The latest trend in video games has come in an unfamiliar form, and here are three reasons the trend is here to stay…
But first, what IS Battle Royale?
In a nutshell you, the hero, are plonked on a shrinking map with a large number of other competitors. Starting with no materials or weapons, you have to source both while you navigate a way to stay within the “safe area” of the map. Through mixing strategy with scavenging, you fight with only one life to lose. Most game modes allow you to have another go (a.k.a. re-spawn) after you die, however this mode has a more realistic one-shot opportunity style. Similar to real life, I suppose. This makes for a more tense game in which there is increased awareness of surroundings and an importance on decision making.
I was sceptical on the unconventional ‘no re-spawn’ rule, as it’s an unfamiliar sway away from game modes in popular shooters such as Call Of Duty (COD) or Battlefield. However this unfamiliarity also peaked my interest and it’s safe to say, after racking up days worth of game-time, I’m still hooked.
Being pitted up against ninety-nine other endorphin chasing gamers in a shrinking map isn’t easy, and maybe that’s the very appeal that has people around the world flocking to BR video games such as PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and Fortnite Battle Royale. The two mentioned are the most popular on the scene. As of January 2018, Fortnite passed over 40 million downloads since the release of it’s Player Vs Player mode in September last year, a truly staggering feat.
So why all the fuss?
Because gaming is not just for dorks in the dark anymore. Oh no, it’s gone pro and become a real thing – with dedicated buildings, arenas, incredibly lucrative careers for participants tied up in the mix. A case in point is Esports, competitive gaming that can go for days, pitting friend against friend and absorbing whole communities in a betting frenzy that can raise and dash fortunes.
Now that Hoyts has announced a partnership with Gfinity Esports Australia, the landscape of gaming is becoming increasingly less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle. Both Fortnite and PUBG are tipped to be prominent Esports games in the near future, meaning that if you have a passion for Battle Royale games, you could make some serious coin.
The lavish gaming arenas in the pipeline between Hoyts and Gfinity are a representation of just how serious Australians are about Esports, and love it or hate it, you sort of have to respect the dedication. An arena is soon to be put in at Sydney’s Moore Park, and it’s going to look something like this:
Now let’s dissect why the Battle Royale game mode in particular has become so popular.
Here are three reasons:
1: FORTNITE IS FREE!
Everybody loves a freebie, right? Why would you spend $80 at EB Games on the latest Call of Duty when you could stay home and download a game at the click of a button. Lay back, order $40 worth of Uber Eats and halve your expenditure.
The surge in popularity can mainly be put down to the fact that it is free to play, however there has been a string of free games on console that haven’t achieved anywhere near the traction of Fortnite. Everyone is jumping on the Fortnite train; from lovers of COD, FIFA, Rocket League and even Little Big Planet 3…
Seriously, it’s great value.
2. NO QUEUE TIMES!
THERES NO QUEUE TIMES..? WHAT?!
Not only does ridiculous popularity increase competitiveness, it cuts down the time you spend in a lobby queuing for games. Comparative to other popular games such as COD WWII, Star Wars Battlefront II and FIFA 18, BR games Fortnite and PUBG spank them out of the park when it comes to time spent searching for a game.
In our continuously impatient, snap-your-fingers-and-it’ll-appear world, it’s important that players aren’t waiting long for a game. The quick-fire matchmaking in Fortnite and PUBG cuts through the average waiting time, finding games almost instantaneously. The reason for this is not only down to popularity, it’s the quality of the servers within the game… we’re talking strict algorithmic mumbo-jumbo after this point, so I’ll leave it at that.
3. Versatile Developers
What’s worse than a bug not being fixed in a game ASAP? Not much else in the world of a gamer. Little annoyances can make for the biggest frustrations.
Not with Fortnite. The developers of Fortnite, Epic Games, are an example of what modern day developers should strive for. They pride themselves on a high quality, bug free, consistently updated game, and it’s working. The innovation of their games, and this sort of attention to detail separates them their competitors.
With an active reddit page encouraging user-feedback and a list of ‘Known Issues’ to inform players of potential shortcomings, Epic Games are providing a platform to keep their game the best, and make it even better.
It’s clearly not only the game mode itself that makes the game so damn addictive. It’s the brains behind the scenes, the guys behind the computers making everything tick. Manipulating the game and finding new ways to give it’s players a fresh hit of dopamine. Thanks for the cheap kicks, Epic Games & co. We’ll keep coming back!
Do YOU agree with my reasons for why Battle Royale games are all the rage? Let me know your opinion in the comments section.