Help me defend us!

[Madman123456]

A Book is better to get a text narrative across (duh!) because you put yourself in the world. However, games can be as engaging, narrative can be delivered with other means. Have him play "missile command". No flashy cutscenes, no music. The Player creates the scenario for himself and immerses himself in it. No narrative but the game itself but if you immerse yourself in it, it will haunt you.

The MAss effect games will put you in a universe that is full of philosophical issues and Aliens that are actually alien.

 

[Thundero13]

Right... so don't do Red Dead or Silent Hill, or anything with guns probably if you're trying to say that they aren't violent, personally I would reccommend something more on the puzzle side of games to show that they can be good for your mind, or something with good graphical direction, to help the whole "games as art" thing, soo Professor Layton, p0rtal, Okami or maybe even LittleBigPlanet if you just want him to enjoy it, am just saying you shouldn't prove that games aren't "violent, blood filled, time wasters with no value" with a game that looks like a "violent, blood filled, time waster with no value".

 

[LiquidGrape]

Grim Fandango.
It's the game which never fails to impress people, regardless of their experience with the medium.

 

[Thundero13]

Umm, you're on to a loser here matey, gaming isn't as good at telling a story as a book. They are mostly just about killing people, that's just the way it is.

http://www.cracked.com/article_18571_5-reasons-its-still-not-cool-to-admit-youre-gamer.html

Don't you find it somewhat telling that your father asserts this and you need to consult a forum to find a game that that doesn't apply to? Besides, finding one game that doesn't follow the rule doesn't disprove the rule.

I think he's just trying to prove that games are able to be good storytelling devices rather then saying that they always are, so uh, care to recommend a game that "doesn't follow the rule"?

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

Duke Nukem Forever.

 

[TheAceTheOne]

Mass Effect series: It may have shooting, but it has a great story and universe, with wonderful characters that one can actually care about (or at least in my opinion anyway).

 

[HydraMoon]

I agree with Portal- but on PC so it's easier for a new player to master. It's easy to forget that we 'speak' the physical language of video games; new players have to learn how to move with two sticks.

I would look to point and clicks, even hidden object games. Check out Big Fish Games for examples. They are marketed very differently and contain plenty of varied stories with little to no blood/gore. Also- they are on the PC so the barrier of entry for a newbie is substantially lower. Most everyone gets that to interact with something on their screen they need to click the mouse.

Return To Ravenhurst is scary but not gore-filled. No blood, but some skeletons are about. The mechanics are very simple and the story is tense and moving. Puzzle-based with exploration. Good narrative and excellent atmosphere.

Monkey Island is good- simple interface, no gore but isn't as emotionally compelling (to me) as RTR was. Hilarious and fun.

 

[SweetNess_666]

I would suggest fallout 3 or new vegas, he can make his own story then. Be good avoid conflict to an extent orr go into every situation huns blazing but at least its his choice how he plays the game then + huge world to explore and characters to interact with, what could go wrong indeed

 

[Digital_Hero]

Borrow a DS and make him play through the professor layton games. If you want a game that is non-violent and beneficial (which is what he may want to see) make him play layton. Excellent narrative, in the second and third a more engaging story, some ridiculously challenging brainteasers and really...... who can say a puzzle game is a waste of time? if he does, you keep easily say the same about books. If nothing else, a game like layton is basically a book where you have to work to turn the page.

 

[lumenadducere]

I would say you have to show him Planescape: Torment, but if you're a non-gamer playing it for the first time it's nowhere near friendly. With the old AD&D ruleset and meandering pace, plus a lack of hand-holding, I don't think that he'd be able to get through it unless he's really determined.

Honestly I'd say Portal 2. It's a great title, non-violent, has great humor, and for a non-gamer will be challenging as hell. Portal 1 is good as well but its narrative relies much more on exploring, which he may not do if he's not used to gaming. Portal 2's narrative is much more focused and presented to the player in a more direct way.

 

[GonzoGamer]

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 can?t really defend either of you.
I think you both got blinders.
Your dad obviously doesn?t know anything about what games are. However, I have yet to find any game that?s as engrossing as a really really good book.

That said, I would start him off with Portal to show what a really good game can be and how a game without blood & guts can be great.
Then get him to play Fallout 3 to show him that even though some games have blood & guts, it?s not why people play them. It will give him a chance to explore a world that wont completely chew him up.

Both of those games are probably the closest things I?ve got to games that are as engrossing as a really good book. They also don?t rely on specific timing and are generous to new gamers in that there?s never too much going on at once. Many anti-gamers tried games once, felt like a fool for not knowing what to do, and dismissed it as a "waste of time."

Then if he?s still interested, show him Burnout Revenge so he knows that even though there?s grinding metal and explosions, it can still be cerebral...I miss crash junctions.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

Okami is a good one (PS2/Wii).

My most immediate suggestion might be Persona 4 and likely Persona 3 as well (haven't started yet). I'm playing P4 currently and loving it. The downside to showing him this is that he has to stick around for quite a while before the plot gets moving and he may not like the dungeon crawling (the game isn't exactly easy and the dungeon crawling takes a good bit of time). He has to see the Shadow bosses and follow at least one character all the way through his or her Social Link. Definitely not mindless shooting and violence.

 

[Vibhor]

Did anybody suggest Shadow of the Colossus yet?
Surprisingly it fills every checklist you have.

 

[DaHero]

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)

Plants Vs. Zombies

Also: Make sure that when you give the "fun and engaging" argument there are no FPS games around, since most of them are strictly for multiplayer, the argument shatters right then and there.

You need to get him into a good solid RPG. Oblivion, Morrowind, I guess Mass Effect 1 (ONNNNNEEEE!!!) would be a good example. OH!

Who here forgot Deus Ex for the PC? Heck I still offer to gift that game to people that think RPGs are boring.

 

[Malrock]

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).

Wow good shout, I concur! Planescape: Torment was purely epic! If you want to demonstrate gamings ability to tell a great story and to use gameplay to engauge you like no other medium can, this is a great game to showcase.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

Story-Engagement:
Myst
Portal
Bio-Shock
Mass Effect
KOTOR

Non-violent but fun:
Lego-anything
Rockband/Guitar hero and variants
Peggle

The problem you run into is games have two parts: the story and the gameplay. You can't enjoy the story if you are too busy learning how to play; which is a problem when trying to demonstrate story to people who have limited gameplay experience. That's why I'd say something simple like Myst; can't get much simpler than point and click. Portal requires quite a bit of focus on gameplay, and towards the end has a lot of reaction time requirements. RPGs generally have a good story, and the intensity isn't as demanding, but there is still a lot of number-crunching to focus on in order to progress smoothly. I suppose easy modes would help...

Good luck.

 

[Wintermute_]

Shadow of the Colossus- Artsy while having wonderful atmosphere and fun unique gameplay.
Jak and Daxter Trilogy- Just so amazingly fun and the story leaves very little to be desired.
Okami- Stupendous art style. Unique story and gameplay. Great game.
Portal 1 & 2- obviously...
Half-life series- cause its a shooter that isn't as mindlessly violent as MW2.
Pikmin 1 & 2- adorable, fun, engaging and again, unique. First game I ever owned. Love it.
Banjo Kazookie- Go a little retro. Fun game it is.
Metroid Prime Trilogy- Best thing Nintendo produced in years