The Off Topic Topic

[Syt]

Yeah, well, it's still a competitive shooter at the end of the day. It has a stylized look, it is relatively cheap to play (base game free, and regular "seasons" roughly every 2 months at $15, so you can pay for it with pocket money), is fast, with rounds not lasting too long. Additionally, you can play it on your phone, so you're not bound to a static PC or console. All reasons why it has taken off like this.

[dps]

At risk of sounding like a Conservative. Minecraft was a lot more wholesome too.
I've heard tales from people with kids about how fortnight has them behaving....

If a game has more influence on a child's behavior than the parents, I'd blame the parents, not the game.

[Valmy]

If a game has more influence on a child's behavior than the parents, I'd blame the parents, not the game.

Well of course, I am well aware no matter what I do somebody out there thinks I am a monster for how I raise my kids.

In any case it is usually not so much the game itself as the influence the game has on their peer group. The other kids are always going to influence your kid a great deal.

[Malthus]

Well of course, I am well aware no matter what I do somebody out there thinks I am a monster for how I raise my kids.

Heh I remember when I first realized this.

Parents attract scorn and distain for basically every decision they make from someone or other ... it is liberating when you realize this, and so no longer take it personally. 

But yeah, it is amusing to see how much people think that parents can control how their kids turn out. It's like no-one remembers what influenced them when they were kids.

[Valmy]

I just want to add that my kids do not and have never played Fortnite...yet they are still influenced by the game. And I mean not in a major way but the characters in the game do dances when they win or something and all the kids do those dances. Stuff like that. It is kind of a cultural force down at the Elementary School.

[Grey Fox]

I just want to add that my kids do not and have never played Fortnite...yet they are still influenced by the game. And I mean not in a major way but the characters in the game do dances when they win or something and all the kids do those dances. Stuff like that. It is kind of a cultural force down at the Elementary School.

Yes, while they have shown no interest into playing the game. My kids loved the fortnite action figure we saw at walmart. Plus, they have a 14 year old cousin who mainly just talks about fornite.

[Malthus]

I just want to add that my kids do not and have never played Fortnite...yet they are still influenced by the game. And I mean not in a major way but the characters in the game do dances when they win or something and all the kids do those dances. Stuff like that. It is kind of a cultural force down at the Elementary School.

My kid's now old enough to have a circle of friends who consider it a mark of distinction to poke fun at the prevailing children's culture. 

But yeah, you can't really escape the culture you are in. Unless you go the whole joining-a-cult route.   

[Malthus]

One thing that kids do these days that is odd to an old fellow like me - they all, nearly without exception, watch videos of other people playing computer games and talking about stuff while they play. 

I mean, it's logical enough - the kid points out that watching people play sports is big business, so why not watch people play games? But it just strikes me as weird: I mean, the barriers to actually playing computer games oneself are pretty low, a lot lower than playing team sports.

[derspiess]

I just want to add that my kids do not and have never played Fortnite...yet they are still influenced by the game. And I mean not in a major way but the characters in the game do dances when they win or something and all the kids do those dances. Stuff like that. It is kind of a cultural force down at the Elementary School.

Pretty fascinating to observe these cultural (micro-cultural?) forces at that level.  The new thing for my son and his group is quoting Austin Powers movies.  They're also hugely into silly Vine memes.

[Habbaku]

Depends on the game, but I watch streamers as well as a form of passive entertainment and to up my game a bit. If the best people play a certain way, there's a reason behind it--and I want to find out what that is.

Even the Patriots watch their opponents play rather than just practice all the time. 

[derspiess]

One thing that kids do these days that is odd to an old fellow like me - they all, nearly without exception, watch videos of other people playing computer games and talking about stuff while they play. 

I mean, it's logical enough - the kid points out that watching people play sports is big business, so why not watch people play games? But it just strikes me as weird: I mean, the barriers to actually playing computer games oneself are pretty low, a lot lower than playing team sports.

We had a hellish couple of years where DanTDM's voice was constantly droning throughout our house

[derspiess]

Depends on the game, but I watch streamers as well as a form of passive entertainment and to up my game a bit. If the best people play a certain way, there's a reason behind it--and I want to find out what that is.

Even the Patriots watch their opponents play rather than just practice all the time. 

Have you been around kids recently?  Some of them watch other people playing games way more than actually playing the game.  It is an odd phenomenon.

[Malthus]

Depends on the game, but I watch streamers as well as a form of passive entertainment and to up my game a bit. If the best people play a certain way, there's a reason behind it--and I want to find out what that is.

Even the Patriots watch their opponents play rather than just practice all the time. 

A lot of these kids though watch people play games they, the kids, don't actually play. They don't even want to play them personally. Just watch others do it.

[Valmy]

The funny part is it actually started with my kids when they were toddlers. They started watching videos of people playing with toys instead of, you know, actually playing with toys. It has seamlessly transitioned into watching people play games instead of playing the games.

[Tamas]

Depends on the game, but I watch streamers as well as a form of passive entertainment and to up my game a bit. If the best people play a certain way, there's a reason behind it--and I want to find out what that is.

Even the Patriots watch their opponents play rather than just practice all the time. 

A lot of these kids though watch people play games they, the kids, don't actually play. They don't even want to play them personally. Just watch others do it.

For me it is a puzzling phenomenom for sure but perhaps simply there is more of an "infrastructure" now for it, than it used to be. e.g. my wife mentioned who she used to enjoy watching her cousins play computer games, even the ones she had no intention of playing herself. For me it'd be the exact opposite - even the thought of watching others play games puts me to sleep. The only exceptions are watching Lets Plays to make a purchasing decision, or as Habs to study for multiplayer. Although the only time I have done the latter was when I returned to World of Tanks after a long hiatus and wanted to refresh.