Our son loves his Fortnite game but complains that the console players have an advantage over the mobile players, so we've decided to get him a game console this year. Now I'm a total noob/dumbass when it comes to this stuff.

Is one system better than the other for Fortnight? Is it played online or does it require an additional game purchase to play? Any other accessories needed or good to have?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Please help an old fart be the cool dad this year for Christmas .

My son has multiple game consoles. Last year, he purchased a Nintendo Switch. He rarely uses the others anymore. The beauty of the switch is it can be used on a TV and also has its own built-in monitor for use away from home. Fortnite is available for this platform as well.

We're in a similar situation. Our kids have Kindles, which are not supported for Fortnite, so my son uses my computer. This really ties up the machine so i can't use it. We asked some friends about which console to use and they told us it really doesn't matter. Basically whatever you can get the best price on.

We have not considered the Switch though. Will probably still go with a console and hook it up to our extra TV. My wife may have even bought it already, not sure.

you can play Fortnite on iPads and iPhones, consoles, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Based on my research, considering letting my youngest to start playing it, they all play the same. its just a personal preference on what to play on.

iDevices and Nintendo Switch do have the ability for mobility.

it is an internet game. you don't buy a disc or game cartridge. its downloaded to the device you want to play it on. its a free download.

the kicker is if you want to be good and obtain the "cool" fighting gear your going to have to pay for that. you can buy "battle packs" that contain certain groups of "weapons". and every kid will eventually, if not as soon as they start playing, want to buy upgrades. it can get expensive.

if we let him play it he will just have to be satisfied he gets to play. there wont be any in game purchases or "battle packs". we don't spend money on game additions.

if you don't already you will have to subscribe to the required online services of the device your using, unless you use the iDevices. Sony, Xbox and Nintendo all require you to have their internet service to play the game. Sony's best deal is annual pkg, $60/yr. or its $10/mo. Nintendo is iirc $25/yr. not sure abou Xbox, we don't have that console. and currently we don't subscribe to any online gaming services.

and if your son wants to play his friends, then he will have to have the internet services to join in with them. otherwise he is solo. which means he will get killed a lot. the game is geared toward playing in teams. you can play solo but my understanding is you will die often and get frustrated. and if you do go online to play you can select solo/private play, but again your chances of survival diminish greatly.

one of the biggest complaints I hear from "gamers" is the total lack of not being able to play friends on the same console and same tv. all the newest games are single player. this makes you have to pay for internet services so you can play with other friends. gamers hate that they are forced to pay for online services just to play a game. the makes of the games/consoles did away with the split screen options years ago forcing you to pay for online play.

but the kicker for me is you cant play each other sitting side by side on the sofa. you each have to be on your on device, logged into your own internet account, in our own house and on your on tv/monitor. no more are the days of inviting friends to ones house to play games on the console. they all sit alone and play over the internet. totally non social.

this it what really kills me on playing any modern system or games. if I, or if you, wanted to play the game with our onw son we would have to do so like this....be in another room with separate console and tv/monitor or we would have to have two tv/monitors sitting next to each other with a console connected to each one. crazy crap if you ask me.

the Nintendo Switch does have more "cool" games to play as duo and it does have the two controllers and the ability to add 2 more. Some games need internet some don't.

hope this helped even if long. happy gaming to you and your son with whatever you decide.

^^^ Lots of good info there...thank you! ^^^

I wasn't aware of the annual subscription needed. It might be easier for him to play with his buddies if we matched gaming systems that they are using.

T/W my son last night about grand kids Christmas. It was noisy in the background because a bunch of kids were over at his house playing Fortnite.

If he wants to play Fortnite on-line with his friends, he must have the same brand game console as they do. No cross-over compatability, as far as I know, from PS to XBox and visa-versa.

Also -

1. As mentioned, to advance thru the levels in Fortnite, and one will need all of the extra goodies to do that, be prepared for the pleas to spend more $$ to buy those extra goodies/upgrades.

2. Like many video games, Fortnite is designed to be highly addictive. We know of a handful of families who are having very serious issues now with their sons (around 14/15), who by all accounts are generally 'good kids'. These include degredation of grades, lost interest in family and friends, social interaction and loss of interest in sports.

One of my son's friends recently snuck his xbox along on an out of town soccer tourney (he was in the middle of a two-week ban to get his grades up). The entire team was at the pool party having a great time when someone asked "where's Mike?". His mom thinking that her son may not be feeling well went up to their room to check on him, and yep, there he was playing the forbidden game.

Set expectations and limits early on.

Thankfully our son is not caught up in and immersed in that game.

Rob

Actually it is the only game I know of that play can crossover to various platforms. I think it shares a Fortnite ID.

***** Find out what system his friends are playing though - he will want to play other games with them eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Actually it is the only game I know of that play can crossover to various platforms. I think it shares a Fortnite ID.

***** Find out what system his friends are playing though - he will want to play other games with them eventually.

I stand corrected then. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Actually it is the only game I know of that play can crossover to various platforms. I think it shares a Fortnite ID.

***** Find out what system his friends are playing though - he will want to play other games with them eventually.

I stand corrected then. Thanks!

I had 4 pre-teen boys giving me quite the education on it this weekend. I barely had any idea how it was played (really still do not) other than fly down, find a gun and shoot people. Somehow they can use Fortnite friend IDs to do the crossplatform stuff. Apparently their home systems involved PS4, Xbox and one with a Switch.

quote:

Set expectations and limits early on.

Copy that, I know it can be a big problem!!

quote:

Actually it is the only game I know of that play can crossover to various platforms. I think it shares a Fortnite ID.

***** Find out what system his friends are playing though - he will want to play other games with them eventually.

Good to know.

Best way to take away any game?

Take the power cord.