When we look back on some of our fondest memories of OG Fortnite and the joy it brought us back in those days, we remember the nostalgia, the classic locations, the cash we blew on the game, the good times, and our favorite seasons. In this collection of articles we explore what all of these meant to us and what they mean to us.

How Nostalgia Brought People Back to Fortnite.

Carson Taylor

   It’s 12:30 at night. The streets of Timberline Acres are silent, but the streets of Tilted Towers are booming in the Reimink household. All three of the Reimink brothers and their dad are playing squads together, completely unaware of the time.

   On November 3, 2023, Fortnite had its biggest day ever: 44.7 million players. This shocked many media outlets as Fortnite was a game that was deemed “dead”. However, this was not a  surprise for lots of the people who came back to play the game. There had been some speculation that Fortnite was going to return to their original map, which fans had been wanting for years. On October 27, Fortnite officially announced that they were returning to their OG map, which made the internet erupt.

   One of the main reasons many players came back to play Fortnite was the nostalgic memories. The first few seasons that Fortnite came out were during a pivotal point in most high schoolers life, during their middle school years. Many students were able to create friendships through Fortnite with their classmates. 

   Sr. Justin Heck was able to get to know his classmates even better through Fortnite. “I got closer with a lot of my friends in middle school because I was able to spend more time with them and create memories with them over the game. Being able to send my friends one quick text to ‘hop on’ and then play the game for hours was very convenient because otherwise, to spend time with my friends I would have to work around my parents’ schedule.” Middle school is a place where many students find new friends from all the different elementary schools, and even today students are still maintaining these middle school friendships. 

   Another pivotal point in many students’ lives was during the COVID pandemic. Everyone was forced to stay at home, so the one of the only ways students could connect with each other was online. Fortnite was still very popular at this time, so many students played with their friends during the COVID pandemic. Sr. Noah Bosma recalls playing Fortnite with his friends during this crazy pandemic. “Fortnite allowed me to stay in contact with friends that I couldn’t talk to, and it gave us a way to spend time with each other when we couldn’t in person.” 

   Many students would also play Fortnite during their online classes, while pretending to pay attention to their teachers. The fear of being called on by a teacher on Zoom while in the middle of a Fortnite match was a feeling that many students had, and it was not a fun one.

   Fortnite has also been able to create strong bonds and relationships amongst families. Jr. Maxwell Reimink has been able to connect with his brothers and his cousins over Fortnite. Reimink lived on the east side of the state until he was 9, and he spent lots of time with his cousins. However, when the Reimink family moved to Holland, it was hard for him to keep this strong bond. “Since we moved away to this side of the state, the only bonding time we’ve really had is on the game [Fortnite]. The fun-loving bond I have with both of my cousins allows for a family gathering to never disappoint because of the moments we share over Fortnite.” 

   The revival of Fortnite has been able to bring back many of these nostalgic memories and feelings to its players, and it is the main factor in the revival of the game. Nostalgia is a sensational feeling, and it is something that almost everyone wants to experience. That feeling of being back in 2018, landing at the fan favorite OG spots, and having fun on the game with friends is very surreal.

What Your Drop Spot Says About You.

Keegan Angel

   The day has finally arrived. A group of four buddies squads up for the first time in a long time. These buddies have been waiting for this moment since 2018, the return to their childhood map. So many classic locations to choose from, so little time. These four friends are all different in great ways and they all have their favorite location, but what does a favorite location say about a person?

1. Tilted Towers– The classic and easily recognizable buildings of this Point of Interest are the habitat of the well known but exceedingly rare, common sweat. Although they may be rare, they are still very easy to find in the confined spaces of Tilted Towers. While other players fear even the mountains surrounding Tilted, these players have no fear, they take the challenge head on. This breed of player tends to carry their squads, wipe other squads, or die off spawn and rage quit. This player is allergic to touching grass. This person is quick to anger and has zero chill.
2. Pleasant Park– This is the home of the classy individual, a skilled and efficient combatant that has the knowledge and composure to play game after game. Over time, this player has stuck with the game and has waited for the return of their favorite location. This player is simple, likes the classics, nothing too special, and is content with the game. This person enjoys classic Christmas songs and good 90’s rap.
3. Greasy Grove– A rare occurrence, an individual who repeatedly drops at Greasy Grove is an individual who is aware of the sweats lurking around every corner. The Greasy Grove landers are looking to play the game for fun, not competitively. They are trying to win by getting as few kills as possible and avoiding the pack of sweats that build a 5 star hotel at the sight of another player. 
4. Shifty Shafts– This breed of player is almost completely extinct, with the return of the OG map many players have neglected the mines below the surface. The individuals who haven’t forgotten are people who know the game, know the chest spawn, and live in the mines themselves. They are not very social, avoiding contact with the populated areas of the map. The Trolls of Shifty Shafts lurk and camp waiting for their prey to come to them. When it does, they strike, and lose. 
5. Dusty Divot– After the events of a meteor strike, the inhabitants of Dusty Depot had to adjust to the new massive hole in the ground.This became known as Dusty Divot.  These inhabitants have become more sweaty by the day, needing to defend their home from more damage. These players are skilled and have had time to hone those skills and create ruckus in lobbies. These players are also expert builders, landing in a location with a lot of materials that are readily available for them to farm and use.
6. Fatal Fields– The average country boy likes to call fatal fields home. With the easily recognizable farm house and big red barn, it gives a feeling of homeliness to the point of interest. The players who call this area home are usually daily sweaty but in a blue collared way. Getting their hands dirty and doing the work themselves. 
7. Snobby Shores– This location is pretty self explanatory, Snobby Shores is the location of choice for the wealthy community. “Why?” you ask? The gated community and pristine suburban homes make the players with some cash to blow feel like they belong. These players are unrelenting pushers, they always go for their prey and after they are done, they will emote and be extremely toxic because they believe they are better than you. 
8. Paradise Palms– While tilted is the home to the sweats who will tear you limb from limb, Paradise Palms is very similar in the fact that it is the home of many sweats. The difference between these sweats and tilteds sweats is the courage and confidence they possess. These Paradise Palms dwellers are not quite as skilled but still severely sweaty.
9. Wailing woods– Hidden deep within the thick forest of Wailing Woods, lurks the scariest kind of player, the camper. These wood trolls get their loot and disappear into the wide expanses of the map, not to be seen until there is one person left. Winning the game with one elimination and no remorse. Many players would say that they heavily dislike this type of player for the sole reason that they simply hide from competition.
10. Junk Junction– You’re trash.

Fond Fortnite Memories.

Bode Baum

   Sometimes playing this game isn’t about the game, it’s about the people you meet along the way. The stories you make and the memories you create will always be a part of you as you grow up. During covid many people started playing Fortnite and video games as a whole. It distracted many from their studying and online classes. But it’s all how people look at it, some would say that during covid many people missed their friends and missed the social interaction that they had just a few months before. Video games helped connect people without risking people’s health and it was a fun way to pass time.

   One of the games that was super popular during the pandemic was Fortnite, so we asked people what their favorite moments were  when playing fortnite. To show why when people had so much free time locked in their houses during covid why they chose this game out of all games. One of Sr Mark Cosgrove’s favorite memories was when he would stay up late at night playing with his Jv basketball teammates. He would always try to stay quiet at night because he was playing at 1 or 2 am.

   If you ask anyone they would probably say one of their favorite memories was the anticipation of not knowing if we had a snow day or not. Then when they received the news they would instantly hop on Fortnite with all of their friends from school.

   In chapter 2 season 4 as the game came down to the last few players Sophomore Joel Cosgrove prepared to fight the last guy. The last guy was a lonely AI bot, Joel Decided to intimidate the bot by cranking 90’s into the sky. He had the iron man mythics to help him in case the bot broke him down. The bot decided to knock him down, he panicked and tried to switch to the iron man mythics in his inventory but missed and went one slot too far and fell to his death giving the unsuspecting bot the victory.

   When a player gets their first win they will always remember where they were at and who it was with. Everyone would call up their friends and flex on them, that they got a win. No matter what season they started, the feeling when you won was like none other. When Fortnite came out with Live events and you could experience these events with friends. Some of the best ones were the mech vs the monster in season 9, and the cube falling event season 5-7. Experiencing the Marshmallow and Travis Scott concerts with your friends and getting to experience fun times with them.

   Sometimes it’s not even about the game, it’s about connecting with friends, having fun and building memories that people will remember for the rest of their lives. Fortnite knows how to bring people together and make people feel connected. No matter how good people are at the game everyone has memorable memories whether it’s dying to a bot or playing late night Fortnite with friends everyone has a story to tell.

Top 10 Seasons

Parker Behrendt