What games are good for getting started in gaming?

Written by: Olivia Grace (@oliviadgrace) | February 4, 2013 4:01 pm

19 Comments

What would you play if you were getting started in gaming? What game would you choose to get someone into gaming?

It depends a bit on the person, of course, so for example kids would probably prefer something aimed at them, rather than anything rated too high or too gory or perhaps even too complicated. Complication is probably a bad thing for getting started in gaming at any age. Blizzard entertainment have a motto of “easy to learn, hard to master” which seems like a good approach, and as I mention in the video I’m fairly convinced that anything too complex is probably a bad move. People don’t want to be completely overwhelmed by new things when getting started in gaming, so keep it simple!

Stigma is another big hurdle for getting people into gaming. Particularly in the US, with the current stories circulating about how games promote violence and such, stigma is a huge issue. Even outside of that, there is a stigma that gaming is not something adults do, or not something “normal” people do. I always think that the Wii is good for removing stigma about games, where you see them played in groups on adverts by groups of mixed gender and age. It’s very family orientated and somehow more acceptable than other gaming, and Nintendo have done a great job there. But, making the cross over onto PC gaming or even Xbox could be tricky, as the Wii isn’t considered “proper” gaming like these other systems.

I’ve always thought that adventure-type games and RPGs are good options for getting started in gaming. Games such as Oblivion, for example, where there’s a lot to do, but it’s also easy to have fun while you’re just scratching the surface, and of course, WoW, if you can shake the stigma – WoW probably has a bigger problem with that than any other game I can think of! One thing I’ve found is that games with WASD movement as well as games where you have to aim your gun or whatever you’re using are bad choices for new gamers — stick to auto-targeting!

I explain all this at greater length in the video, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you all think in the comments below!

What games are good for getting started in gaming?

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http://www.facebook.com/fredrik.gardsio Fredrik Fronken Gardsiö

I used Portal to get my girlfriend into the hobby, followed by Skyrim, and it worked great
- http://twitter.com/oliviadgrace Olivia Grace
  
  PORTAAAAAAAAAAAAL
- http://twitter.com/Deadalon Deadalon
  
  Ye – I would have to agree with this one. Portal would fit the bill very nicely. It has pretty much everything for a good game.
Rewold

Dark Souls.
http://www.facebook.com/jason.jenkins.73 Jason Jenkins

in my simple opinion i would honeslty say that the genra of game wouldn’t matter too much for getting someone into gaming, the big thing i think would matter is does it have a good multiplayer option. your nongamer friend or family member probably doesn’t want to sit down in front of skyrim and have a big black dragon trying to munch their face off and being their all alone, they are going to want to have you there with them helping them out, showing them the ropes then letting them run off on their own.

to name a specific game i would go with wow, it has ftp up to 20 and this would introduce them to inventory, specs, fighting, exploring, and general adventuring. to me if someone loves playing wow up to level 20, they are going to love gaming, they are going to love to roam around tamrial, coruscant, or whatever other worlds you could imagine up….shoot they might even like picking up an ak-47 in call of duty and shootin some commies
- http://twitter.com/oliviadgrace Olivia Grace
  
  Another good point! The social aspect is definitely important.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=21003660 Keith William Gretton

The first video game I played was Civilization. I think turn based strategy games are a good starting point for ‘ordinary people’ (in my book non video gaming weirdos) who at the very least are familiar with the popular tabletop games, Monopoly, Clue/do and Risk. Civilization is a game that like those tabletop games does not carry the ‘gamer / basement dweller’ stigma, in-fact many a politician in American politics very openly and honestly stated that it is one of their favourite games. I think a game like portal 1 is also good starting point for a gamer new to FPSs, platformers and puzzle based games in real time. For someone looking for an immersive multiplayer social game who is a little bit older than let’s say 8 (which I think is a fine age for either Portal or Civ), WoW definitely would be there if they like the Fantasy genre. My Dad would not ever get into a High Fantasy game like WoW but he might have picked up an MMO like SWTOR, if he were already into gaming. As it is I think probably a game he could really get into having never played video games would be L.A. Noire because he likes the crime-drama genre particularly the one set in the 1940s-60s, despite the game having some complexity when it comes to the controls.

If they are middle aged and they have a problem playing a game that is appropriate for all ages I would question what type of games they play that are only appropriate for people of their age group (mid-life crisis, plastic surgery, musical spouses, find my glasses, complain about the parts of my body that don’t work anymore, etc). I would then question their integrity, as their intent to connect with younger generations is disengenuous if they aren’t willing to interact with them in a popular gaming environment. Sorry, Olivia I don’t mean to directly slag off your Aunt but that excuse she gave you seems to be a bit contrived, and kind of annoys me.

While I can understand the advantages of Auto-targetting, in general most of the games I’ve really enjoyed have been those which don’t have that option (hell I even get annoyed at WoW for it sometimes, stoopid tab-target). For example, I have played every GTA on the PC (it started as a PC game and I’ll only play it there dangnabbit), but I have tried to play one or two on the Playstation, and found that I just sucked at the combat because of the auto-targetting (also found the camera and movement controls annoying, but that’s true of most console games I’ve tried to play). So auto-targetting, might be good but only for a certain type of newbie, for others it might just be a frustrating mechanic.

As a rule of thumb I would say easy to learn hard to master is a good gameplay principle to look for in an introductory game but another is to be a genre that will interest the person you are trying to get into gaming.
- http://twitter.com/oliviadgrace Olivia Grace
  
  Not at all! It’s not an excuse I agree with, but it’s a regular one. The lore/story/style consideration is interesting too, though, I hadn’t really considered that beyond my focus on gameplay itself!
Demi_God

The honest truth is the gaming community is its own worst enemy. LOL boasts 1 million concurrent users at any time, but I guarantee, that if the community wasn’t nearly as toxic there would easily be 3 million concurrent users.

I think Riot realized the same thing not long ago, and that is why they are trying so hard to crack down on bad behavior recently.
http://twitter.com/NerdnGeekInc Raven Frosth

RTS or RPG is a way to start new gamers, I started with Original Nintendo, then Sage and Finally Graduated to PC Gaming and been there ever Since. Mostly I enjoyed playing RTS and then from there went into RPG’s, and after that Graduated to MMO’s. But now and then I still Enjoy playing the Single Person Game, when it’s interesting it has good Story n etc…

Recently I’ve been trying to dabble in FPS, not really Good at it, Maybe because it has something to do with my Vision and also my reaction to things that I can see on Screen. Not to big on like Unreal Tournament, or Shooting FPS’s and Stuff, More like 3rd Person FPS. But not many of those games are there that are avaliable. Personally It annoys me when People start to Label you as a someone whom your not. Because if someone enjoys the Games on PCs or Consoles it don’t make em Lazy, sitting at your Moms Basement, and all these different Stereo types.

People Play Video Games for Enjoyment, it’s a new Trend that’s been around for Centuries, as time and technology evolves so does the types of games we see, either be a sport or table top or electronic, or movie like gaming. It’s still gaming. Some people will say its a waste of time but to whom is it waste tho. That is no different then you going with your friend to Local Pub and play a game of pool or Bowling alley, its still a Game. But now we don’t need to go anywhere,. we can stay home and enjoy all those types of games on a console or on PC.
http://www.facebook.com/stephen.barnard.10 Stephen Barnard

Epic dapps to the sexiest female gamer in the U.K. love what you do keep it up. :)
http://www.facebook.com/stephen.barnard.10 Stephen Barnard

Love what you do, keep up the good work and ill keep watching your videos. FYI you look pretty today.
Demi_God

How can I possibly follow such a classy double post of creepy?
Jado Cast

My wife never like games and didn’t understand why I love gaming, until I got her an Ipad. She loves PvZ, and then I got her into Torchlight 2 on the computer. Now she’s having fun and has a different perspective.

Great Tips!
valkilmer

dota 2, just kidding.

thats a horrible idea.
http://www.facebook.com/oneniisama Bear Powell

Angry Birds, Peggle, Words With Friends, and Bookworm are good entry level drugs. For MMORPG’s you’re looking at FFXI, Istaria, DAoC, WoW, and GW2 to cover the beautiful wealth of concepts within the genre. For FPS I think you have to go with Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Counter-Strike: Source, and Half-Life 2 so they can experience a wonderful diversity of styles. Wii Sports I think is the goto for older gamers who have no experience with games.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Bergevin-Jr/1393526370 Jim Bergevin Jr

A gamer is a gamer. If they are playing Tetris on the Nintendo Gameboy, they are a gamer. If they are playing Wii Play on the Wii on a regular basis they are a gamer. If they are playing good old fashioned Monopoly on their dining room table, they are a gamer. If people are playing Farmville 8 hours a day, then they are hardcore gamers.

Now that we have that gotten out of the way, you are correct that in getting “non-gamers” interested in PC gaming, you need to take into account the kind of person they are and the kind of things they like. I got started with board games, moved on to coin op arcade games, then on to the classic Intellivision and Atari. From there, it wasn’t too long before I was playing sim games and RPGs on the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC XT. RPGs did it for me because I have always been interested in the Medieval and Dark Age periods of history, so fantasy RPGs were a natural fit.

For the “typical” person, I would recommend Facebook or family console games to start out with. They generally have a wide variety so one can settle into a genre or type they like. For PC oriented games, things like the Big Fish puzzle games and point and click stuff is a good starter. For getting into more “mainstream” PC games, sandbox sim games are a nice start – SimCity for one is always a safe bet. If one can find similar classics like Pharaoh and Caesar, they too are cool games to get someone started (I got my sister hooked on those before she took up WoW). Complexity is an issue, especially for modern Strategy and RPG games, so I wouldn’t rule out passing on some older, simpler games in those genres to someone who might be interested in them to get them started.
Ravenstorm

What would I offer to a new gamer?You mean either a child or a hermit, someone who never saw a game? I guess The Settlers then. It’s fun and not traumaticly bloody.

Then as they progress/adapt, maybe some Skyrim, it’s not as hard as Oblivion and prettier.

If you want them to have no life because of the total addictiveness it has on newcommers, then an mmo like WoW. That should do it.
http://twitter.com/SilverTaurusPL SilverTaurus

For start I would recommend either racing car game, something diablo like,easy strategy, or even something like GTA. Basically start with some easy concepts in each genre which you might explore deeper later in other games.

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