Games that might appeal to my wife--your thoughts?

[Nordstrom]

I know that it's not a PC game, but Mario Kart is about the only game (other than online puzzle games) that my wife became hooked on. We played it most nights for about a year. If your wife likes racing games, then Mario Kart is probably your best bet. We have Double Dash but it's not that exciting to play co-op (in the same vehicle) because the person riding along gets bored. However, in racing the CPU's we play somewhat co-operatively. I make a point of taking out the other CPU's rather than her. That evens the playing field a little. She's pretty hard to beat now.

Another game with only cartoon-style violence is Lego Star Wars II, which is available for the PC and pretty much every platform. It has co-op play and is entertaining. My wife enjoyed for a bit but we didn't manage to go through it together because my kids were obsessed with playing it with me.

 

[mitsoxfan]

Animal Crossing!

 

[GeeseH]

Go pick up a cheap PS2 and buy her Katamari Damacy.

I don't know your wife and I could care less about what she likes.

She will love Katamari Damacy.

by jove i think he's onto something here

 

[defcon 1]

I would seriously recommended Civilization 4. It's so much fun to play but may take time to learn. There is conflict but I really don't think it's that big of a deal. You could get a few DS', your options will just fly open.

 

[Snaggly Pete]

Yep, I also heard very good things about Viva Pinata...I may have to check that out, although I do like the idea of both us being able to do something at the same time.

 

[x434343]

Guys, they don't ave a console. Why the fuck are you reccomending consoles and games. Wow, my visions getting blurry just now!


Civ 3 or Civ 4, The Sims and the like. If you have time, wait until Spore.

 

[Deathbird]

Me and my girl play Civ 4, it's good cause its turn base so theres no twitch feature you can play it at your pace and as a team. Bonus to turn base is you can make tea and eat and chat while you play and socalise a bit more and get a feel if shes enjoying it.
Failing civ 4, maybe Rollercoaster Tychoon, it isnt multi but my girl loves it, and of course SIMS 2

 

[AnGeL.SLayer]

You could always go old school and play some diablo or starcraft. It's not really violent..you jab things with pointy things. I also think you can turn the blood off if you want to. As a female myself I can hardly count the killing on diablo to be considered 'violent.' Also(I hate to say it) she can get into the whole upgrading her character with a spiffy set of armor..like dressing them up. (lol...O.0') Starcraft is fun because it's focused more on strategy, which most females tend to like. Any game where you need to use your mind more is something she is going to like. I think after you get her introduced into the PC gaming world you can start to slip in a little more violent games..ones where you can turn the blood off first. She will come to see that it's no big deal and the best games tend to be ones where you have to knock a few skulls together. TFC would be a good one. You can try using a different type of skin. Like a cartoon one, where the world is outlined thick and the sprites are silly. It will appeal to her a little more. When you get down to it you need to tell her to be open minded to all kinds of games. Just because it is a little violent doesn't mean it's all mindless killing. Violence doesn't equal stereotypical guy games.

On that note here is a good stereotypical guy game...so if shes up for it download the scientisthunt mod and let her go to town. lol violent yes but I think once she rips one or two apart with the chainsaw she will see 'violent' games in a whole new light. It's also a big stress reliever. hehe that was the game that got me started down this path. Tell her to be open minded.


^_^

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

The problem is, a lot of the fun games don't have a co-op mode. Is over-the-shoulder, taking-turns a possibility? Also, what kind of TV shows does she like to watch? That would probably give a better idea of what games she's likely to enjoy.

I suppose over-the-shoulder and taking turns might work.

As for shows--she watches a bunch of stuff--24, Heroes, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and some show with that guy who does Allstate commercials--to name a few.

If she watches shows like 24, then she might not be as violence-averse as she thinks, if she's got the controller. I mean, that show has squicked me with it's violence enough times that I quit watching it. But it sounds like RPGs would be a great place to start, since it sounds like she enjoys extended plots. I always love to recommend Beyond Good and Evil, because it's got some intrigue and drama in the story line, interesting gameplay, and an engaging heroine. It's also got some fun racing sections. Jade Empire might work too. Some people aren't big on it but I love it to death. And it's got a setting where you can turn off the gore when you cut someone's head off with a sword.

 

[neems]

Another vote for Viva Pinata, although I gather it's a bit of a ball ache to control using mouse and keyboard (I don't suppose you have a 360 controller kicking around).

Test Drive Unlimited - it's sort of an MMO racing game (can be played as purely offline as well). Basically drive around a Hawaiian island, entering races (if you feel like it) and buying classic cars. It's pretty entertaining.

 

[[T]rickster]

i would say MapleStory... it's not violent (well.... sorta...), u dont play AGAINST each other, it's not a racing game (which u dont like), and it's not boring... for a while... until u reach higher levels when u have to grind, but since it's the two of u, i guess it's fine...

hope that helped! good luck!

oh and it's FREE!!!

 

[TomNook]

ummmmmmm, Mario Cart DD?


edit: Ignore this, I didn't read #5.

 

[stevesan]

http://www.manifestogames.com/theblackwelllegacy

$15 point-click adventure about a struggling writer (a young woman) in NYC, solving murder mysteries with a ghost (an old gangster-type from the 1920's). Well-written, mature, and has impressive voice-acting. The great thing about point-click adventures is you can play together, sitting side by side at the computer, trying to figure things out. It's a little bit violent (murder mystery), but not violent in the DOOM or GTA sense.

 

[ffxfriek]

one word....runescape

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

The Longest Journey and its sequel, Dreamfall, are available bundled on Steam for $24.95. Psychonauts, another board favorite, is FREE on Gametap, and Beyond Good and Evil is available on Direct2Drive for $19.95. I thought I'd throw those in because I'm not big on defered gratification myself, and some of these games are getting harder and harder to find in hard copy.

 

[Jeroen Stout]

It's such a shame Beyond Good & Evil starts with that fighting scene, it's such a lovely game to introduce people if it just weren't for that scene.