Girls&Gaming

[xavi]

Alright guys so I am a pretty constant gamer, however my girlfriend is not at all.
She is open to the idea of being one herself if she could find a game that was fun and appealing to her.
Only one I've found so far was the lego starwars games. Any suggestions? I need help please. I'm tired of watching movies all day when I could have a controler/mouse in my hand.(I'm a sony hater though so please keep this to nintendo/360/dreamcast/ect. thanks.

EDIT: sorry guys I'm at work and the system here won't let me quote individually but I have posted a few replies. thank you for all the help and please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Inferno_622]

I think you might want to look into lots of co-operative games. I'm sure if you google "list of co-operative games on " you'll find something comprehensive. I think it is important that you both look into it though, and discuss what you types of games/settings/etc you'd both find interesting to play, rather than you picking out some games that you think she'd like.

My girlfriend has only recently started playing games (edit: Now I think about it, she has been for about six months or so now - oh, how fast they grow up!). We've gone through most of the console shooters available on the xbox (Gears, Borderlands, L4D and so on) but we eventually ran out. We're currently settled on playing Guild Wars, only exclusively with each other. It's a good entertaining timesink, if you're interesting in something online. Relatively cheap too.

Edit:

It really depends on what she'd like to play. I mean, FPS games can be hard to get into if you're only just starting to game. It depends on person to person. I think you should discuss it with her.

 

[RivFader86]

In my expirience games that make her go "awwwwww cute" are best to get her to play

 

[Durendarte]

You could try Resident Evil 5, it has co-op so you can play together, it's third person so she probably won't struggle as much as she would with an FPS, considering you can't move and shoot at the same time the game is already balanced so she can focus on one action at a time, decent graphics so everything on-screen will be easily recognizable.

From there you can ease her into co-op FPSs like Halo, Left4Dead and Resistance: Fall of Man.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

hehe, I had that problem with my GF, until I found Pland and Zombies, she started playing it, then after that I introduced her to Little Big Planet, which was a great idea, and later on to Burnout Paradise... slowly but surely she is becaming a gamer girl =)

 

[Eliam_Dar]

sorry double post

 

[JanatUrlich]

All my non-gamer girl friends seem to enjoy shit like Little Big Planet and a couple of them have really gotten into Digital Devil Saga and Resident Evil 4 when they've been round at mine.

Basically just games that are pleasing to the eye and not too difficult to pick up.

 

[RadioActiveChimp]

The Mass Effect series might be great. My younger sister HATES gaming, but she got mad at me every time I played those games when she wasn't there to watch because she loved the story so much.

Braid and Portal are the only two games my sister ever played and LOVED

 

[The Undoer]

Have you tried Lego Star Wars, I don't know if there is an Xbox Version, but if there is it might be a good idea, it's hard to lose and incredibly good fun.

 

[_Janny_]

If she finds female leads and silliness appealing, then she should try No One Lives Forever and Beyond Good and Evil.

 

[Sapphire Angel]

Most other girls from my experiance aren't into the hardcore games like Halo or CoD (like me >.>). Games I started gaming with are games like Super smash brothers, Saints row 2, Guitar hero, basicly games that aren't too complicated but are engaging, Portal is a good one as long as the girl in question is the thinking type xP

EDIT: Oh! And the lego games are great too!

 

[child of lileth]

Just let her try some normal games, and see what she likes. I'm so sick of so many people in these kinds of threads always saying stuff like, "Let her try baby game x, because she's a girl and couldn't possibly comprehend anything normal."

If you want her to get into games, let her do it the same way as everyone else. Let her try a few genres so she can find what she likes, if anything at all.

 

[child of lileth]

Accidental double post from my connection being weird.

 

[SniperWolf427]

Well, I started my girlfriend with Portal and World of Goo, which she seemed to really enjoy. Once she'd finished those, I tried out Half-Life 2 and Bioshock 1 to find that she actually thoroughly enjoyed those as well.

I would suggest that you start out with games that aren't too difficult, but try many different things. Don't simply stick to the stereotype that girls need cute games to play. Give her something she may find interesting based on her personality. For example, my girlfriend likes puzzles, so I felt as though Portal was a perfect fit.

If you want to play games together, Left 4 Dead is always a fun one to try.

 

[RanD00M]

Little Big Planet.Oh wait,you can't do that because you're a hater.Which makes no sense at all.We're all gamers,so why do we hate certain games?

Well I guess Animal Crossing could be a good place to start.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Well, I started my girlfriend with Portal and World of Goo, which she seemed to really enjoy. Once she'd finished those, I tried out Half-Life 2 and Bioshock 1 to find that she actually thoroughly enjoyed those as well.

That's pretty much exactly what I did, but she's kinda terrible at games so I gave her mario instead of half life. Bioshock is hilariously easy on easy though, and the story based nature and overall atmosphere makes it easy for anyone to get into it.
But yeah, what he said, Portal and world of goo are great starts.
Also, try some fighting games: button mashing fun!

Just let her try some normal games, and see what she likes. I'm so sick of so many people in these kinds of threads always saying stuff like, "Let her try baby game x, because she's a girl and couldn't possibly comprehend anything normal."

Difficulty would have to be taken into consideration though; We've all played games for years, but they're exceptionally difficult to get a grasp of, both in terms of controllers or actual mechanics. Navigating 3d space with two thumbsticks is weird for anyone, and the first time I used dual analogues for an fps I fell off a cliff and died immediately, and I'd been playing for years beforehand. It's why the wii is so popular, everyone knows how to shake a plastic remote in front of a tv.

 

[Keava]

Just let her try some normal games, and see what she likes. I'm so sick of so many people in these kinds of threads always saying stuff like, "Let her try baby game x, because she's a girl and couldn't possibly comprehend anything normal."

If you want her to get into games, let her do it the same way as everyone else. Let her try a few genres so she can find what she likes, if anything at all.

Exactly. What the hell. Games that are cute? Games with pretty much forced co-op so -you- don't have to play alone? If she wants to be a gamer she will find something for herself, just give her choice and don't try to force your silly, somewhat prejudiced, choices on her.

And if she won't like it - tough luck, its her choice, not like everyone has to love gaming.

 

[child of lileth]

Just let her try some normal games, and see what she likes. I'm so sick of so many people in these kinds of threads always saying stuff like, "Let her try baby game x, because she's a girl and couldn't possibly comprehend anything normal."

Difficulty would have to be taken into consideration though; We've all played games for years, but they're exceptionally difficult to get a grasp of, both in terms of controllers or actual mechanics. Navigating 3d space with two thumbsticks is weird for anyone, and the first time I used dual analogues for an fps I fell off a cliff and died immediately, and I'd been playing for years beforehand. It's why the wii is so popular, everyone knows how to shake a plastic remote in front of a tv.

Are you shitting me? I played Castlevania III, almost to the end, when I was just 3-years-old. Have you ever played that game? Don't preach to me about difficulty being too much. I'm sorry that you think that girls can't comprehend anything, but that's your own sexist outlook on life.

Oh wait, girls can't possible enjoy challenging games, or needing to think at all when it comes to any kind of entertainment. I guess I should just get back to the kitchen or something before anyone notices I somehow escaped.

 

[Sapphire Angel]

Just let her try some normal games, and see what she likes. I'm so sick of so many people in these kinds of threads always saying stuff like, "Let her try baby game x, because she's a girl and couldn't possibly comprehend anything normal."

If you want her to get into games, let her do it the same way as everyone else. Let her try a few genres so she can find what she likes, if anything at all.

Exactly. What the hell. Games that are cute? Games with pretty much forced co-op so -you- don't have to play alone? If she wants to be a gamer she will find something for herself, just give her choice and don't try to force your silly, somewhat prejudiced, choices on her.

And if she won't like it - tough luck, its her choice, not like everyone has to love gaming.

This is a good point, normal games are not beyond the reach of women, most people assume girls need an easy game to start, and that we recoil at the thought of a challenge, but I know personally, I enjoy being challanged just as much or more than any other person would, regardless of gender.

So it's just a matter of finding what sort of game will engage her ^^

 

[thahat]

snip!

ive found that the legend of zelda the wind waker is something my girlfriend enjoys lots ( she likes freedome in a big, way, and windwaker is all about the freedom to roam all over the place in a boat, all with nice sounds sights and cutenessfactor XD