The 21st century has seen many cultural events which have had massive impacts on how we go about our lives at LHS: our cell phones have changed the social landscape and led to many bans in classrooms; the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to all isolate ourselves at home with the dreaded e-learning; but one cultural event, debatably one of the most influential of the last decade, has gone largely unregarded by the LHS community. It is something that has become entrenched in the hearts and minds of numerous students at LHS: Fortnite.
Fortnite is an online multiplayer game with a variety of game modes. Its most popular mode is a battle royale, where 100 players spawn into a map and the goal is to be the last player standing. Players can use a variety of items in an attempt to eliminate your opponents. While the objective remains the same each match, the collaborations included in the map, such as the Godzilla event, keep the game fresh and exciting for players.
The dawn of Fortnite was in July of 2017 and it quickly became a worldwide hit. Garnering 20 million players in its first year, Fortnite became one of the most played online video games in only six months. As of 2023, it had amassed over 650 million users, or roughly 7.9% of the global population.
An estimated 76% of LHS students have played Fortnite at some point in their lives; that comes out to roughly 1,338 people. With such a large population, one can be dumbfounded by the fact that there is no group or club for LHS’s Fortnite players to gather together in. This is a problem.
LHS is bursting with passion and love for Fortnite. To focus that passion into a cohesive community that creates fellowship among its members and adds to the culture of LHS, a Fortnite club is a necessity.
“Fortnite has the Lincoln community and the whole world in a chokehold. And for good reason! Fortnite has so many benefits. These include teamwork, communication, fine motor skills, perseverance and resourcefulness. Among other things. It is imperative for Lincoln to have a Fortnite club so these young folks can hone these skills at such an important time in their lives,” said former senior, Homecoming King and Mr. LHS Bonnard Bosler.
The many benefits Fortnite provides, such as the meaningful friendships created through the game chat and strategy through its competitive nature, truly show what a positive effect a Fortnite club would have on the development of upstanding people. This is recognized by even those who have never played Fortnite. More people think LHS needs a Fortnite club than people who actually play Fortnite, revealing that it is recognized as a positive part of the community, one that should be embraced and focused, by players and non-players alike.
LHS Student Opinion: (Anonymous Survey)
“[Fortnite] supports teamwork and that’s a great thing for…a community to have. It supports teamwork in our building and within the students and amongst the peers.”
“Fortnite is massive. Fortnite is a beautiful game. It’s probably one of the few masterpieces of our generation. I think that’s why it has such a dedicated community, …people really like Fortnite.”
“Fortnite taught me about investing, put 1,000 V bucks in the battle pass, you get 1,500 out.”
“When I’m mad at my parents or at my friends, I can just put my anger out towards those other kids in my Fortnite lobbies. I really boost my dopamine when I see that victory screen. It’s just helped me through so many hard times.”
“Fortnite means a lot to me. Every time I get on my Xbox, I just feel very happy inside. It distracts me from everything.”
(Artwork by Mason Dean)
The relaxing and anesthetic qualities of Fortnite make it a favorite among LHS students for unwinding after a long day. Over 50% of LHS Fortnite players partake in it every day, helping them to forget about the drama and toil of high school and bring their lives back into focus.
“Fortnite makes me feel good inside just because you get to battle your way to the top, you have to figure out ways to get around obstacles…get ahead of the game and get the victory Royal. It helps you figure out and navigate around your difficulties or your obstacles you have in life,” said sophomore Cooper Wasmund.
