Help me defend us!

[Titan Buttons]

The new Donkey Country on the Wii is co-op and now violent, portal 2 as well.
Also Lego Pirate of the Caribbean/Harry Potter are really fun co-op games

"Oh, banana!" Who the Hell is Kurt Vonnegut, anywho?

When in doubt don't threat, just google it.

 

[funguy2121]

The new Donkey Country on the Wii is co-op and now violent, portal 2 as well.
Also Lego Pirate of the Caribbean/Harry Potter are really fun co-op games

"Oh, banana!" Who the Hell is Kurt Vonnegut, anywho?

When in doubt don't threat, just google it.

OK, theory confirmed. Irony really does skip a generation.

 

[veloper]

consider strategy games like Civilization 4 and Tropico, or adventure games like Sam&max and Monkey island.

Ignore all the shooters and action rpgs for a while, because these games will only reinforce his opinion about graphic violence in games.

 

[Raykuza]

Since Portal has been said a dozen times, I'll say Shadows of the Colossus. Truly a gorgeous tale was told by that game.

 

[Littaly]

Off the top of my head:
Heavy Rain
L.A. Noire
Portal
Shadow of the Colossus

Especially Portal, everyone loves Portal, gamer on non-gamer.

Might wanna try some The Sims as well, it's maybe not the type of game you're looking for but as far as great non-violent games it's right up there.

Like you pointed out, I'd be careful with Red Dead since the gameplay revolves mostly around shooting, but if you can look past that it's probably one of your best ambassadors.

 

[binvjoh]

Do you think he'd "get" Minecraft?

Otherwise, like many others have said, Portal is probably the best bet.

 

[Googooguru]

Quick Man the defenses, Knights to the Bailey, get more archers on the towers we need more flanking fire..

Oh and get THEJOORG a copy of Mass Effect 2

 

[AMMO Kid]

I noticed how you used the word "worthwhile" to describe your opinion on games. Where as I am all for games, I personally look back on my experience as a gamer and I believe that I would never go back on it all, however, if I had never picked up a controller when I was eight I would probably be better off. Just saying/

 

[Sad Face]

Portal would be your best choice. It's clever, engaging, and humourous. Not much violence, if any.

That, and it's about the length of a standard movie, especially if you're on a second (or more) playthrough. That's why this is the one I would choose. It's short, fun to play and fun to watch. Even if you're the one with the controller he can be just as interactive, you can control the player while he solves the puzzles if either of you are afraid that he would just get frustrated trying to learn the controls. By the sounds of it this is your best bet.

Other than that I would suggest what's also already been talked about. Mass Effect, Bioshock, Psychonauts, Fallout 3 (I haven't played NV yet so I can't comment on it), Oblivion, etc. I would also suggest one of the Resident Evil games if he likes zombies. Obviously they're violent but I'm sure your father has watched action movies before so that arguement is a little irrelevant. If he hasn't, or doesn't watch them due to the violence then I'm sure he's enjoyed a book with weapons in it somewhere. My point is that most entertainment medias have violence in one genre or another, faulting one for containing violence while not the others is a little hypocritical.

If he does like zombies, and if he's a little open-minded about it then Left 4 Dead would be a good one too. The story isn't jammed down your throat, it's a little deeper than a straight-up narrative.

Choose one from a genre he likes in other mediums. Keep in mind that these games can loosely be more than one genre. Either way all of them have a great story.

 

[shadowshian]

for older games he should try something like Monkey islands (i think theyr available in steam), Grim fandango. or for newer games maybe some indie games? rather than mainstream titles?

 

[Titan Buttons]

The new Donkey Country on the Wii is co-op and now violent, portal 2 as well.
Also Lego Pirate of the Caribbean/Harry Potter are really fun co-op games

"Oh, banana!" Who the Hell is Kurt Vonnegut, anywho?

When in doubt don't threat, just google it.

OK, theory confirmed. Irony really does skip a generation.

I don't get what is ironic about my joke, as lame as it is.

 

[Merkavar]

portal 1 and 2
heavy rain
maybe even bioshock 1

 

[mionic]

portal or portal 2 would be my choice.

 

[RN7]

Minecraft is the least violent (graphically) game I've been engaged in most recently. I say this because of some of the "comments" in Portal 2 not connecting with someone who never played the 1st and because the engaging qualities of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood cannot be grasped without playing and understanding the 1st two games, at least not to one with your father's mindset.

 

[Otterby]

You have suggestions a-plenty here, so I'll leave those for the others. I just want to note that you shouldn't be thinking of game length here. Sure, maybe avoid the 40h+ games, simply because folks of the parenting age rarely have too much time, but some 20h shouldn't be too much to ask. After all, reading a novel can take it's sweet time, too.

 

[funguy2121]

The new Donkey Country on the Wii is co-op and now violent, portal 2 as well.
Also Lego Pirate of the Caribbean/Harry Potter are really fun co-op games

"Oh, banana!" Who the Hell is Kurt Vonnegut, anywho?

When in doubt don't threat, just google it.

OK, theory confirmed. Irony really does skip a generation.

I don't get what is ironic about my joke, as lame as it is.

It really would be immoral for me to proceed.

Sigh. Read the OP again.

 

[Titan Buttons]

The new Donkey Country on the Wii is co-op and now violent, portal 2 as well.
Also Lego Pirate of the Caribbean/Harry Potter are really fun co-op games

"Oh, banana!" Who the Hell is Kurt Vonnegut, anywho?

When in doubt don't threat, just google it.

OK, theory confirmed. Irony really does skip a generation.

I don't get what is ironic about my joke, as lame as it is.

It really would be immoral for me to proceed.

Sigh. Read the OP again.

I know your try to make a refrence bewteen the OP and Kurt Vonnegut I just can't see it, probobly because I don't know Vonnegut's work all that well

 

[GoGrapefruit]

Heavy Rain or Farenheight.
I say this because they are the most novel like games around.

If I had to pick a more game-like game. Deus Ex probably, its the best example of what every game should be.

Farenheight was ALRIGHT at the beginning but went a bit shit after that. Play it safe with Portal and Deus Ex

 

[BloodRed Pixel]

Besides that you are REALLY active while playing a game in contrary to just stuff the couch and watching a movie, just show him these episodes of Extra Credits:

(not final)
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3261-The-Myth-of-the-Gun
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3167-Gamifying-Education
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2957-Tangential-Learning
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3080-Games-You-Might-Not-Have-Tried-or-Heard-Of
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2633-Non-Combat-Gaming
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2414-Facing-Controversy
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2264-Symbolism-101
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2545-Narrative-Mechanics
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2175-Diversity

or better YOU watch it and build your arguments from there.
good luck a good presentation also will show YOUR FATHER how much YOU care about games
and that you are not the blind degenerated Zombie that he thinks you are when you are gaming.

And don´t mention GTA - EVER!


EDIT:
Also build on analogies he is familiar with. Books, movies, even sports. If he doesn´t read or likes movies, ... then you will have a really hard time.

Games:
Portal, Incedrible Machine, Blueberry Guarden, Braid, The Path, Samorost, Machinarium, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Ceville, Monkey Island, Sam & Max, Syberia, Longest Journey, Osmos, Crayon Physics, Civilization,

 

[Life_Is_A_Mess]

Okami, Portal 1 and 2, Halo series (NOT the Halo Wars and ODST things), Spore maybe, Minecraft, Terraria, Plants vs Zombies, Worms, Medieval II: Total War, Half-Life 1 and 2 and episodes, and Team Fortress of course. No way you'll lose now.

EDIT: Ooops, almost forgot the Katamari series. That series is EPIC, non-violent and super fun!