A simple Windows application
What is Game Terminator? I originally created this as I was a desperate parent wanting to avoid arguments when trying to drag my son away from this game, and the longer he’d been playing the more problematic things would be once I did manage to get him off.
After watching a video for parents about Fortnite and learning that limiting gaming time to one hour per session had a significant impact on the mood of the child I was ending up with afterwards, we started restricting gaming time to one hour per session and it helped greatly, but there was still conflict when that time was up and it was time to stop.
I didn’t want to restrict his use of the computer for other activities (such as homework), as per most parental control systems that simply lock the child out of the device; I wanted to inhibit the playing of Fortnite specifically, and by putting that control within the computer, remove the conflict around enforcing the termination of gaming time.
As a software engineer by trade it wasn’t long before I put a little something together to manage this one-hour-gaming-session and impose a minimum 30 minute break in between for my son. After talking with other parents in similar positions about what I’d done, it was apparent I needed to share it and I thought I'd make it FREE too!
It’s easy to install and only takes a few seconds. The parental password will need setting once installed to protect the guardian settings, and also an email address for password recovery (and eventually weekly gaming reports).
And that’s it; when your child next starts playing Fortnite, they’ll be presented with a window that shows timers for the amount of gaming time remaining as well as the break time required once gaming is over.
Default settings allow for 1 hour of gaming with a minimum of 30 minute break between sessions (as the parent you can set this to your preference as well as other settings like out of hours / non-gaming time).
The application also provides the child with options for a visible and audible warning at 10, 5, 2 and 1 minutes remaining, as well as at 30 seconds and 10 seconds remaining. If the child fails to close Fortnite before the timer runs out, Fortnite will be forcibly closed. Fortnite will continue to be automatically closed any time it is run during the ‘break time’ period.
This utility is compatible with multiple users on a single machine and manages settings and game-timing independently for each user.
This utility also has built in protection from being uninstalled or terminated via Task Manager by your child (neither are possible without the parental password).
Click on one of the download links and follow onscreen instructions. You should be up and running within a couple of minutes.
By default there is no password for accesing the guardian settings (time limits etc). The password setting is in the guardian settings. Make sure you set this up or your child will have access to restricted settings. You will also be required to add an email address when you do this – for password recovery reasons. Note: This guardian password will also be required to uninstall or update the application.
Simply run Windows Control Panel -> Programs and features, location GameTerminator and click 'Uninstall'. Guardian password will be required.
Fortnite Terminator will automatically check for updates and give your child a notification message when an update is available. Updates should be performed by parents and require the parental password as the program is vulnerable to uninstalling / deletion while updating and may need re-authorising with virus scanners.
Planned updates include the following features, and if you’ve more to suggest please to get in touch and let us know:
- Allow other games to be excluded! `
- Limit number of hours per day
on a day of week basis
- Extra time extensions - so the gamer can
choose their own limited 'extensions' to finish off a session
(configurable weekly allowance).
For the time being it's completely free as I've been keen to help other parents like myself suffering significant changes in their children, however as time goes on I may well add features and a paid-for version. I do intend to keep the main essential features of the program completely free forever.
This application is something I've created in my spare time and I also
have a full time job.
For that reason the only public contact is
via email at
steve@fortniteterminator.co.uk
You can also check out our
facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Bungard-Technologies-1926354010948896/
I do aim to respond to emails within a day or two, but please bear
with me if it takes longer.