Required Playing

[Daedalus1942]

Dead Space (because i like incurring the wrath of angry parents?)
LittleBIGplanet
and... drum roll please *snare drum rolls*
System Shock 2! (big surprise there, huh?)

 

[Daedalus1942]

No, not three. Three for an area of focus maybe.

Shooters
Doom - A kill ever damn living thing! fragfest, plus it more or less started the genre
Half-Life 2 - A showcase of story-telling with more thoughtful, slower-paced combat
Halo: Combat Evolved - A mix of both, a benchmark for the console shooter, and a heavy influence in the design of most shooters made since

Computer Role-Playing Games
Final Fantasy VII - A Japanese RPG
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Mass Effect (student choice) - A Sci-Fi RPG with non-linear mission progression and explorations of morality
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - A fantasy RPG with open world sand-box gameplay

Strategy
StarCraft - The phenominal popularity just begs study and it is highly representative of Real-Time Strategy
Sid Meier's Civilization - Turn-Based Strategy
Rome: Total War - Real-Time Tactics

Nintendo
Super Mario World - The most representative form of Mario
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Again, this is the basis of Zelda
Metroid Prime (play-through of included Metroid classic required) - Both models of Nintendo's adventure platformer

Racing
Star Wars Episode I: Pod Racer - Sci-Fi racer
Mario Kart - Kart racer
Project Gotham Racing 4 - Realistic racer

Stealth
Thief: The Dark Project - First-Person Stealth
Metal Gear - Isometric stealth
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - Third-Person Stealth

Well, hang on... as much as i LOVE splinter cell... Isn't the Metal Gear Solid series a better example of third person stealth?

 

[resultsmayvary]

Resident Evil 4
BioShock
DragonQuest VIII or Final Fantasy IV(2 u.s.)

 

[Haydyn]

I would want 3 games from really different genres with really different fanbases.

Halo 3. It's the perfect example of a massive online shooter. It wouldn't just be about the game, but about the players.

Wii*Getoffyourass* A way to examine the fact that these games do not actually get people into shape. Also examing the fanbase would be encouraged.

FFX. Awesome story. Awesome character development. Turn based fighting system. Extra credit for drawing a picture of Auron stabbing any of the Jonas Brothers in the face with his sword.