From obsessed teens to adult gamers, the gameFortniteis captivating players of all ages.
Since its release date on July 25, the free-to-play “Battle Royale” survival game has spread like wildfire across the eGaming industry.
The game has demolished several records, most notably for the amount of simultaneous online plays, withRolling Stonereporting that over3.4 millionconcurrents have logged on at the same time.
So what’s the deal with this viral action game? PEOPLE explains.
What’s the game all about?
Fortniteis essentially a survivalist game. The premise? Zombies have eviscerated 98 percent of the world population, and the player’s job is to roam around the natural grounds, build a shelter (hence the “fort” inFortnite), gather supplies, and devise strategies to fend off the apocalypse. The platform allows users to get as creative as possible, from building a simple log cabin to a gargantuan, flame-throwing castle, and collecting other outfitted weapons. And — the best part for many — the game is designed to be played with friends.
Fortnitecame out with its second, free version — the famous “Battle Royale” — in September 2017. In this popular version, the game’s goal changed from outlasting the zombies to outlasting the other players.
There are so many apocalyptic games. Why is this one so appealing?
The social answer: Users can play with up to 100 people, and it’s free (though players have the option to buy perks throughout the game). Despite its relatively simple premise compared to its post-apocalyptic or zombie-universe counterparts,Fortniteis one of the few games that has made group-player mode accessible on multiple platforms, reportedVox. That means a group of friends can still play with or against each other regardless of device — be it iPhone, laptop, or Xbox.
It’s also all at once a shooting game, an adventure game, and a world that can be built from scratch.Fortniteeven allows the player to set the game mode.
Additionally, once a player “dies,” they can continue watching the game through the eyes of the person who killed them.
The game was built toincorporate highly addictive qualitiessimilar to gambling experiences, theNew York Timesreported. Aside from the graphics, plot line, and group-bonding experience, the game features an element of “luck” as the player advances in the game, making them feel like they were closer and closer to winning each time, lessening the likelihood of taking a break from the game.
Why is it controversial?
Those addictive qualities work.
There are also other aspects of the online game causing concern. In April, the National Crime Agency in the U.K. warned thatFortnitewaspotentially exposingchildren to child sex offenders through the game’s chat feature, according toThe Telegraph, which connects strangers who are playing at the same time to one another, and can’t be turned off.
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Who is playing the game?
There are no current surveys detailing the exact demographics of the game, but Reddit threads reveal users as young as 11 years old up to 40 years old playing the same game, with many celebrities in the mix, likeJoe Jonasand Joel McHale.
It’s not just about playing it — it’s about watching it.
Fornitehas not only become one of those games people can’t stop playing — it’s also become about viewing it as a performance. One self-proclaimedFortnitevoyeur is rapperDrake, who took to Twitch — a live-streaming video platform — to play against Tyler “Ninja” Blevis, 26, an eGaming star who has received hundreds of thousands of profile views since starting to game for an audience. In March of 2018, Drake and Blevis broke the record for most recorded live-stream views during theirFortnitematch at over 600,000, according toThe Verge.
There’s a new “Playground” feature coming out on June 27.
The newest version of the game, the long-anticipated “Playground” mode, will allow players to hang out on an island with their friends and build whatever they want, as the name entails, without the grim potential of death on the horizon.
This new development will let players to fiddle with customization settings, open friendly fire, or even stage duels between two players that can then be live-streamed, a feature not yet available on the game, reportedForbes.
source: people.com
