Family Tech Blog

Tag: switch

  • Fortnite is Available to Play Now on Nintendo Switch

    Fortnite is Available to Play Now on Nintendo Switch

    At E3, today, Nintendo announced that the extremely popular battle royale game, Fortnite, is available to play on their latest console, the Switch. Fortnite is an online multiplayer battle royale game that rushed onto the scene several months ago and broke all kinds of records. The game is free to play on PS4, XBox, Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and now on Nintendo Switch as well. There are some limitations, however, as PS4 won’t allow you to play online with players who use other consoles or computers to play. Also, Nintendo says they will be using a pay model for their online gaming platform beginning in September, whether or not Fortnite will fall into the pay to play category at that time remains to be seen.

    What Parents Should Know

    I wrote an extensive article about my thoughts on Fortnite. If your kids enjoy playing the game and have a Nintendo switch then they will likely ask to download it for their console very soon. Nintendo announced that it’s available now so be sure to keep an eye on what your kids are playing and installing and who they are playing with. Fortnite keeps pretty well with Nintendo’s seemingly family-friendly nature since the game is rating T for Teen and not M for Mature. While some Mature games are available on the Switch, most of the games produced for the console are rated T or below. Just keep in mind that multiplayer gaming is officially unrated and that Fortnite is famous because of the ability to play online with other players.

  • Nintendo Switch Launches New Parental Controls App

    Nintendo Switch Launches New Parental Controls App

    Nintendo has always provided good gaming console solutions for families with younger kids. Many of their games are family friendly and they were some of the first to try to provide a more active method of gaming. Nintendo Switch is no exception. The popularity of Nintendo Switch is growing and its versatility is one of the features that is feeding that growth. While the number of games available on release was low, the system is still selling well, breaking records in its first weeks. With it’s newest parental control app release, I think Nintendo Switch remains a good game system for families. 

    The parental control app is free and available for iOS and Android. After installing the app you can sync it with the Nintendo account that is on your Switch and begin setting up age requirements, time limits, and sharing restrictions. This article has a good step by step on how to setup the parental controls on the app.  There are other features as well, such as a time played section and a monthly summary. If you have a Nintendo Switch then get this app as soon as you can. It’s another great way to protect your kids while they use technology.

    Don’t Stop the Conversation

    While this app is a great feature for parents it doesn’t eliminate the need for parents to remain actively involved in their child’s online and gaming experiences. Continue to have conversations with your kids about the games they play and how much time they spend on those games. Discuss healthy habits and time management. They need to learn how to make quality decisions in those areas and it’s up to you to teach them.