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Original poster

Children & Fortnight

60 replies

BuzzyBuzzyBea · 22/03/2018 05:38

This is a mega multi platform game, from what I can tell it's similar to Minecraft, the killing scenes are maybe a tad more graphic.

Would you or do you let your DC play it? How old are they?

Do you always stick to age recommendations on games?

OP posts:
Geronimooooo · 22/03/2018 08:51

The way the 100 player thing works is that there's 100 random people who can't talk to each other at all in the solo so you don't need friends for that. For the duo mode you only need one friend who you can communicate with but you can't communicate with the rest of the 100 people

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 22/03/2018 09:02

One of mine is hooked on it but knows even mid game if dinner is ready or time is up the PlayStation goes off and doesn't quibble. It's a pretty good game tbh.

Trillis · 22/03/2018 09:37

squiggleirl, when you play in solo mode the 100 players in a game together cannot talk to each other - it's as if they are computer generated characters - there is no interaction other than trying to outsmart each other. If you play as a team, you only talk to the people in your team (which can be just 1 other person).

olivesnutsandcheese · 22/03/2018 09:51

DSS 13 and his mates are all into it. Caused huge problems. We have very strictly controlled it now as homework was being rushed etc to get on it.
Save yourself a whole heap of trouble and just say no. It's very very addictive.

Original poster
BuzzyBuzzyBea · 22/03/2018 10:41

DS was caught on it and exH flipped and it was a straight ban and delete. I think he does have it on a tablet though.

I'm impressed I sound like a journalist.

Will chat to exH as it seems you guys are fine with DC's playing it, so no reason for it to be a big deal. You kill people in Minecraft, ok not as gorey. But still...

OP posts:
gemplusthree · 22/03/2018 14:01

I seem to be in a different category of most parents here.
My 11yr old step son, plays fortnight. He comes in from school and goes straight on the xbox, he will stamp, scream, swear continually. I go upto him and try to calmly say a game is meant to be enjoyable so ask him to have 10min break to calm down. The entire time I'm speaking to him, his eyes are glued to the TV, and the controller is clicking away.
I call him for dinner, and get told I'm in the middle of a match.
If he has been removed for swearing he won't come down for dinner.
He won't go to bed at night, he will be up playing all night. He has no other interests doesn't speak to myself or his dad.
He got the game for Christmas, since then he has broken one controller, his head set, damaged a malm chest of drawers from banging the controller on it. (those IKEA units are usually pretty indestructible).
If we just take the controller at night he will still get up in the night to find it and continue playing.
His behaviour has gotten worse, his anger is through the roof.
Also he has stolen money from his brother to buy stuff on the xbox. I don't know what.
My partner doesn't seem to be able or willing to try and help his son deal with the anger that this game brings him.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 22/03/2018 14:05

Not to be too harsh but the issue isn't the game. The issue is your parenting.

1happyhippie · 22/03/2018 14:13

My 11yr old plays this. A few of them from school have it and they play together. I haven't found any problems with the game tbh.
Online gaming can be addictive, my dc all have loads of other things they do and are at some sort of activity or club most nights after school.
I think the key is getting the balance right. Enjoy playing online, but do other things too.

Mrsemcgregor · 22/03/2018 14:19

My 9 year old has watched DanTDM playing it on YouTube and it seems fairly tame as shooting games go. You can’t interact with the other random players on the version I have seen.

He doesn’t have it because he is happy with Roblox and I am not sure if my old laptop would manage a newer game like that! We have an Xbox One but I don’t allow gold membership so he couldn’t play it on there either.

Original poster
BuzzyBuzzyBea · 22/03/2018 14:21

My parenting? Blush What did we do?

Actually reading about the children who have become a bit OTT with it, maybe it's best if we just stick with the ban for now. I only really found out what the game play was like because some guy got mega famous from playing it.

To be honest DC can lose their temper at Minecraft, the concept of its only a game appears to be inconceivable at times. But they know losing it with Dad around means no more games so you get the joy of watching them quietly seethe. I do get involved with the gaming side of things.

Maybe I should play it myself and see what I think.

OP posts:
sijjy · 22/03/2018 14:43

My 11yr old ds plays this. He can get angry and I hear some shouting but a warning that if he carries on it will go off is usually enough. He spends a lot of time on it if the weathers bad. If the weathers ok. ( the floor and skatepark ramps are dry) he will be out on his scooter.

We had a letter home about roblox. Anyone can join the game and there has been incidents of people making the characters do un child friendly things so be careful with that one too

Eolian · 22/03/2018 14:47

My 10 yo plays it. He likes interacting with his friends online. It does make him want to stay on the console longer, but tbh so does any particularly enjoyable game. I have imposed new screen time limits as a result, but haven't banned the game.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 22/03/2018 14:52

Sorry that was to the poster who posted just before me!

madeyemoodysmum · 22/03/2018 14:53

As long as you set controls time limits and stick to them I don't see it as a problem both my 10-year-old and 12 yr old play as do myself and my husband we all enjoy it and we sit down and play it together i.e. one plays and we will watch obviously as an adult I have plenty of other jobs to do and I don't have time but I do enjoy watching him if I've got nothing else to do.

But obviously you know your own child and whether they will Agree your terms

littlehayleyc · 22/03/2018 14:56

My DS who is 10 has recently started playing. I don't have a problem with the game itself. The issue we have is that you can't pause the game, so we have issues when it's dinner time or homework time etc. I try to give him plenty of warning but the fact he's on the headphones means it's hard to get through to him sometimes! I think the fact it's a team game, means they don't want to ruin the game or lose resources by switching off half way through a game

Ski4130 · 22/03/2018 14:59

Our 11 and 13 year old play it, we're fairly strict on screen time though, and any shitty behaviour would/has resulted in a week long screen ban before now, so they don't tend to risk it.

Namechangefailagain · 22/03/2018 15:04

My 11 year old plays it. I dont see why so many kids like it. As far as I've seen its just a case of running around and hiding so people don't kill you. Ive watched My son play it, he literally just sat in a bush hoping no one would find him then some circle came so he ran to another bush Hmm

QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/03/2018 15:31

gemplusthree Have you tried actual parenting? Like removing the console from his room so that he cannot play it at night?

gemplusthree · 22/03/2018 21:49

With my own children they have a strict 30mins a day screen time. The issue is his father will give in to him and allow him to play all day. Being a step mum is hard enough to balance without undermining his father. If his father is happy to allow the behaviour then there is not a lot I can do. If my children were behaving the way he does they would not have a console.
It's not my choice and I keep asking his father to parent but I can not enforce it.
I try my best to show my partner that you can say no to a child, but I will be honest, he is a lazy parent and takes the easy road. The proof of that is is teenage children do exactly what they want and they also have no boundaries. Some things are hard to change when it has been allowed for so long.
I've tried with the youngest who was 6 when we got together, but he doesn't want to get it. Why have a miserable child because they can't game when we can have an angry one instead. As I say not my way of parenting but stuck between a rock and a hard place with him/them

QuackPorridgeBacon · 22/03/2018 22:10

gemplusthree That’s awful. I’ve not been in that position myself but I’d have to say something. The children are in a house that is also yours and your children’s. To be so disrespectful is awful and I imagine the kids would be resentful. I’m not going to say leave him because I have no idea how practical that would be. But if you haven’t already, you need to give him an ultimatum maybe and back out of any parenting. He has to deal with it if he wants to allow them to behave like that. Parenting is hard but it’s much harder when you let too much slide.

LyannaStarktheWolfMaid · 22/03/2018 22:13

I have two Dc who are both very into Minevraft, this has never cropped up- I will watch out for it! I do think anyone who needs to lock the console in the car has probably lost control of their discipline arrangements though. Do children not all have screen time limits? Confused

starmater · 05/04/2018 16:42

There can be some great lessons learned in these games. How to deal with trolls and evil people in life; how to work as a team to achieve objectives without shouting at each other, how to fail and pick yourself up and keep going. How about you do not leave the game to babysit your child but get involved yourself - play with them and analyse the games to work out how all of you could improve on all levels. We used to worry about our son spending too much time gaming but we decided to understand what he was doing and to support him - he is now a successful professional gamer. And to the teachers criticizing - my son definitely learned far more about social interaction, team work, and setting and achieving objectives from MOBAs than he ever did at school and, importantly, he finally learned what it was like to earn respect. There are a lot of career paths in this industry, so try and keep an open and balanced mind and participate to support rather than just condemn. I am glad I did.

anxious2017 · 05/04/2018 16:46

Gemplusthree - um, stand up for yourself? You're a parent too.

anxious2017 · 05/04/2018 16:49

DS is 9 and he's allowed to play it. It's a 12 in the UK, but is less graphic than some younger games I've seen. DH and I are huge gamers too and there's nothing terrible in it.

To those who won't let their children play because it's "online" - you do realise that if you have parented correctly, and your children's consoles are restricted as they should be, they won't be able to talk to/add/be added by anyone online?

Also, re. the addiction issues - that's down to parenting, sorry. DS is allowed an hour a day, three in the holidays. That's it, if he grumbled, he'd have time taken off for the next day, end of.

I'm a teacher and I love that children are gaming - it helps with no end of skills. I can often tell those that game as their dexterity, hand/eye coordination and problem solving skills are usually at a higher level.

CadyHeron · 05/04/2018 16:58

Leave off it for as long as you can, is my opinion.
Nearly 11 year old has recently discovered it and he's an utter fkn NIGHTMARE after he's been on it.
He's banned off the Xbox more times than he's actually allowed on it.

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