Introducing 'Other half' into gaming; Help!
- Thread starter Cgull
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Heavy Rain would probably be pretty good, as it tries really hard to make the controls make sense in the context of the game... you're not pressing the X button to jump, you're shaking the controller to make your online character shake a martini shaker. Everything is designed to try and make contextual use of the controller more instinctive, so it's a definite plus.Eliam_Dar said:
I'm not sure about the difficulty though, or the penalty for failing in Heavy Rain though, as i haven't played it yet.
It works as an excellent relaxant. Watching a bandit's head go one way and all the limbs the other always makes me smile.Doomsdaylee said:
But yeah, Borderlands is really good for beginner gamers. It's simple, fun and rewarding. PC version is of course the best call, but the 360 version is decent enough, too. And it's at its best in co-op, so an inexperienced won't die instantly with someone helping. Although it's a very easy game.
some JRPGs can be pretty simple.. Final Fantasy X for instance.. it was actually my mom's first ever game.. and the only thing that complicated it for her was the sphere grid.. I had to do that for her for the first few dozen hours, but once she got the hang of it, she had a blast.meganmeave said:
at the end of the day, it's a shooter.. About the most difficult type of game for a new gamer to get into, especially on the console, and especially one with a ridiculous RPG stat system thrown into the mix.Spitfire175 said:
Ok, she may really get into gaming and become hardcore, but initially, what you have to keep in mind, is that she wants to spend time with you and do an activity that is fun for both.
In my opinion, some of the casual games (flash games or social networking ones) are ok for just a bit, but they are more single player experiences. Folks have made some suggestions above, so I will not insult them by repeating the same things. But I'd like to add suggestions that will let you both have a good time together.
Wii games are particularly good for sharing the experience, start with something like the Wii Sports collections or party games, you can try Mario Kart or similar ones. In other consoles you can try music games like Guitar Hero (Band Hero may be too overwhelming). Also, cutesy games work fine as long as they are well made and are engaging like Loco Rocco or Flower on the PS3.
My girl could not get off the couch when I played the Tomb Rider latest games; pretty much the same as Splinter Cell and God of War. She said that it was much like watching a movie and needed to know what happened next. Maybe a cinematic experience will pull her in. Anyway, just listen to her.
Good luck
In my opinion, some of the casual games (flash games or social networking ones) are ok for just a bit, but they are more single player experiences. Folks have made some suggestions above, so I will not insult them by repeating the same things. But I'd like to add suggestions that will let you both have a good time together.
Wii games are particularly good for sharing the experience, start with something like the Wii Sports collections or party games, you can try Mario Kart or similar ones. In other consoles you can try music games like Guitar Hero (Band Hero may be too overwhelming). Also, cutesy games work fine as long as they are well made and are engaging like Loco Rocco or Flower on the PS3.
My girl could not get off the couch when I played the Tomb Rider latest games; pretty much the same as Splinter Cell and God of War. She said that it was much like watching a movie and needed to know what happened next. Maybe a cinematic experience will pull her in. Anyway, just listen to her.
Good luck
Well yeah, simple RPGs would probably be okay. And Final Fantasy in general usually has an excellent tutorial system. I actually knew someone who was doing a paper on how to teach people new technology and they were using the tutorials in FF as an example of a good system.Altorin said:
My first RPG was the SNES Mario one - I think. But before that, I watched someone play FFII. It just seemed a little nutty to me. I didn't see the appeal at the time.
Anyway, I was just mentioning my experience with them, as someone who took a while to get into RPGs on a whole. Just a counterpoint to everyone else who was saying otherwise, in case the OP finds his girlfriend does not like them. It doesn't mean she might not like them eventually.
My friend's fiance, for instance, will not play RPGs at all. And a game like Heavy Rain is actually too slow for her. She wants more action in her video games.
A lot of problems for older players new to gaming stem from not understanding that they need to learn where the buttons are by touch rather than by sight.
If you can teach her that "A" is closest to her thumb, and all the rest, then she will have much less difficulty with gaming in general. These things are natural to a 10 year plus gamer, but he has to remember his own learning from the beginning if he is to teach another.
Then you just start with something simple and unjudgmental like Tetris. Even my mother plays that. Once she has an intuitive grasp of controls from the higher levels of the game, she's ready to go for something meatier, perhaps even something 3D.
I should know. Sonic 1 was my first game. It frustrated the Hell out of me back then. But I loved it for not talking down to me. Now I can do the first level in 19 seconds (the minimum possible).
We all started somewhere. If that start suits our personality, it helps a lot in getting us further into gaming.
If you can teach her that "A" is closest to her thumb, and all the rest, then she will have much less difficulty with gaming in general. These things are natural to a 10 year plus gamer, but he has to remember his own learning from the beginning if he is to teach another.
Then you just start with something simple and unjudgmental like Tetris. Even my mother plays that. Once she has an intuitive grasp of controls from the higher levels of the game, she's ready to go for something meatier, perhaps even something 3D.
Sonic 2's not a single button game; there's the direction buttons too. And to make timing those button presses harder for newbies, there is never simply a static path you can take in those games without already knowing the level. There's always spikes and badniks everywhere.Et3rnalLegend64 said:
I should know. Sonic 1 was my first game. It frustrated the Hell out of me back then. But I loved it for not talking down to me. Now I can do the first level in 19 seconds (the minimum possible).
We all started somewhere. If that start suits our personality, it helps a lot in getting us further into gaming.
I must say a very easy game is Viva Pinata! And it's so colourful! Professor Pester makes me cry....
Alright, I'm late to the party, and suspect that there is no game I could say that hasn't been mentioned already as a good starting point. So I'm try to flip things upside down, and look at it from a slightly different angle. Check to see if she plays one of the slew of Facebook games out there, like Farmville. If she does, join her. Even the most sensitive, thoughtful, laid back gamer in the world could very easily push a game on someone new to the medium just a little bit too hard. It's easy to forget just how much of a wealth of information we take for granted. If instead you get into gaming on her terms, the transition could be much smoother.
Another idea is to try a different route then video games. Research shows (And Ill be vague with my sources because I don't want to dig through my books) that female gamers tend to gravitate more towards games that emphasize social interaction. Jumping into an RPG might be a bit much to be honest, since its easy to feel a bit silly while role playing. But if you get together some mutual friends, it just might work out. D+D may be classic, but I also wouldn't overlook the World of Darkness system.
An extremely dangerous, but potentially inspired, move would be to try to find a local LARP. Yes, some LARPers are REALLY creepy. Yes, you're running a risk of having an evening of pure disaster, and honestly, I expect the aforementioned World of Darkness is the only one that would likely work out for a beginner. On the other hand, if you have never LARPed, you will both be entering into it on an even footing, trying something new, plus you will be doing something that involves socializing, meeting new people, acting, storytelling, and optional costuming and makeup. Might be worth seeing if there's a nearby Camarilla chapter.
The safest bet would be to find a European style board game, Carcassone, Catan, or something of the like. Like all of the above suggestions, they could very well ease someone into being comfortable with the idea of gaming. They are also very social, and if you're not a board gamer, you're again on equal footing.
Just in case an idea outside of digital games might be a good idea
Another idea is to try a different route then video games. Research shows (And Ill be vague with my sources because I don't want to dig through my books) that female gamers tend to gravitate more towards games that emphasize social interaction. Jumping into an RPG might be a bit much to be honest, since its easy to feel a bit silly while role playing. But if you get together some mutual friends, it just might work out. D+D may be classic, but I also wouldn't overlook the World of Darkness system.
An extremely dangerous, but potentially inspired, move would be to try to find a local LARP. Yes, some LARPers are REALLY creepy. Yes, you're running a risk of having an evening of pure disaster, and honestly, I expect the aforementioned World of Darkness is the only one that would likely work out for a beginner. On the other hand, if you have never LARPed, you will both be entering into it on an even footing, trying something new, plus you will be doing something that involves socializing, meeting new people, acting, storytelling, and optional costuming and makeup. Might be worth seeing if there's a nearby Camarilla chapter.
The safest bet would be to find a European style board game, Carcassone, Catan, or something of the like. Like all of the above suggestions, they could very well ease someone into being comfortable with the idea of gaming. They are also very social, and if you're not a board gamer, you're again on equal footing.
Just in case an idea outside of digital games might be a good idea
Silent Hill, she'll love it.Cgull said:
It has a good story and characters, she'll get involved with it and then she'll branch out on her own to other games she'll want to try.
back to basics... and I mean BASICS. No, Sonic is no where near basic enough.Cgull said:
Get Super Mario Bros. NES Classic re-release for the GBA, which can play on a Nintendo DS or DS Lite (or GBA on the cheap, but WON'T play on DSi). I think this is great as the portability aspect allows much more leisurely gaming schedule to play anywhere she likes and any convenient time. DS would be good as it is "the hot thing" even for the mainstream (beyonce advertised the thing) so your other half can keep her street cred if she's seen using it at the office.
Mario is the perfect game to start with, it is just so satisfying and simple, you can go at your own pace (problem with sonic 2) and has the fundamentals of timing jumps, avoiding enemies and environmental dangers and LOOOOOOT! Might also worth trying Zelda: A Link to the Past to introduce some light-RPG.
Then after that, then it is time for DOOM!
I suggest you get it on PC and play it through Zdoom (if you bought Doom on Steam then if you install and run Zdoom then Zdoom will automatically find Doom). Zdoom takes the original doom game only sharpens up the graphics, resolution, turns it full 3D and allows free mouse aim. It's a great place to start as it introduces the concepts of navigating and finding your way around a 3D environment, dodging and aiming at enemies, and resource management (ammo, health). This will also work on any PC built this side of the millennium so NO EXCUSES, plus laptops are portable, consoles aren't. Doom in Zdoom will play on even the lowest spec netbook.
Finally, Team Fortress 2 and ease her in slowly and importantly WORK AS A TEAM. There is nothing like playing a game where two people have a gameplan; either pyro+engy combo, Dual-engie, Medic + heavy and so on. Stick together, communicate, co-operate and have some fun. Actually, just get her Orange Box on Steam. Portal is a MUST PLAY game, and Half Life 2 + episodes are just such perfect examples of how well of narrative storytelling in games can immerse you in and adventure and completely create this world, all the while throwing new challenges steadily upping the stakes.
Screw consoles man, you'll only ever get her playing the most shallow "casual" titles that will never hold her attention and never create any really memorable experiences. Sure there are good games, but for a novice Gears of War will not impress.
Ultimately, don't forget the classics, I mean imagine if you had to introduce someone to cinema but could only use films that came out in the past 3 years? Nah, it's law of averages, you are most likely to find the really great games from the 80's or 90's than just happen to have come out in the past few years. OK, we got lucky with Orange Box in 2007.
Some of the best thing I can suggest is get her to try as many new games as possible, get a PS2 and just rent (or ebay cheap) any games that take her fancy, just play half an hour of each and see how they grab her. Give her a go at all the classics: Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Ocarina of Time.
I was lucky enough that my gf had played Perfect Dark a bit as a kid. When I got a 360, i picked up Perfect Dark Zero and got her into it, even though it wasn't much of a game. Now we've gone through pretty much every split screen co-op shooter there is, though we've spent the most time on Rock Band.
Co-op is the key. She might not be likely to play something by herself if she hasn't already, but she probably wants to spend some time with you that isn't absently watching tv.
Strangely, my gf's favourite game is gears of war. Nothing says 'femininity' like chainsawing a monster in the face.
Co-op is the key. She might not be likely to play something by herself if she hasn't already, but she probably wants to spend some time with you that isn't absently watching tv.
Strangely, my gf's favourite game is gears of war. Nothing says 'femininity' like chainsawing a monster in the face.
There's this http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Girlfriend-to-Play-Video-Games
Personal advice would be "Start with Nintendo". Nintendo was always the foot in the door that let us in. Try some Wii games like Wii fit, Wii sport. After that, you make her play some more challenging game like Mario Kart. Step 3 would be musical games like Guitar hero or Rockband.
At this point, let her choose her instruments. After that, you could move to some games that let you play together. What ever happens, don't insult her. Be supportive.
Follow those steps and she will have an interest. (If things go well).
Personal advice would be "Start with Nintendo". Nintendo was always the foot in the door that let us in. Try some Wii games like Wii fit, Wii sport. After that, you make her play some more challenging game like Mario Kart. Step 3 would be musical games like Guitar hero or Rockband.
At this point, let her choose her instruments. After that, you could move to some games that let you play together. What ever happens, don't insult her. Be supportive.
Follow those steps and she will have an interest. (If things go well).
Try a good 'ol mario racing game. Just... don't let bots play. Vs. mode only dude, so that she can get better without being destroyed by the AI.