Quebec Judge authorizes class action against Fortnite

[CaptainCrunch]

https://globalnews.ca/news/9335468/f...-class-action/

A Superior Court judge has authorized a lawsuit brought by Quebec parents who allege their children became addicted to the popular online video game Fortnite.
Justice Sylvain Lussier issued the ruling on Wednesday after hearing arguments in July regarding the class-action request from three parents who described how their children had symptoms of severe dependence after playing the game.
“The court concludes that there is a serious issue to be argued, supported by sufficient and specific allegations as to the existence of risks or even dangers arising from the use of Fortnite,” the judge ruled, noting that the action “does not appear frivolous or manifestly ill-founded.”

The parents alleged the game was deliberately made highly addictive and has had a lasting effect on their children, but the court did not go that far.
“The court finds that there is no evidence for these allegations of the deliberate creation of an addictive game,” the judge noted. “This does not exclude the possibility that the game is in fact addictive and that its designer and distributor are presumed to know it.”
One of the parents, identified by initials in the filings, said their son had played 6,923 games and got angry when his parents tried to limit his game time, including by putting a lock on the computer. Another child played more than 7,700 times in two years playing a minimum of three hours a day. All reported behavioural issues.
The judge authorized the lawsuit for any players residing in Quebec since Sept. 1, 2017, who have become addicted after playing Fortnite Battle Royale, made by U.S.-based Epic Games Inc., exhibiting a host of repercussions on activities including family, social, educational or professional.
There is no dollar figure attached to the lawsuit, with any potential compensation to be determined by the court.

A second category in the class action will look at in-game purchases, with the court declaring purchasers under the age of 18 could be eligible for restitution and a refund of their money.
As of Wednesday, Esposito Chartrand said 200 people have come forward.

[Traditional_Ale]

100% of the problems people have with children could be solved by not having them. Suing a video game company for making a game that makes you want to play it!? Effing water is too wet! CALL THE POLICE!!!

[Locke]

Fortnite! I knew it was this all along!



Goddamned Ktarians! You just cant trust 'em!

[topfiverecords]

Meanwhile the parents chain smoked and drank cases of beer, wine and liquor.

[Roof-Daddy]

Let your kids play at least 3 hours of videos games per day and it's the video game companies fault. And then a judge actually enables this type of behavior.

Meanwhile the government makes millions and millions and millions of dollars off of addicted people by sticking VLTs and other types of gambling everywhere and makes it legal and easily accessible.

[GGG]

The Loot box problem mentioned at the end is a legitimate complaint though I think Fortnite got rid of theirs in 2020 or so.

Purchased Loot boxes should be illegal for children.

[nfotiu]

My kids were around 11 and 13 when it came out, but it worked out more like this for me:

Homer: Bart!? Have you started smoking?
Bart: No!
Homer: Don't lie to me boy. Uh huh, cigarettes, just as I thought.
Bart: But they're not mine, my boss said his warehouse was full!
Homer: Yeah right, son, I'm going to teach you a lesson! I'm going to stand here and watch you smoke every one of those cigarettes!

They were playing sports and mostly keeping up with school, but every other moment was fortnite or sleeping. Once they burnt out, I don't think they played a game on their PCs for a good 2 years, and it was all about golf, fishing, mountain biking and hiking!

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by GGG

The Loot box problem mentioned at the end is a legitimate complaint though I think Fortnite got rid of theirs in 2020 or so.

Purchased Loot boxes should be illegal for children.

Loot boxes technically are . You need a valid credit card to get them so... either kids are taking their parents cards or parents just forget to add password verification for purchases.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Loot boxes technically are . You need a valid credit card to get them so... either kids are taking their parents cards or parents just forget to add password verification for purchases.

or getting gift cards bought for them

[GGG]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Loot boxes technically are . You need a valid credit card to get them so... either kids are taking their parents cards or parents just forget to add password verification for purchases.

The act of opening them is the problem as it stimulates the same zones as vlts and other gambling.

[WhiteTiger]

I mean, this seems like an easy lawsuit to beat.

Lawyer, to Fortnite Rep: "How many people are currently playing the game?"
Fortnite Rep: "We average 3 million concurrent players daily"
Lawyer, to judge: "Are those 3 million people addicted? We submit that this is a case of incapable/incompetent parenting, and not our client's problem."

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

100% of the problems people have with children could be solved by not having them. Suing a video game company for making a game that makes you want to play it!? Effing water is too wet! CALL THE POLICE!!!

I have no issues with the game developers up until the micro/in-game transaction systems that now pollute every new title. That and releasing broken games.

Even though 50 is closer to me than 40, I still spend 3-4 nights a week chasing overkills and exterminations in the Halo series on the Master Chief collection, but refuse to pay for a game (usually an incomplete one) and then keep paying as I go to get any cool stuff. Halo 2, 3 and 4 multiplayer scratches the itch for me. I'm still dominant at it, and all it costs is my standard Xbox live membership.

And I think this needs to be addressed. Little Billy doesn't realize or isn't responsible enough to care that he just loaded up $80 bucks on moms credit card to get a cool new dance move or a weapon skin.

Even though I am the most casual of gamers now, it blows me away that the hardcore gamers haven't fought harder to boycott these in game economies, and bring it back to its roots. You pay for the game once, and you earn your way through it with skill.

[CaptainCrunch]

How do you even argue that a video game to some extend isn't addictive by nature if its built correctly.

Combine graphic and sound and a concept almost built specifically to what a player wants to play and blamo they're going to play it.

Yeah microtransactions I get it. SWTOR used to have a silly amount of packs that you would have to buy, and you would get boosts and adrenals and upgrades. But those are dead. You can buy them and you get things like armor shells and cosmetics.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by pylon

I have no issues with the game developers up until the micro/in-game transaction systems that now pollute every new title. That and releasing broken games.

Even though 50 is closer to me than 40, I still spend 3-4 nights a week chasing overkills and exterminations in the Halo series on the Master Chief collection, but refuse to pay for a game (usually an incomplete one) and then keep paying as I go to get any cool stuff. Halo 2, 3 and 4 multiplayer scratches the itch for me. I'm still dominant at it, and all it costs is my standard Xbox live membership.

And I think this needs to be addressed. Little Billy doesn't realize or isn't responsible enough to care that he just loaded up $80 bucks on moms credit card to get a cool new dance move or a weapon skin.

Even though I am the most casual of gamers now, it blows me away that the hardcore gamers haven't fought harder to boycott these in game economies, and bring it back to its roots. You pay for the game once, and you earn your way through it with skill.

Can agree with that for sure. I haven't played video games in years, but my son does and it blows me away how often he wants some "V-bucks" so he can buy the latest cool "skin".

I'm like WTF? And then try to explain to a 12 year old that we might as well go out back and burn some money.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Can agree with that for sure. I haven't played video games in years, but my son does and it blows me away how often he wants some "V-bucks" so he can buy the latest cool "skin".

I'm like WTF? And then try to explain to a 12 year old that we might as well go out back and burn some money.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Can agree with that for sure. I haven't played video games in years, but my son does and it blows me away how often he wants some "V-bucks" so he can buy the latest cool "skin".

I'm like WTF? And then try to explain to a 12 year old that we might as well go out back and burn some money.

Well, having a kid is pretty much the same thing. Except the bonfire lasts for 20 some odd years.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Well, having a kid is pretty much the same thing. Except the bonfire lasts for 20 some odd years.

It never goes out. They're always your kids. Even in their 30's, you may worry less but always embers.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[Skaloper]

As someone who in the past has played way too many hours on videogames in my teens I can feel for the parents but I feel like theyneed to step in at some point. They probably didn't pay attention early enough and have been using videogames as a "babysitter" since the kids have been really young.

Now the morality of videogames hiring people to help make their games more addictive is wrong and this is likely the angle they going in the class action.

[combustiblefuel]

Watching a Philly d I agree with him . Hate to judge and be judged as a parent but where does personal responsibility come in. Their the kid your the parent. You don't want them to play they don't get to play.

When I got my day release ps1 in the mid 90s If they said no I didn't get to play . That #### was hooked up to the main TV in the house . I had no choice . If I threw a fit it was an extra week of no play and sent out side to play.

If my game time expired they would let me finish the level on crash or test drive off road but it was a set time and they meant it.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

Now the morality of videogames hiring people to help make their games more addictive is wrong and this is likely the angle they going in the class action.

This is no different than if they fed their kids cigarettes and then blamed and sued the government for them being addicted.

Video games aren't new. We know what they are.

So like alcohol, nicotine products, and gambling, perhaps video games should be restricted to 18+ only unless it passes a set of child-safe guidelines? Hopefully established by actual doctors and specialists, and unlike the movie rating system, not a bunch of bored clueless housewives in Los Angeles.