DC1 can cope, for DC2 it’s like a drug, it’s all he would want to do. If ever we buy him vbucks, within minutes he’s asking when he can get more. If you do get it, start with strict time limits. That’s what we did, and they were so happy to be on it they accepted it. Friends let their children go in as and when they wanted, and now the children have given up all other hobbies and just want to play fortnite.

WeAllHaveWings · 13/06/2021 21:29

All dc are different so you need to make the decision for your own. Personally I don't think there are any problems with it being graphic, from an addiction and intensity point of view ds had more issues with fifa. Speaking to parents of his friends they are similar with fifa. Fortnight they could take or leave.

scaredsadandstuck · 13/06/2021 21:33

Agree with the general sentiment on here that it's not the content of the game itself that's a problem for a 9 year old (my younger DS was playing it at 7) it's the addictive nature of the game and the drama it causes.

Fortunately my two went through an intense obsession which disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Didn't stop them spending a fortune on nothing, or having multiple 'rages' and falling out with friends etc.

Still it was a good learning experience as whenever they tell me the "need" x or y I remind them how they needed the Fortnite skins and how much they spent on them. I also use it as a way to remind them that obsessions come and go. Things you think are the most important thing ever will often be long forgotten in a few short months.

So on balance, it was a bit of a nightmare at the time, but they probably learnt quite a lot from it.

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