Games to train a non-gamer with?

[Zillar]

Aggghh, I hate the mirelurks too. I can never finish that quest that Moira gives you where you have to sneak into their nest.

Anyway, thanks for the ideas, guys. To explain the bit about only doing shooters, it's so that she'll be able to play with her boyfriend and do moderately well in co-op. I think I will show her some RPG's and stuff (/die hard mass effect fan), but shooters are the emphasis. I feel like girls are more attracted to RPG's anyway?

EDIT: here's the line up so far.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Modern Warfare 2
Gears of War 2
Left for Dead (the first one, because LFD2 is so much harder)
-sorry, don't have Rainbow Vegas-
maaaybe TF2, but I've barely played it and likely wouldn't be able to help much
Halo Reach. Because it's so beautiful.

then later,
Portal
Mass Effect 2
Fallout 3
Mirror's Edge?
Assassin's Creed
/totalbrainmeltdownduetotoomanygames

...this should be her boyfriend's job.

 

[SAMAS]

Honestly, I'm not sure you should use an FPS to get someone into gaming. Yeah, if she wants to play the game with him, the best option is to take those games and practice at them.

Otherwise, you want to start her off on simple games.

Yeah, I think Halo is a good choice, given how many people it introduced to console shooters. Once she's got that, go on to the games she wants to play with them.

But for gaming as a whole? That list right there is terrible.

First, I hope they have Live Arcade. You want simple to start), and you want variety (to see what genres she likes).

Go Old-School. You want her to get into action? Gunstar Heroes and the Metal Slug series (3 and XX (7 with co-op) are both available for Arcade) are both simple, but impressive (especially Metal Slug).

Ecco the Dolphin is old-school (Sega Genesis), but is also unique and fun. You can't go wrong with a game that lets you kick alien ass as a Cetacean.

Portal is also a good choice, and they have an expansion on Arcade as well.

Puzzle Games seem to be popular with those that may otherwise not play games. The Bejeweled series is popular with the casual set (I played the original, and it's fun), and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo is a fun competitive puzzle game that's absurdly cute (It features Super Deformed Street Fighter/Darkstalkers characters).... Oooh, they have Lumines!

But try a wide variety of genres. Platformers, Puzzles, RPG's, shooters... and not just First-person, but also 'Mech or Flight Sims like Armored Core or Ace Combat. Let her find out what she likes.

 

[captaincabbage]

Rainbow Six: Vegas is pretty starter friendly. Someone can work alongside the rusty person, and just show them the ropes, without depending on their aid so much. I'm pretty inept and yet I can play that game, and it's enjoyable without being too competitive.

Actually, that's a pretty decent damn idea. I taught my older brother how to play it and within an hour we were kicking arse on the 'Red Lotus' level and using terms like 'take point' and 'watch my six' without any hint of sarcasm of mock-Jack Bauer voice. True story.

OT: Another good one is definitely Jak and Daxter or Ratchet and Clank. If you can find them on PS2 and help her to play them, then she'll pick it up really quickly.

 

[BoxCutter]

Dwarf Fortress.

 

[Cazza]

Start from the start with N64 Goldeneye. Goldeneye is great for teaching tactics and how to aim with a bad aiming system. Then move to Halo or a similar game. That will allow them to get the feel of easy aiming and tactics. Finally move to something like rainbow6. To iron out their flaws.

 

[Weaver]

The best way to get good at games is to run a gamut of historically significant titles starting from (most accessibly) the NES up to present day.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow Of Chernobyl master mode... if she can make it past this she can beat anything...

Or tie her to a chair and force her to reach level 20 in Morrowind.

Once she figures out how to spam major skills you would know she's ready.

 

[Amnestic]

But try a wide variety of genres. Platformers, Puzzles, RPG's, shooters... and not just First-person, but also 'Mech or Flight Sims like Armored Core or Ace Combat. Let her find out what she likes.

Okay, first? Loving the avatar. Nice to see more SRW/T fans around.

Second, as far as mech-games go I wouldn't recommend Armored Core to start with. All the parts and whatnot could be more than a little overwhelming and unless she's got a guiding hand to lean her in the right direction, it has the potential to turn her off the genre entirely.

Zone of the Enders (1+2) for the PS2 are probably a better choice in that they're fairly simple, have an intuitive control system and are a joy to watch. I started with the AC series at a young age with Master of the Arena and had help when learning it, but an adult might feel patronised or controlled if you try to lean on them with parts choices.