Biggest problem getting into gaming...

[Mr.Pandah]

From your viewpoint, what is the biggest hurdle to overcome when getting into gaming for the first time?

Since I pretty much grew up on the later days of Atari and early days of NES, I can't really speak about this all that much. Mostly because as I grew, so did my gaming skills, thus my natural ability to grasp things a lot quicker in the gaming world grew too.

But...if I did have to say something was a problem/obstacle to break through into the gaming world. It'd have to be the controller. I mean (for the most part), we started out with this

Now look at what its come to.

To the untrained hands of a non-gamer, these leaps could be deadly to the potential hobby they could be enjoying. We've gone from a simple two button (or Atari days of a joystick and one button) to the monstrosities of gaming controllers today. Not only that...but damn, lift up one of those controllers and compare to a classic NES controller! We don't realize it since we play all the time, but the difference is quite noticeable.

I'm not saying we need to dumb down the controllers of this generation, or any future ones, but what could possibly be done to aid in the adventures of a prospective gamer? Is there any way at all that these behemoths that we call controllers can be more..."newb" friendly? (Yes, there are a few questions, first one being if you think there are other problems for new gamers and then the ones I wrote just now)

This is obviously about console games, but it may also be for computer gamers as well, the only reason I don't view computer games as hard to get a grasp of is because of the technology age we live in today. Nearly everyone has some sort of grasp of the keyboard and mouse...but then again, I could be wrong.

 

[lostclause]

Give them handhelds? That's how I started, with simple fun GBA games. Yes there should be some simple games (like super mario where you only use 2 buttons) but I think that most people aren't so much put off by the controller as complex games where you have to master a skill before moving on, such as fps's. Might seem easy enough to a gamer but to someone just starting out it can be a brick wall they quickly give up on. So I think it's more a lack of simple games, rather than the controller itself.

That's just my two cents.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Give them handhelds? That's how I started, with simple fun GBA games. Yes there should be some simple games (like super mario where you only use 2 buttons) but I think that most people aren't so much put off by the controller as complex games where you have to master a skill before moving on, such as fps's. Might seem easy enough to a gamer but to someone just starting out it can be a brick wall they quickly give up on. So I think it's more a lack of simple games, rather than the controller itself.

That's just my two cents.

But you began to grasp how the controller works just by simply playing a GBA game. While it may be a lack of simple games, you don't think that one of the skills you have to master first, is the controller itself? Before you can start circle-strafing in an FPS, you have to learn how to move forward, left to right, right to left, backwards, and all of that good stuff. Without understand how to do this with whats in your hand...how can you possibly hope to even get into a more complex game?

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

Yeah, my first answer would have been the controller and just learning the games. I can easily get comfortable with any game within a couple hours or (usually) less, then start actually learning and/or applying skills after. It must be hell to learn and memorize for a new gamer. Most games ease you in with the controls, but it still might be relatively quick to some people before they have to really dive.

The second hurdle might just be finding a genre you like. It's going to be hard to learn and play something that you can't get into, and being unsuccessful might be off-putting.

 

[Frankydee]

Mine personally was getting the motivation to try out new things when I was younger. I recall being skeptical about playing the Legend of Zelda OOT back when I was a kid because of the potential length and difficulty of it. I managed through it and was pretty much hooked from there (before I was always used to old school platformers and FPSs).

For someone just getting into it, it's probably easiest to start off with a simple system like an old GB Advanced or a PSP. Easy to figure controls, somewhat easy to pick up titles.

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

I can't find replay value in good games... It's a fatal flaw...

 

[Katana314]

Anyone's first game should not be say, Gears of War, or anything that uses the whole controller. I once had to find a game for my little cousins to play; them having only played with simple toys, I decided to try them on Super Monkey Ball. Basically the only controls are the joystick, and sometimes, the A button. It seemed to work well.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Yeah, my first answer would have been the controller and just learning the games. I can easily get comfortable with any game within a couple hours or (usually) less, then start actually learning and/or applying skills after. It must be hell to learn and memorize for a new gamer. Most games ease you in with the controls, but it still might be relatively quick to some people before they have to really dive.

The second hurdle might just be finding a genre you like. It's going to be hard to learn and play something that you can't get into, and being unsuccessful might be off-putting.

Another good point. We often don't realize how challenging it is to actually get into gaming. Imagine having to spend 65 dollars (after you have a console/computer) to purchase a game that you may or may not like, because you've never played games before? For most of us, we already know that we'll like an FPS over an RTS, or vice versa. Interesting concept, and didn't give that part much thought.

 

[blankblankblank]

To the outsider the controller looks intimidating, but I think they just need to sit down and play with it for a bit. Since every button serves a purpose, learning the layout for a newcomer might take a bit of practice but should come very naturally after a session or two. I mean the concept of "I want to jump/duck/shoot/reload/ect." then press a button isn't hard to grasp.

I think the bigger problem is how complex and large some games are. Drop a first time gamer into something like Fallout 3 then they have a large barrier to get past. Learning about looting, navigating the world, and how to effectively play will be much harder to get into.

To me, its all about finding the right game to introduce someone, not so much the controller.

 

[PunchClockVillain]

I'm going to go with the cost of a newest generation console, the games, extra bits (Xbox Live). At games being 50 bucks a pop, you can imagine people being hesitant to pick it up.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

The hardest part is not the controls. It's playing a game that gets you hooked. For me, it was Wolfenstein 3d, F18 No fly zone, DOOM, Diablo, and Warcraft 2.

Okay, so I've been playing games since I was six. Started with an NES and PC.

Just give somebody an awesome game, like Diablo, and they will be hooked. Or Halo, for console games.

 

[HentMas]

snip

i´m sorry, but i grew up with these

soooooo, yeah, i grew with my games

OT: i think another problem is "Perspective", most of my non gamer friends that have tried to play get a lot of trouble moving their character because they dont understand that left stick to move, right stick to aim/pan camera

that was obviously much easier in 2d games.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

To the outsider the controller looks intimidating, but I think they just need to sit down and play with it for a bit. Since every button serves a purpose, learning the layout for a newcomer might take a bit of practice but should come very naturally after a session or two. I mean the concept of "I want to jump/duck/shoot/reload/ect." then press a button isn't hard to grasp.

I think the bigger problem is how complex and large some games are. Drop a first time gamer into something like Fallout 3 then they have a large barrier to get past. Learning about looting, navigating the world, and how to effectively play will be much harder to get into.

To me, its all about finding the right game to introduce someone, not so much the controller.

While I do understand where the idea that its not hard to grasp comes from, since I thought the same, its a very very different world for a new gamer. Plop any new player into say...CoD4, even on the easiest difficulty setting, and they won't have any clue what to do, especially in heavy fire fights.

Which brings me to another point. 2D adventures are obviously much easier to get into.

I mean, its pretty self-explanatory. Jump on Bucky, keep going right. Don't fall. Win. However...with something like this

you can see the difference. Look at all the possible ways you can (and will most likely) get shot from. I've noticed that handling both the camera, and the movement of your character is another major obstacle for people to overcome.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

The hardest part is not the controls. It's playing a game that gets you hooked. For me, it was Wolfenstein 3d, F18 No fly zone, DOOM, Diablo, and Warcraft 2.

Okay, so I've been playing games since I was six. Started with an NES and PC.

Just give somebody an awesome game, like Diablo, and they will be hooked. Or Halo, for console games.

But...those are all relatively simple games, minus Halo. I mean, they are intricately made to be deep games, and plenty of secrets and treasures to behold for the best of the best, but just about anyone can hunker down and point and click or turn left or right (since it moves the camera as well in Wolfenstein 3d) and shoot. Those are games from simpler times...What if you were a new gamer now? How would you feel about the senses overload you'd get from something like Uncharted 2?

 

[Thaius]

I think the hardest things to overcome for many people are undoubtedly the stereotypes. Until a year or so ago, my mom didn't even know games had stories. I'm not sure how that logic follows, but she somehow thought that when I played Halo, I just sat there alone and shot random things for no reason over a 10+ hour campaign.

People really don't understand that video games have value. They don't understand the social value nor the literary value that video games hold. It's hard to get into something when you see it as nothing more than a waste of time.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I think the hardest things to overcome for many people are undoubtedly the stereotypes. Until a year or so ago, my mom didn't even know games had stories. I'm not sure how that logic follows, but she somehow thought that when I played Halo, I just sat there alone and shot random things for no reason over a 10+ hour campaign.

People really don't understand that video games have value. They don't understand the social value nor the literary value that video games hold. It's hard to get into something when you see it as nothing more than a waste of time.

Now this one interests me. I've never heard of that one before. Perhaps Sony heard about your story and decided to base their Uncharted 2 commercial around it.

 

[Flour]

The biggest problems with gaming is difficulty, the punishment for failure and the lack of tutorials.

Games are made for gamers, and with a few exceptions, gamers already interested in that specific type of games.
I have about 60 games and of those I would recommend maybe 2-4 to a non-gamer. Just because the rest are either too difficult(Roguelikes, most shooters) too punishing(no autosaves and failure could set you back an hour or two) or simply "open world" where you only get a vague idea of what to do(GTA, Elder Scrolls and Fallout).

The ones I would recommend are:
Mass Effect because it's easy and the combat is slow enough with the pause option.
Prince of Persia because death is basically impossible and you always start at the point where you died.(or at least very close to them)
Guitar Hero is debatable because I don't really consider it a game or something to draw in new gamers, but it's a game in the sense that it's something to do when bored.
LEGO games because you can't really fail them, the controls are easy and from what I remember, the control explanations never really disappear.

 

[shannon.archer]

Its kind of like why we have noobs. I dont think it really matters because the controllers of today are still fairly friendly otherwise they wouldnt sell. Basically you pick up some game get owned a bunch of times then you progress from there. You realise wow if it goes red something bad is happening. Or wow that church tower would be a good spot for a sniper i wonder where he could be though. Just means you have to start at a higher difficulty and just progress from there.

 

[shannon.archer]

Now this one interests me. I've never heard of that one before. Perhaps Sony heard about your story and decided to base their Uncharted 2 commercial around it.

Lol i know the thing is like a freakin movie trailer. I mean wtf? Lks so good though

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Its kind of like why we have noobs. I dont think it really matters because the controllers of today are still fairly friendly otherwise they wouldnt sell. Basically you pick up some game get owned a bunch of times then you progress from there. You realise wow if it goes red something bad is happening. Or wow that church tower would be a good spot for a sniper i wonder where he could be though. Just means you have to start at a higher difficulty and just progress from there.

I guess so. But noobs are noobs just because...well, they never quite catch on. Whereas a new gamer is still willing to learn the ropes, if rewarded/punished appropriately. A noob will always play. A new gamer will quit if that sniper in that church tower (that they don't know about) keeps shooting them down.

Now this one interests me. I've never heard of that one before. Perhaps Sony heard about your story and decided to base their Uncharted 2 commercial around it.

Lol i know the thing is like a freakin movie trailer. I mean wtf? Lks so good though

The game practically is a movie. It was fantastic, if you have a PS3...definite buy.