[Source: Fortnite.com]
I’ve spent countless school nights in front of my computer, with my half-finished homework sitting in the way as I desperately tried to get the win in Fortnite: Battle Royale. I have stayed up too many times rushing to cram for a test because I was so caught up on improving and getting more kills. I have gotten into heated arguments with PUBG players (PUBG is another Battle Royale game) on why Fortnite is better. I soon realized that I, a person whose only previous experience with gaming was with Mario Kart and Just Dance, have fallen into a deep hole.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a free-to-play video game available on several platforms in which 100 people fight to be the last person or team standing. Players are able to build, shoot, and do several other things that make the game unique. There is no doubt that Fortnite is transforming the gaming world. There are over 125 million players worldwide as of June, and the game is a hot topic everywhere: mainstream media, classrooms, the streets, etc. With all this attention, many people have been asking a crucial question, was the creation of Fortnite beneficial?
The creation of the game was most definitely beneficial to professional video gamers; Epic Games, the company responsible for developing the game; and Twitch, a live streaming video platform. The gaming community has exploded all around the world because of Fortnite, and professional gamers and content creators gained a large amount of followers by streaming and uploading their gameplays on various platforms. The true controversy lies in the average players, and how they are affected by the success of the game. Of course, there are the extremes, like the 9 year old girl who was sent to rehab for her Fortnite addiction; but I believe that the average player may not be as far from the extremes as we may think. Once, when I logged on at around 3 a.m., it showed that 14 other people were also playing.
Joshua Serrano, a student at Beverly Hills High School and a Fortnite player said, “I don’t think Fortnite benefitted me at all. Yes, it’s fun while it lasts, but it’s not worth all the consequences of my addiction. The proof was in my grades the past semester, it definitely showed through that I was not putting as much time as I should have on schoolwork. The sad thing is, I still won’t be able to stop, even though I know what’s gonna happen if I don’t.”
Other than the companies who benefitted, there are also many consumers who find the game beneficial. Brandon Shabani, an avid Fortnite player said, “It helps a lot when I’m stressed about schoolwork or other issues. I don’t know where I would relieve my stress if it wasn’t for Fortnite.”
To answer my previous question, the creation and popularity of Fortnite benefitted many people and was detrimental to others. In order for players (myself included) to be able to fully enjoy the game, they should work toward being able to control the amount of hours they play, so that the number of people benefitting from the game can increase.
Christina Im, Grade 11
Beverly Hills High School
