Fortnite made me depressed yesterday.

[Deleted member 110222]

No, I don't play it. Only reason it's on my Xbox is because someone got me it before BR was even announced.

Anyway, here's the story.

I was in town with my mum yesterday, and we were having coffee. I finished mine pretty quickly so I decided to kill five minutes by visiting the GAME across the street.

Well while I was in there I heard one of the most depressing things.

A young lad, couldn't haven't been any older than nine, was with his dad, saying why he "needed" Fortnite on disc. Of course it was something to do with a skin in the BR mode.

Anyway, For a few seconds I was seriously considering giving the father a word and tell him that his son was asking for something which requires zero money to take part in, as for all the hate I give Fortnite, the BR is cosmetic purchases only. I know it's P2W in STW, but I'm talking about BR.

I kinda' regret just quietly moving on.

This is what's wrong with the mainstream gaming industry.

Don't even try to tell me that Fortnite's sales technique isn't at least in part designed to exploit the impulsiveness of kids with their dad's credit card.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Don't even try to tell me that Fortnite's sales technique isn't at least in part designed to exploit the impulsiveness of kids with their dad's credit card.

Well, it is. Fortnite have successfully embraced mobile gaming tendencies with MT, and are shamelessly targeted at very young audience. However, lot of AAA games do it these days, so they aren't exactly first game doing so.

I don't know...while I have commented such things in the past, I let it slide these days. Parents should use Google to educate themselves about what kids want or do these days. Explaining something to someone usually requires that other person really wants to listen.

 

[Chris Simon]

Well, it is. Fortnite have successfully embraced mobile gaming tendencies with MT, and are shamelessly targeted at very young audience. However, lot of AAA games do it these days, so they aren't exactly first game doing so.

I don't know...while I have commented such things in the past, I let it slide these days. Parents should use Google to educate themselves about what kids want or do these days. Explaining something to someone usually requires that other person really wants to listen.

Well, you can lead the horse to the water...

Another thing that is quite symptomatic in case of Fortnite are the streamers. Streamers, nowadays, are incredibly popular with the younger generation and had really helped with creating the hype and "cult" around Fortnite. The old "Stop making stupid people famous" used to apply only for film industry and sport. Now it does for internet "celebrities" as well. That, I find much more distressing, personally. Because many of streamers and youtubers really AREN'T good role models.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Well, you can lead the horse to the water...

Another thing that is quite symptomatic in case of Fortnite are the streamers. Streamers, nowadays, are incredibly popular with the younger generation and had really helped with creating the hype and "cult" around Fortnite. The old "Stop making stupid people famous" used to apply only for film industry and sport. Now it does for internet "celebrities" as well. That, I find much more distressing, personally. Because many of streamers and youtubers really AREN'T good role models.

Agreed.
Seems there's some more insidious "grooming" going on too, in both directions, streamers<>audience.

 

[Chris Simon]

Agreed.
Seems there's some more insidious "grooming" going on too, in both directions, streamers<>audience.

This is amplified by the fact that the streamers (and also for example gaming media outlets) are quite often directly or indirectly "supported" by game industry itself and the industry is using them to further influence the playerbase (aka customers). And I feel this is extra insidious when comes to the young gamers, because let's face it - young people and kids are kinda stupid and gullible.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

This is amplified by the fact that the streamers (and also for example gaming media outlets) are quite often directly or indirectly "supported" by game industry itself and the industry is using them to further influence the playerbase (aka customers). And I feel this is extra insidious when comes to the young gamers, because let's face it - young people and kids are kinda stupid and gullible.

Seems mostly unregulated too.

 

[Iron Golem]

I am strongly against lootboxes and gambling in games that are marketed towards children. A big part of my job working at a convience store (Over six years) has been selling lottery and instant tickets. Once a kid grows up gambling and thinking its okay to throw money away and they take it further they are in big trouble. I have a front seat as desperate impulsive people ruin their lives daily. Think twice before letting your children be groomed for failure.

Gambling age here is 18. Ive seen younger kids come in with parents / guardians that gamble everyday and Ive watched them grow up and see how it affects their mindset and decision making. With loot boxes this can happen right under a good parents nose. They are grooming the children.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Guys I agree with everything you've said.

Insidious is the word.

 

[jasonbarron]

Other than an ancient gameboy with some 20+ year old cartridges that they can play once in a blue moon on a road trip or something, I don't let my kids anywhere near video games. Problem solved.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

This is amplified by the fact that the streamers (and also for example gaming media outlets) are quite often directly or indirectly "supported" by game industry itself and the industry is using them to further influence the playerbase (aka customers). And I feel this is extra insidious when comes to the young gamers, because let's face it - young people and kids are kinda stupid and gullible.

I wouldn't call them stupid, kids just aren't aware of their worst impulses and don't have training to counter them. For example, if i have bag of sweets at the evening, as grown up I can moderate or skip it because I apply some training to it (and sometimes we say - screw this, let's have sugar rush but those are moments when we need it). Kids don't have that. That's why they need moderation. Problem is when parents do not understand what's going on with these games, kids have field day, because they think - "hey, great, parents can't stop me having fun" because let's be real - having cool skin in a game is fun for a kid. It might cause me to go "meh", especially for Fortnite (I personally see it as just huge random trash can/toy box, without any specific style everything thrown togeter), but I understand why kids might love this.

So parents needs to be educated so they can in turn moderate kids and youngsters. I think making YouTube videos and then like handing out card with link might be better way to approach them Otherwise when first bad thing happens parents goes in complete berserk mode, forbidding computer games, etc.

 

[Zak Gordon]

Well, it is. Fortnite have successfully embraced mobile gaming tendencies with MT, and are shamelessly targeted at very young audience. However, lot of AAA games do it these days, so they aren't exactly first game doing so.

Guys I agree with everything you've said.

Insidious is the word.

Indeed much of the AAA industry is insidious these days, pretty much indistinguishable from the gambling industry (and they very specifically employed behavioural scientists to get the 'formula' right, i posted some articles about that on Qt3 a while back). I certainly give them no money anymore, but luckily there are plenty of other options for gamers, so you don't have to buy their swill.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

This is amplified by the fact that the streamers (and also for example gaming media outlets) are quite often directly or indirectly "supported" by game industry itself and the industry is using them to further influence the playerbase (aka customers). And I feel this is extra insidious when comes to the young gamers, because let's face it - young people and kids are kinda stupid and gullible.

They are called "influencers" now. Back then it'd been "multiplier".