Fortnite: Aggression Embraced?
I was researching the video game “Fortnite” and I asked my 18 year old son, Jackson, if he knew about it. He said, “It is consuming society. It is taking away people from real life and putting them in a violent universe. Parents who take the game away have to deal with the kids who become violent like the game.”
After receiving those provocative comments. I contacted my friend and colleague sociologist Dr. Paul E. Calarco, Jr. I knew that he was engaged in a participant observational research project on this game. He said, “Fortnite Battle Royale is a third person shooter game, which combines firearms, competition, building, destruction and social media networking. It all began as a PC game in July 2017 and is now a global phenomenon spanning the Xbox and PS4 worlds. It is the most popular game in the world.”
Paul said he started playing this simulated war game to enhance his knowledge. Even though it is most popular with kids from eight years old, some parents play also. He said that after two weeks of intense playing, he felt the addiction. His comments reminded me of responses I have heard from combat vets over the past ten years. “I am walking around and I hear footsteps, the sounds, wondering where the enemy is. I look at a building and I think of ways to “loot” it or similarly a building with fire damage and think, someone has already been there.”
Since I don’t know anything about gaming in general, I asked Paul to explain the premise. He said, “The game is simple; you are airlifted on the battle bus to the unnamed Island. You decide when you are going to jump from the airlift and then it is every person for themselves.” He also explained that all you have is your axe, which is used as a weapon or to both destroy trees so you may build forts and ramps. As the time in the game elapses “The Bubble” or “The Circle” shrinks as “The Storm” closes in on the 100 players who are forced to fight to the death aka “elimination”.
“At some point two or four person teams and have been grouped with countless 8-12 year old players and there is the presence of explicit language and conversations are that of a Rated-R movie. It has fast-paced action, guns, explosives, rocket launchers, “eliminations” aka kills. There is score, stats, challenges, levels, rankings and a bonus for head shots which my friend’s ten year old bragged about.”
Paul continued, “I think the most perverse part of the game, is when your character is “knocked” and you crawl until you die or are put out of your misery by another player. I have had people dance prior to eliminating me. ALL IN GOOD FUN… we will see what effect this has… only time will tell, as news has just been leaked that there is a new island pending, with an amusement park, caves and perhaps even a railroad.” Paul has played the game 431 times and indicated that he has much more to learn and understand.
My own research failed to reveal a consistent connection between violent video games and real world violence. Paul indicated that this was accurate but he stated that he observed stress in his own family especially when he took the game away from one of his sons. He also received numerous negative comments from other parents about Fortnite. “I asked dozens of my friends and they note they have problems pulling their children from the game. I crossed paths with someone who noted their 16 year old neighbor was in video game addiction counseling.”
I don’t know what effect this type of “recreation” might have on people but while my kids were growing up I have tried to minimize any exposure to excessive violence. It just made sense to me.
I don’t know what effect this type of “recreation” might have on people but while my kids were growing up I have tried to minimize any exposure to excessive violence. It just made sense to me.