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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fortnite

61 replies

crazymumofthree · 03/05/2018 08:05

AIBU not letting my 6 and 8 year old play fortnite? All of their friends (year 1 and 3) are playing it however we have it downloaded (DH and brother have played) and it's a shooter game kind of a bit like hunger games as you kill until your the last one left. It's not gory as such but I am reluctant, they normally play Fifa, car racing games and they also have some of the Lego and infinity games (which does have a battle mode where you do shoot the baddies so I guess not too different in that respect. Am I being too precious?

OP posts:
Original poster
crazymumofthree · 03/05/2018 08:06

Just to note they have asked to play a few times - I've said no and they have accepted this however it's all their friends are talking about.

OP posts:
Kezer · 03/05/2018 08:07

YABU.

MrsDylanBlue · 03/05/2018 08:07

I am a bit addicted to it Blush

I dunno it’s not that bad tbh it’s not gory but they might be a bit young.

Ticketsfrom · 03/05/2018 08:27

YANBU - too young, it’s a shooter/ killing game. My Year 3 Dc isn’t even asking to cos it’ll be a no as all his friends parents have also said no too. In our school it’s mostly the year 6’s on it.

Ticketsfrom · 03/05/2018 08:28

Most of the younger ones ‘talking’ about it have no experience of it, they’re just talking about the music and dances mainly!

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 03/05/2018 08:31

It's a bit like kids running round playing 'armies' in a "bang bang you're dead" kind of way.

NoneOfYourShenanigans · 03/05/2018 10:06

My 14 year old son is addicted to this game and gets really adrenaline fuelled playing it with his friends. It seems to be addictive and highly stressful, although he would say in a good way. I do not let my 8 year old son play it as 1. I don't want him playing a shooting game and 2. I don't want him to experience the high levels of excitement and stress it causes. I know some of his friends play it though.

Original poster
crazymumofthree · 03/05/2018 18:01

6 year old DS talking about it again today (he is much more into gaming than his older brother and likes to watch you tube about games) and pipes up that they are banned from talking about it by their teachers so I think that's made me feel even more secure in saying no. Interesting everyone says it's addictive, I wonder does it have an actual age rating?

OP posts:
Original poster
crazymumofthree · 03/05/2018 18:04

I know for sure that the children are playing it as the mums have told me so themselves - it all came about at football practise the kids are all doing the 'flossy' dance and so the game came into conversation. It seemed out of both football teams (both sons) mine and one other were the only ones that hadn't played, which is why I asked if I was being too protective not letting them play!

OP posts:
Lethaldrizzle · 03/05/2018 18:05

No way!

NapQueen · 03/05/2018 18:06

Whats the age range?

TSSDNCOP · 03/05/2018 18:09

Ds11 tells me it’s 12, “but there’s nothing inappropriate in it mummy.”

MrsTWH · 03/05/2018 18:09

It’s rated PEGI 12.

My 10 year old is begging me for it. I’ve said no.

Love51 · 03/05/2018 18:09

I thought it was a 12. So, yanbu.

Domino20 · 03/05/2018 18:13

I'm desperate for some mum pals to squad up with me on Fortnite. Please someone PM me if you like playing.

And in answer to the OP, don't let them, it's the devil's work, they will become addicted and it's all you ever hear about. (slopes off to argue with son over whose turn it is to play Fortnite)

notsohippychick · 03/05/2018 18:15

No way!!! I don’t know any of my 7year olds friends who play it. Is been mentioned by one but the Mum said no.

Too young!! Stick with FIFA!

NotMeNoNo · 03/05/2018 18:15

Hoping it will disappear like bottle flipping.

Dirtylookineejit · 03/05/2018 18:16

Exact same here, ds 7 and 9. Have asked lots of times, do the “floss” too but it’s still a no. Aside from everything about shooting I’ve heard too many (possibly false?) reports of inappropriate interactions between adults playing at the same time as children as apparently there is no way to stop conversations. My repeat phrase is “I really don’t care what xyz are allowed, I’m not xyz’s mother”. Luckily I also live rurally and internet is shite so I use that when I’m sick of my own voice repeating the other phrase on repeat. Grin

ICantCopeAnymore · 03/05/2018 18:19

Yes, you're being precious.

The people who don't seem to be letting their children play are the ones who don't actually know anything about gaming.
The only reason it is a 12 is because of it's online chat capabilities, which can be turned off. Same as games like Star Wars Battlefront.

Do your children play Minecraft? If so, it's not as violent as that. You don't get to go around slaughtering animals with various weapons, it's a Battle Royale shoot em up. Yes, people die, like in most video games, but it's not violent or graphic in the slightest.

And as for parents saying their children are addicted, I'm afraid that's a parenting issue. My son would play it all day if I let him. So I don't. It's not rocket science.

Chattymummyhere · 03/05/2018 18:20

It’s a 12 but I wouldn’t say it should be. The worst part of the game is the online chat which can be turned off. It’s shooting/building and traps. Same as killing zombies etc in minecraft and killing Lego villains. It’s not gory. Most of the children at school seem to be playing it with the chat function off from taking to parents. My oldest (8) plays it at nannies house sometimes as we don’t have an Xbox one or PS4. He watches all the YouTube videos by One youtuber to stay up to date with the updates and upgrades.

ICantCopeAnymore · 03/05/2018 18:20

I'd much rather my child played Fortnite than Fifa. Football, and everything it stands for, is vile.

Chattymummyhere · 03/05/2018 18:22

domino we are getting an Xbox one this month and I shall be playing Grin

pinkhorse · 03/05/2018 18:23

My 8 year old plays it

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 03/05/2018 18:24

All of their friends (year 1 and 3) are playing it

This surprises me to be honest. I work in a secondary school and quite a few parents have mentioned that they've stopped their Y7 and 8 kids from playing it as it's so competitive and adrenaline fuelled they were getting ridiculously fixated on it to the point that they didn't want to do anything else.

ICantCopeAnymore · 03/05/2018 18:25

I'm a Primary School teacher and children are playing it from Year 1 up. Not sure why that's surprising - perhaps the parents actually parent them properly so they aren't fixated on it.