Everyone’s talking about . . . Fortnite
BECAUSE parents are worried that their children (mainly boys) have become addicted to this latest craze sweeping the nation. So is it like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or yo-yos?
IF ONLY. It’s an online game where 100 people drop out of the sky and land on an island. The goal is to be last man standing having collected weapons and killed off everyone else, including armies of zombie aliens.
Is that any worse than other computer games?
IT’S not so much the killing as how it’s killing off normal social interaction with the real world.
How is this different to baby boomers, listening to Elvis in their bedrooms, refusing to come down to tea?
IN THOSE days you could just turn off your gramophone and turn it THAT’S what Epic Games, the U.S. software firm behind it, stress. They also say it helps with problem solving.
What do others say?
THE NSPCC is concerned that the game allows children to be contacted by anyone else playing the game, making it a potential hunting ground for paedophiles.
How popular is it?
IT HAS some 40 million users. Epic Games has raked in nearly £92 million, with £725,000 spent on ‘top-ups’ in March alone.
Top-ups?
ANOTHER thing leaving parents in despair. The game is free, but you are encouraged to buy add-ons such as weapons and outfits.
Why is it called Fortnite?
BECAUSE you can build a fort during the game if you collect enough wood, bricks and metal.
Surely this is one for the Duchess of Sussex...
MEGHAN wants to support a number of causes and although neither she nor Harry have said anything about gaming addiction, their involvement could be crucial.