Column: 'Fortnite' maker draws praise for fighting Apple, but lawsuits allege it rips off kids
Epic Games, the creator of the stupendously popular video game "Fortnite," has been winning praise for its stance challenging the strangleholds of Apple and Google on in-app purchases by game players.
You might want to hold your applause.
The dark side of "Fortnite" in its various versions, according to lawsuits filed in federal court, is how it tempts children into spending their and their parents' money on virtual game items without fully understanding what they're doing and with little or no chance of obtaining refunds.
"The games are targeted towards children," John E. Lord, a lawyer for a "Fortnite" player and his mother, told me in describing the lawsuit he filed for them in San Francisco federal court. "Although they're offered for free, it's designed to induce in-app purchases."
A second lawsuit alleged that Epic deceived minors playing "Fortnite" by goading them into buying "loot boxes" known as "llamas" by implying the boxes might have valuable items inside - but seldom do.
"Like with a slot machine, Epic psychologically
