Help me defend us!

[MrGalactus]

So I got into a discussion with my dad about how a game can be as engaging, worthwhile, and with a story as good as a book. He sees games as violent, blood filled, time wasters with no value, so I want to convince him otherwise! I got him to agree that if I could find a game I thought he would appreciate, he would play it all the way through.
So I need suggestions.
My first thought was Red Dead, but I haven't played it myself so I fear that the missions might just be shootout after shootout. Second thought was Silent Hill, but I don't want him to shit his pants.

So, I need a game that represents games at their absolute best, but something accessible enough for a total non-gamer to play and enjoy.
(Also, it'd have to be a PS2, PC, or Xbox 360 game)

 

[JRaptor118]

You could try Viva Pinyata (weird choice I know). you have a garden, you take care of it and help the Pinyatas within the garden. It's a 3+ game too, so no violence at all.

Trying racing games like Forza or F1. No blood, no violence. It can be a little time consuming doing the endurance races, but it's worth it from what I've seen.

There are so many none violent, fulfilling games out there somewhere. Just gotta know where to look for them.

Hope this helps

 

[Wuggy]

I'd suggest Portal 2: Engaging, non-violent, great narrative. Definitely on the high end of gaming.

 

[Durananrananrananran]

Portal. Don't spoil it for your friend, and don't let him google it (hard I know). Just sit him down in front of it, and say "when you're done in a few hours time, tell me that wasn't great story telling"

 

[Biosophilogical]

The main problem though is that some of the best stories, when combined with the necessity of gameplay (it is a game, duh) means they can take ages to complete and the plot developments are either clustered and distant, or only tiny little revelations every now and then.

I'd say FFX has a great storyline (and the villains are just brilliantly evil), but to fully appreciate you need to put like, 40+ hours into it (not to mention that some people find Tidus annoying).

I think the issue is that story length is causally related to story quality, so most games that have good stories are going to be difficult to start a new gamer off with. I mean, you could get lucky and find one of those games with a dynamic and emotionally-fuelled story that can be powered through in under 10 hours, but again, you have to somehow find something that is accesssible gamplay-wise, yet also manages to hold up to books in terms of story-telling capacity.

 

[Save us.A7X]

Try Okami? It's a very long game but it has a great unique art style and a pretty awesome story. Or if that's too long, the Portal games, I know they've already been suggested a few times but both are fairly short, non violent and have great narrative.

 

[DanielDeFig]

Some of the best games ever made, that do not include needless (or any) violence:

Flower (get it through PSN, only $10)
Portal (I guess Stem would be the easiest/cheapest place to get it)
Portal 2 (Multi-Platform)

I mostly recommend Flower, especially if your dad believes all games are violent time-wasters. This game has no violence at all, no dialogue, very emotional to play (emotionally uplifting, mostly) and is very intuitive and simple. It's short (can be finished in an afternoon) and like the portal games (if not more), it shows the true potential of what a game can be.

While Red Dead Redemption is a great game, I wouldn't start there. It sounds like it's not going to help your case to prove games don't have to be violent time-wasters. Also, the games I recommended may be "a waste of time" but not any more than TV, movies, or books (I'm guessing your dad does at least one of those things).

Once again, flower is very accessible for non-gamers (I'm going to get my parents to play it), it's a geat experience all-around, and it's not a big time investment (maximum 5 hours, depending on how fast you are. 20-30 min chapters). Also, it's cheap!

 

[Hellsen]

Bioshock. Decent gameplay, great story with philosophical undertone.

 

[Latinidiot]

Well, if your dad doesn't want to get into game, you don't have to try to convince him. Perhaps littlebig planet?

 

[Magicmad5511]

Portal and if not that Batman Arkham Asylum. The first is great storytelling with excellent puzzles and the second is excellent combat with magnificent stealth section that amke you feel like batman.

 

[Hinoema]

So I got into a discussion with my dad about how a game can be as engaging, worthwhile, and with a story as good as a book.

Get him a copy of Riven. (Good Old Games has it cheap.)

 

[Nulmas]

Red Dead would be a safe bet, but you'd have to make sure he'd get to the end. Like any good story, you kind of miss the point if you don't.

Otherwise, I'd suggest Planescape: Torment. Great story, great morals, a good philosophy and, in a way, similar to a book (over 800.000 words, bigger than LOTR, if I'm not mistaken).

Only problem is, it's an old school RPG.

Portal is actually a good idea, especially if you point him out to a college that has the game has "required reading".

Braid is a simple enough game (my mom loved it).

And I completely second Deus Ex but, again, make sure he plays it to the end for the same reasons.

There are probably a couple more, but I really can't remember any right now. Unless your dad likes humor, that is. In that case you can try games like Psychonauts, Monkey Island, Giants, etc.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

How about Monkey Island? Also, if you have access to a PC, Eternally Us. It's only about 20 mins long and I'll post a playthrough of it on here.

Spoiler

EDIT: Also, give your Dad the counter-argument of the same thing, but for movies/ tv.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

Others have mentioned:
Flower
The Portal games
Heavy Rain

The Metal Gear Solid games could do the trick, they are very movie like with all the cut-scenes, it's not Oscar quality stuff but it's much better than your standard action movie. Also, the games focus on sneaking past enemies and not shooting them. Most, if not all, of the games allow you to play through them without killing anyone.

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are very engaging but have little story. ICO would probably be better just because in Shadow of the Colossus you just go around killing colossi that didn't do anything to you, but it is a pretty emotional type game.

Maybe Mirror's Edge, it's all platforming and avoiding conflict with the enemies. You can easily go through the game without using a gun. I would think it would be a pretty visceral experience just watching someone play.

I haven't played L.A. Noire but that could be a good one. It's pretty much all solving crimes, I don't think there's that much mandatory shooting.

 

[Drakos.Amatras]

If you're aiming to win the bet, shooters are out of the question, according to your first post. And since you're betting on stories... you might have some luck with some story-oriented Japanese games that got localized.

Do you have a Wii? Try Trauma Team; great medical drama and accessible difficulty, so you might convince him.

360? Tales of Vesperia; even if the story doesn't draw him in, the gameplay might.

PS3? Valkyria Chronicles; 3rd person shooter, but it's turn-based and highly strategic. And arguably Demons' Souls; it's not exactly violent, but it focuses highly on horror.

Or if you have a PS2, there are many Shin Megami Tensei titles on it. (No, not just Persona 3 or 4, though it'd be a great choice for your bet.) They always manage to make the atmosphere mature without gratuitous violence and gore; they often invoke horror in varying degrees.

Just some titles right off my head.

 

[Badong]

Well, bringing up Minecraft, Little Big Planet, Limbo, and Alter Ego can help prove your point.

If he specifically bashes about video games as being juvenile, macabre time wasters, you should point out the fact that many other forms of media have a history of doing the same thing, and that video games, as a very young medium, should be given a chance to refine itself.

Be sure that you would do these things calmly. Seriously, the only way to have an intellectual debate is to remain calm.

NOTE: Be sure that you wouldn't use the above to defend any video game addiction you may have. That would just raise more suspicions.

 

[Ucaenforcer]

Any of the fallout new vegas fun and engaging plus a massive world to explore what can possibly go wrong

 

[torshadow]

I'd say pikmin or pikmin 2
It's not very violent, great gameplay and a really simple story

 

[Pat8u]

Majesty Older people love it, all my parents like playing it