Where should I start in teaching a "noob".

[BigDeadMushy]

go with a PC RTS or RPG that you can join forces in,have your 'puters set up side by side to enable easy communication and assistance.and set the difficulty to the easiest one.

also,remember the difference between noob and newbie,the negative connotations of the former won't be helpful at all.she's new and inexperienced,as opposed to just playing like a complete moron.

 

[Torrasque]

Go for the simple to learn sidescrollers and RPG games that come with tutorials.
Obviously, you have to find out what she likes first, and then go from there (she won't necessarily pick up any game you enjoy).
I suggest Pokemon or one of the Final Fantasy's; particularly any FF before XI
An online MMO would also be good; something like Runescape is a great beginner game.

Try to avoid playing FPS or games that require alot of controller knowledge, you want her to get comfortable with the controller and gaming in general before you really challenge her. If she keeps looking at the controller while she plays, she needs more practice with it.

 

[742]

definitely start with something simple and preferably accessible. plants VS zombies is a great start, as is a game boy with either tetris or something platformery. make sure whatever you start on is 2d in gameplay! once they get the hang of 2d start them on portal. make sure to save the multiplayer bit in 2. 3d movement seems to be a really really big problem for people to get, and its really absurdly maybe impossibly difficult to teach that with words, one must have experience. portal is practically made to for that experience with its focus on space and movement, intellectually but not physically demanding puzzles that make you seriously consider the environment and your movement in it, blatantly learning based gameplay for like the first half, and general all around awesomeness. from there you move on to whatever else shes interested in(because obv portal is of interest unless shes the physical avatar of hatred and/or bad taste).

something tells me you should stick to multiplayer 2d(ish) platformers though. at least for the summer/until she 'gets' them. a simple split screen FPS if she really picks up fast. if she expresses an interest in something pop it in and try it out, if she thinks its too complex try games with 1 each of the elements that gives her trouble but as few of the others as possible. multiplayer is good, for the reasons mentioned previously.

if she wants to get into strategy start her on plants VS zombies then move into something simple and turn based. i think.

 

[Soulfoodman]

If you can, go with any and many of the Nintendo staples. Many/most of us probably started that way and it would provide a decent variety. It was mentioned above but a Mario Kart and a Super Smash Bros would be great for increasing hand-eye coordination. If not, like people said, LBP would probably be great if that "First Games" category. Most of these should be coop/multiplayer before moving into a Legend of Zelda or Mario game.

Perhaps when you feel she's ready to step up the difficulty a bit and even tackle a single player game, one of the Ratchet and Clank games or (and I've never played it, only watched a friend) one of the Sly Cooper games. I think these would be great games to have her push herself once she feels more comfortably with the controls.

Most importantly, and I know you know this, make sure she is enjoying it. Don't push a game too much if she doesn't like it. Move on to another. Good luck.

 

[standokan]

Play Portal with your padawan, it´s a classic she´ll have to play sooner or later.

 

[JourneyMan88]

Ever think this is an attempt to simply spend more time with you?

That being said, 99.9% of games nowadays have training levels, try to emulate that as best you can, with a concentration on basic skills that should be second nature, i.e. running while shooting.

 

[TheLoneBeet]

My best friend and I have been working on this with a mutual friend of ours. She's never played or owned games in her life, and we've recently been convincing her to take turns playing The Impossible Game. She had a lot of fun (granted we had to make it a drinking game where you took a shot for each fail so it didn't last long but it's progress nonetheless)

Basically that's my suggestion. Pick something relatively easy (the pressing A to jump part is easy, beating The Impossible Game is.. well.. "impossible") but anyways. Start with a game like that and then slowly move on towards bigger and more complex games. Avoid anything where you have to use both analog sticks. I've heard "how do you move your feet and your head separately?" too many times.

 

[Frybird]

If you have a Wii, try Trauma Center: New Blood and Dead Space: Extraction.

Both are very accessible in that they don't require too much to learn, while still having a bit of complexity to it (also, as a fair warning, New Blood can be pretty hard sometimes), and also, if you play together, it's easy in both games to "take over" when playing coop, so when she struggles, you can do things on your own and prevent frustration due to having to repeat levels over and over again.

 

[The Rockerfly]

How about portal 2? Split screen and it is fairly easy to learn the mechanics but they are hard to master. Maybe not instantly gratifying but the best way to introduce someone to puzzlers

If not what about MvC 3? Easy mode, low damage and have her play as dante and you can do some amazingly cool moves with ease

 

[Lucane]

I'd say LBP(like so many othres...)

and maybe a few racing games they're short,simple objective,simple controls normally (expect Wipeout)and it let's her use her memory more frequently doing laps and retrying for faster times/places higher.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

You need a softcore nintendo game. Maybe a point and click. Or a on-rail shooter.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Start her off with a course of Halo (offline, 'course), Dragon Age and Portal 2.
Halo to work on her FPSing.
Dragon Age for a good RPG.
and Portal 2 for a good puzzle game.

After she has mastered those take up to Borderlands, Mass Effect and Mirror's Edge.
Same.
Same.
Kinda.

And for desert have her try Call of Duty, Oblivion, and I would say Assassin's Creed.
Rinse
and
Repeat.

Other good starting games include:
Fable 2
Left 4 Dead
Red Dead Redemption
Limbo

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well you might want to consider she wants to play other kinds of games... that involve being naked.

But until you reach that point you should try something simple, I would suggest Sims because girls love that shit, but that isn't on consoles so... get something like it I guess, then set it to the simplest setting and let her play.
Mastery really only comes from repetition.

 

[Wintermoot]

first off it,s newbie not noob.
noob,s are new people thinking they have "1337 5K1LLZZ" and accuse people of hacking if they are killed and won,t admit they suck.

newbie,s are new people that admit they suck and tell they want to learn.

OT
I think HL2 is a good place to start it has a nice difficulty curve and maybe Portal 2.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

Technically, she isn't a n00b, she's a newb - as in Newbie, or new person trying to learn. Only if she plays for an extended period, doesn't learn how to actually play, and blames everyone else for her crapicity and then calls everyone else n00bs and/or f@gs when she's actually the one bringing the game down, has she entered n00b-town.

I'm going to be honest, I wouldn't do too much co-op if you know you don't have the patience to sit there and defuse the situation if she becomes overly frustrated. If you know you wont be able to play co-op without considering punching her and then punching yourself, there is nothing wrong with having her play singer-player games that you've played yourself, consider too easy, and being there to help her when she has a question - IF that is the best option for you. Key is: Patience, understanding, and no raging.lol.

But it's always great to find out what she likes, as everyone else has already stated, and go from there.Such as; if she likes a lot of medieval fantasy or L.O.T.R, then go for wrpgs (with tutorials and/or whole tutorial levels). If she likes anime, find her a few jrpgs (with tutorials and/or whole tutorial levels). If those are seeming too advanced, you may have to start with simple/fun sidescrollers - you could try the Little Big Planet series. I love that series.

Really, anything with a tutorial, and an 'easy' setting in difficulty to start with. Also, tell her she should also play at home - or by herself and see if she can overcome the difficulties of some games by herself. Since that will force her to try and figure out new ways to beat it, instead of continuously asking you a multitude of questions. Practice makes perfect, blah , blah, blargh.

 

[Obsideo]

Start with Demon's Souls.

Awaken the champion within her.

 

[Heat149]

Start with Demon's Souls.

Awaken the champion within her.

Its kinda funny you mention that, first thing on day one was getting he to look through my collection and picking out games she thought had interesting cover art and synopsis, I ran to my room to go grab a controller, and when I can back, she had picked up demon's souls. Took me some time to explain that it wasn't a game for new commers. XD

 

[JackWestJr]

Well you might want to consider she wants to play other kinds of games... that involve being naked.

But until you reach that point you should try something simple, I would suggest Sims because girls love that shit, but that isn't on consoles so... get something like it I guess, then set it to the simplest setting and let her play.
Mastery really only comes from repetition.

Uh, the Sims is on consoles

 

[HydraMoon]

I would skip the 3D worlds for now. Save FPS for 'Games 201'. If you're having to show her how to hold a controller- then I would scale it back a bit. Give her a top-down view game or a sidescroller. Even something simple like Peggle would let her get used to using her thumbs on the sticks. As much bull that gets bandied about, casual games are really good for getting newbies used to the controls. Pick a game that's untimed (no stress) and doesn't use fast twitch- keep it low key but interesting.

I would go for Peggle, LBP, Arcade classics she'd know but are now on XBLA/PSN (let's say...Galaga or Ms Pacman), Katamari games. There's a really fun game we played yesterday that would be good for getting her used to gaming- Sumo Squash. Basically, you each get a sumo dude and try to squash the other person. It moves (so not too boring) but only has two or three buttons that need mashing so it shouldn't be too overwhelming.

I also agree- find out what she likes and go from there.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well you might want to consider she wants to play other kinds of games... that involve being naked.

But until you reach that point you should try something simple, I would suggest Sims because girls love that shit, but that isn't on consoles so... get something like it I guess, then set it to the simplest setting and let her play.
Mastery really only comes from repetition.

Uh, the Sims is on consoles

It is? damn you non updated Wikipedia!

Well then, get her that, just don't tell her there is DLC because you will go bankrupt.