**** Update Oct 2024 ******
Epic Games the owner of Fortnite has introducing two new parental controls: Time Limit Controls and Time Reports. These new parental controls will enable parents and guardians to manage and view how much time their child spends in Fortnite and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (16)
In 2018 we wrote a review comparing Fortnite and PubG, two popular gaming platforms that youth loved (1). Well, Epic Games, the powerhouse behind Fortnite, has recently launched several new titles, and one exciting addition is the result of their collaboration with LEGO – “LEGO Fortnite” which was released in December 2023. This free-to-play mode within Fortnite revisits the game’s original concept of a cooperative sandbox with crafting, building, and survival, reminiscent of Minecraft. The game is rated E10+, making it suitable for a broad age range (2).
To play Fortnite Lego, you and your child need an Epic games account that can be set up on a PC, Mac, Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox. (3)
When registering, if the child is under the age of 13yrs, the account is a “Cabined” account that is designed to create a safer and more inclusive space for younger players. Players with a Cabined account can still access Lego Fortnite but will not have access to certain features such as voice chat, until a parent, caregiver, or guardian allows permission to do so. (4)
We decided that if we were going to write a parent review on this new game, we should first play it to get some first-hand experience on it use. With this goal in mind, Whitehat Brandon, who was a Beta user of the original Minecraft, decided to give it a go.
LEGO Fortnite invites players to create and explore worlds, engaging in activities such as crafting, gathering resources, fighting off monsters, and even petting friendly animals. The game offers customizable settings, allowing players to choose between survival mode or a creative sandbox style where resources are readily available for building.
In the “survival world” mode, players become heroes collecting resources, building structures, crafting tools, fighting beasts, and exploring vast landscapes. players skillfully gather and create items for survival, like wood for campfires and tools for resource collection. Building not only improves their skills, but also unlocks new designs for bigger and better structures.
In the “sandboxed world” mode, players get unlimited Lego bricks and no worries about fighting beasts. It’s all about creativity and self-expression without battling enemies or gathering resources. In sandboxed world mode, players can let their imagination soar and build freely.
Think of the sandboxed world mode as giving players their own infinite box of Legos. Here, there’s no pressure – just an endless collection of building pieces to bring all their Lego dreams to life. Besides the unlimited resources, it’s a safer space where players can explore freely without worrying about enemies causing trouble. Players can even take flight through the sky, adding an extra layer of fun to the experience.
The game introduces LEGO versions of beloved Fortnite characters, and the gameplay involves typical survival mechanics seen in games like Minecraft. The worlds are procedurally generated, offering diverse biomes and challenges.
Biomes refer to distinct regions within the game world shaped by things like climate, terrain, vegetation, fauna, and other defining characteristics. These diverse biomes contribute to the richness and uniqueness of the gaming experience, presenting players with a range of challenges and content as they explore the virtual environment.
NOTE: Parents can tailor the gaming experience for younger users, recommending sandbox worlds or survival worlds with certain features turned off.
LEGO Fortnite presents a refreshing alternative to the intense competition of traditional Fortnite Battle Royale (1). The focus on creativity, resource management, and collaboration in a LEGO-themed environment provides a less stressful and more enjoyable experience. The game incorporates familiar Fortnite elements while maintaining a kid-friendly atmosphere.
In terms of in-game purchases, Fortnite employs a free-to-play model with various ways to spend money inside the game. The Battle Pass, a seasonal feature, allows users to unlock specific cosmetics for their characters and weapons. A new season equals having to buy a new Battle Pass. Yes, there are free versions of a Battle Pass, but these do not have the same features as the paid versions. Parents should be aware of the in-game currency, “V-Bucks,” which can be purchased with real money/credit card and used to make in-app purchases within the game.
As part of the diverse gaming experience Epic Games offers, they have integrated parental controls that work across all their games. These controls allow parents to manage messaging and in-game chat, minimizing potential risks associated with online interactions. We encourage you to make use of Fortnite’s parental controls! (5)
Among the key concerns in Fortnite are messaging and in-game chat, which can easily disable both by following these steps:
1/ In Fortnite, locate the three lines in the top left corner of the screen or use the start button for gaming consoles.
2/ Choose “Parental Controls.”
3/ Link your email to the account and follow the on-screen instructions.
4/ Once set up, create a 6-digit passcode to lock settings and activate parental controls.
5/ From this point, you can disable in-game chat, turn off messaging, set up a passcode requirement for adding friends, and even receive a weekly report.
Take your time to go through each control individually, securing them with a personal pin. You’ll find options related to mature language in chat, maintaining privacy concerning gamer names, controlling voice chat, and more. This way, you can ensure a safer and more controlled gaming environment for your child.
It is important to note that if your child is playing via a console, you will need to set parental control for purchases, communication restrictions, and more in that platform’s environment. As an example, if you turn off voice chat in Fortnite, your child may still be able to access voice chat through the chat system built into the console.
NOTE – Lego Fortnite has a feature called “crossplay”, which is enabled by default, which allows other friends to join a game no matter what platform they are on, including PlayStation, Mac, PC, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox.
To have friends join in, you need to have to set up a linked account, adding friends is a simple process (6):
- Launch Fortnite and log into your child’s account.
- Select you child’s round avatar icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the plus button icon from the menu that appears to go to the Add Friends Menu.
- In the box provided, enter the Epic account names or email addresses of your child’s friends.
By staying informed, setting appropriate parental controls, and being involved in your child’s gaming activities, parents can create a healthier gaming environment for their children. Ultimately, maintaining open communication and understanding the impact of gaming on a child’s emotional well-being are crucial elements in navigating the gaming landscape responsibly (7).
Strategies to Manage Onlife Gaming, “The White Hatter’s Golden Rules”:
Since we started sharing our message of onlife literacy, parents have asked us about strategies that they can implement to help manage or minimize the risks of problematic gaming behavior. Here are our “Golden Rules” that we recommend to all families when it comes to online gaming:
#1) Stop using the word “Addiction” when it comes to problematic gaming behaviour.
#2) Stop using the phrase, “Those aren’t real friends” Remember, today’s gaming is all about community.
#3) No gaming (or any other tech) in the bedroom:
Given that we know that those who are looking to target younger youth for online predation and exploitation seek privacy to ply their trade, we need to ensure that gaming does not take place in the privacy of a youth’s bedroom. The second reason – sleep challenges. Having access to gaming in a bedroom can often tempt youth to play online when they should be sleeping. A bedroom is for sleeping and not for gaming.
#4) Don’t use gaming as a digital pacifier/babysitter:
Although allowing your child to game for hours may provide you with “me time”, it is not a strategy that you should adopt as an ongoing practice. This should be the exception and not the rule.
#5) Set the rules and times for gameplay
Be your child’s best parent and not their best friend, there is a difference. It is important that there are clear boundaries and implemented structure into the “when” and “how much” time will be given for gaming. Yes, there are times when you can bend this rule, but this should be the exception and not the practice.
#6) Enforce a transition period between gameplay and bedtime:
A youth’s brain needs time to decompress from the excitement of gameplay, prior to bedtime, to make it easier to fall asleep. We recommend that there should be no gaming 60 minutes before bedtime.
#7) Give a 20-minute, 10-minutes, 5-minute warning before shut down if needed:
Remember, youth have a challenge when it comes to stopping rewarding behavior and moving on to something less rewarding. If parents stop a youth unexpectedly in the middle of a game, it is like taking away their desert before they can finish it; such a spontaneous action only creates conflict which in behavioural psychology is known as an “extinction burst” As a cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Marc Palaus stated, “there is no intrinsic reason a child should stop playing on their own unless there is a more rewarding experience available at the moment.” In her book “Children, Technology and Healthy Development” Catherine Knibbs speaks to three reasons why attempting to cut your child off from gaming without warning can lead to problematic outbursts:
- They need to save face and say goodbye to their friends in their own way/time
- They need to complete the level play to ensure they or their team don’t loose
- They need to ensure they keep their experience or gaming points, which often only get issued at the end of a game or at a save point.
#8) Get your child to teach you about the game and participate with your child
We know most parents don’t want to learn how to play Fortnite or Minecraft, but doing so will pay big parental dividends. The research shows that parents who engage and participate in a child’s onlife world, those youth are far less likely to get involved in problematic onlife behavior. You might be amazed at what you learn, and you may actually find that you enjoy the experience of gaming together. In fact, research is now showing us that when you participate with your kids in their gaming world, it can increase family bonding (8)(9) As Catherine Knibbs stated “Learn about the games, learn about the consequences of leaving the game early and work with your child around this.”
Also, in a recent 2022 research paper they found protective factors such as self-esteme, parent child attachment and family connectedness also helped to reduce the risk and increase resilience against problematic online gaming disorder (10).
#9): Ensure the game is age-appropriate
Do your research and know the games your child is playing. Some popular games contain inappropriate scenes of violence, language, or sexualized behavior. It should be noted that in a recent academic review the researchers found that “Exposure to sexualization in games was not found to be associated with negative outcomes such as misogynistic and mental health outcomes” (11). Although this may be true, the question should also be, “is the game congruent with your family values and ethics?” Make sure the ESRB rating matches your child’s age (12). A great resource to help parents to check the appropriate age rating of a game comes from Common Sense Media which can be located here (13). Another great resource for parents specific to “parental controls” can be located here (14).
#10): Prevent in-game purchases to protect your credit card
Unfortunately, we have helped more than one parent whose child was able to access their credit card without their knowledge, to purchase items such as loot boxes or gaming skins. The result – hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars in credit card charges. Here’s a great article that speaks to this challenge, and what parents can do to prevent this from happening (15). Following the prevention strategies in this article can also prevent in-game credit card fraud.
The evidence-based research to date provides us with the following guidance – healthy gaming is all about:
- Proper sleep (8-10hrs)
- Proper nutrition. Stay away from junk food and energy drinks. A well-balanced diet is important for emotional and physical health.
- Physical exercise. Also important for emotional and physical health.
- Ensuring a diversity of activities outside of gaming. Learn how to code or develop a personal website.
- Reduce lost opportunities to learn a new skill like learning how to play the guitar or drive a car
Engage in the imaginative world of LEGO Fortnite alongside your child, where the focus on creativity, resource management, and collaboration offers what we believe to be an enjoyable gaming experience spanning various age groups. As you guide your kids through the gaming landscape, utilize parental controls, stay mindful of in-game purchases, and monitor online content to cultivate a wholesome gaming atmosphere. By staying actively involved and well-informed, parents can guarantee that their children partake in positive and pleasurable gaming moments while exploring the worlds of LEGO Fortnite. For an even more enriching experience, join in and play the game with your child!”
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
References:
1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/fortnite-pubg/
2/ https://www.fortnite.com/news/welcome-to-lego-fortnite
4/ https://safety.epicgames.com/en-US/cabined-accounts
6/ https://safety.epicgames.com/en-US/parental-controls
7/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/online-gaming/
14/ https://www.esrb.org/tools-for-parents/
