Letting DS not spend real money on Fortnite

[MidnightVelvetthe7th]

Please could I get some opinions, my 9 year old DS wants to spend his saved pocket money (£20) to buy a battle pack in the game Fortnite on the Xbox.

I've said no, as I always say no as I don't like them spending money on online games but I need to examine why I'm so reluctant as he's asking why not. My usual excuses are because you don't get anything to show for your money & if you spend it & the game glitches & loses it/you have to set up another account then you may as well throw your money down a drain. Not to mention that once Fortnite stops becoming the game of the moment its a waste.

I do have form for spending money on online games myself so I understand why he wants to, my game was Farmville 2 & I must have spent about £60 on it, & I don't play it anymore so it was a total waste of cash. I don't play any online games now but I understand the want to get ahead.

But AIBU, is it normal for kids to spend their pocket money on this sort of thing now? Do your DC do it? Should I change my mind & let him?

Make sure that you don't link your child's XBox to your credit/debit cards. My DS has his own pocket money pre-paid debit card which he can't overspend on - and that is the card on the XBox.

We have long conversations about "what does this amount of V bucks equate to in real money?" "And how many week's pocket money is that?" and "Do you think that's good value for money for what is, in effect, a dance move?"

Usually his answer is "no, I see what you mean." Occasionally it is "But I really, really want this for these reasons..." (In the case of a custom skin rather than the default, for instance, his argument was that playing as a default meant that everyone ganged up on you thinking you'd be an easy target, so it actually interfered with his enjoyment of the game.)

Yes, V bucks are a total rip off. But no more so than a drawer full of cheap and nasty make-up, a stack of Jackie comics and some burgundy leg warmers even early 80s teenage me realised were too revolting to wear within mere days of their purchase!

No it doesn’t. It’s because it contains violence.

Yes mrskeats it is, but their dad lets them play it at his house. At least with me I know who he's talking to, can keep an eye etc. Plus the account is shared with his 14 year old brother and it would be difficult to police and like I say, he's just play it at his dads if I said no.

Crack on them.
Honestly I despair. This game is affecting children’s education.

How so mrskeats?

Is that a rhetorical question op?
Kids staying up all night playing, no homework done, increase in violence,

The game doesn't do that- parents who can't/ can't be arsed to set boundaries do that.

As is being well demonstrated here.
It’s not suitable for a 9 year old. The end.

No I was actually interested in your thoughts, it wasn't rhetorical . My DCs think I'm very unfair as I have limits around screen time and of course homework and reading are always done. And we have one Xbox in the living room.

But they think it's unfair as their friends all seem to have their own Xbox in their own room with parents who don't set screen limits like I do.

I was wondering if you knew of a correlation between academic performance being impacted by the game.

I agree Mrskeats.

Awful game and totally unsuitable for children.

@Mrskeats you're not wrong but you're not exactly right either
videostandards.org.uk/RatingBoard/pegi-info.html#pegi-ratings
videostandards.org.uk/RatingBoard/

The pegi rating is an indicator of the age appropriateness of the game but is only legally binding on the retailer. So my 9 year old couldn't buy a 12 game legally, but its perfectly legal for me as a parent to go and buy the game for my child to play at home.

Violence 🤣
It's a fun game, when you eliminate someone, there's no blood or anything - they just disappear and their weapons are left behind. It's hardly call of duty or the likes. I let my daughter play it and buy her the battlepass each season. It's nowhere near ruining her education, homework and reading still gets done, she still gets out and plays with her friends.

‘Eliminate someone’ oh that’s ok then. Where do the players think the characters have gone? Popped to the shops. Come on now.

For info I’m a teacher and I’m sick so the effect this bloody game is having.

As long as it’s not ridiculous amounts then you could maybe look at the money as paying for enjoyment/entertainment.

Like many posters have said, it’s equal to a load of tat that gets purchased.

Mrskeats do you really have children aged 8+ who have neither seen, read nor acted out in pretend play any fictional violence?

You're right, they know that the character sporting their unicorn backpack and magical building powers have actually died an excruciating and bloody death and are heading straight for the throes of hell as punishment for their choice to live their short lives as a character in Fortnite. Children all over the world are needing grief counselling.

Mrskeats, you're being ridiculous.

It's no more violent than any other games designed for children. You do realise that Mario dies? Sonic? Pacman?

If it's having an impact on lessons you need to teach differently.

I have 2 girls. Not interested in video games. Both sporty.

Then stop them playing it at school then mrskeats 😂😂

On a more serious note, there is always some craze going on. When I was younger the kids were playing sick to watch neighbours at lunch time.

It’s just a fact of life. Not so long ago, it was fidget spinners annoying teachers.
Kids will be kids.
Relax. There are worse things to worry about.

Lol at cats comments
I will try and teach differently to take into account students who have had no sleep.
Cheers for that.

It is more than possible for a child to play fortnite, sleep AND play sports. My DD does all 3.

I have 2 girls. Not interested in video games. Both sporty

Hilarious. Playing Fortnite would definitely stop them from being sporty. Or are you saying that you being a worthy enough parent to take them out to play sports has stopped them wanting to play video games?

And how old is she shark?

From Space invaders, to Battle tanks on the commodore, Anything Mario or Disney infinity (PEGI E), most of the video games going involve you eliminating someone (but its ok if bad guys right....)

Civilization series involved you eliminating whole swathes of populations... still only a PEGI 12 and I'd let kids play it as soon as they are able. Fantastic educational value.

I wouldn't let my kids have fortnite but mostly because anything without on demand saves is a bugger for raising tensions unnecessarily.

OP isn't really a question about video games, it's more "should I let me child spend his pocket money on something I consider a waste...." the video game bit is a bit if a red herring