Gaming in a 'hidden' world for hours upon hours: 'I hear Fortnite in my head every day'

Fortnite-coach Joyce Bandsma

A virtual world in which it's the goal to beat 99 other players than yourself. There's a good chance your neighbour, daughter or nephew walks around in this world called Fortnite.


The game is being played by over 125 million people worldwide. At it's peek there were 3,4 million people playing the game at the same time, trying to seize victory.

Fortnite can be played on your pc, tablet and iPhone. It'll be playable on Android devices soon as well. The game is free, but for the extra's, such as clothing for your puppet (that's actually what it says what the hell), you'll have to pay.

Joyce Bandsma (19) from Eelde eat, sleeps and breathes Fortnite. She is coach of two Groninger (region in the Netherlands) duo's, who practice to become better on a daily basis. But what is Fortnite exactly?

Every game hosts one hundred players, every player controls a character in a virtual landscape (what.). Via headset one can communicate with other players. 'You can play in a squad consisting of four or two players or you could play solo, Bandsma explains. 'The goal of the game is that you're the last one standing, upon success you will win.

The teams coached by Bandsma consist of Groninger's (people from the region: 'Groningen). But how did she become coach? 'I am in a group of friends (only boys other than her) who played games. I didn't know what that was exactly.'

Ends up she went to a LAN-party, a get-together where players compete against each other in a room full of computers. There, she took care for food and some other things.

After Fortnite came out her role changed. 'It started as a joke: well, you could become out coach and help during the LAN -party. Since then it became more serious. My boyfriend games inside this team as well'

But what does a Fortnite coach do?
'I make sure that there's communication within the team', Bandsma says. 'Before the match they get a motivational message saying what went wrong last time, so that they're more aware of that.'

'After playing, they look at what went well and what went wrong, so that they can work on that next time'

The game rises in popularity. Mostly under teenagers, even though Bandsma encounters younger fans as well. 'At the elementary school where I work on my study, kids of the earliest classes talk about Fortnite (RIP childhood). It's very popular with people until 20 years old.

When I talk to youngsters, they know what it's about. When you talk to older people they tend to not know what you're talking about. Then you'll have to explain, though that happens less and less.

For who thinks that the world of Fortnite is for teenage nerds, would be wrong. A number of American rappers play the game, just like comedian Roseanne Barr. Who is 65 years old.

Even on the football court the game returns. Lionel Messi plays the game for example. And then you see the dances in the real world as well. Antoine Griezmann celebrates his goals with Fortnite dances sometimes.

For the teams of Bandsma it's not about the dances, they are dead serious about the game. Not so crazy if you note that there are some tournaments where you can win money for playing the game. This summer the maker of Fortnite gives 8 million dollar to winners on tournaments.

'We have a groupchat. There we talk every day', Bandsma explains how much time is spent on the game. 'The players from my teams play almost every day'. I hear Fortnite in my head, every day'.

'On some days you practice to become better. Outside of that it is only for fun. If you really want to become the best, you must play a lot.'

The fun in Fortnite is the 'cartoon-esque style' and that every match is different. In the game you can decide where to land yourself. It's the question if treasure chests with stuff is there where you dropped.'

'Searching for a treasure chest is a lot of fun, because you don't know what's inside. Fortnite remains fun, because new seasons are released over time. Then you start from level 1 again.'