Where should I start in teaching a "noob".

[Heat149]

Alright, so I'm in a bit of a predicament here. A good friend of mine asked me if I could teach her how to play video games over the summer. My days are never really too cluttered up with work or obligations during summer vacation, so I told her if she got bored, to text me and see if I wasn't busy, and if I weren't occupied, to join me for some gaming. We had our first gaming session yesterday and, well, I've never said it before, and I don't plan to say it, but "noob" sure comes to mind. Hell, she told me she'd never even held a controller with two analog sticks before.

So I covered the basics, all the way down to how to hold the controller and other biases we take for granted (ei; how to button mash "X", keeping your index and middle fingers on L/R 1/2, ect), and now, I'm stuck. I tried throwing some easier games her way, psn titles and the sort, but she never seemed to be able to get the hang of them.

What do you think I should do? where should I start with her? I've got no shortage of games and I'm fully willing to shell out a few dollars on a new game or psn title or dlc or whatever, so suggest something that'd be good for a beginer, and let me know if there's any techniques that I should teach her.

Your help is much appreciated.

 

[Kingpopadopalus]

Alright, so I'm in a bit of a predicament here. A good friend of mine asked me if I could teach her how to play video games over the summer. My days are never really too cluttered up with work or obligations during summer vacation, so I told her if she got bored, to text me and see if I wasn't busy, and if I weren't occupied, to join me for some gaming. We had our first gaming session yesterday and, well, I've never said it before, and I don't plan to say it, but "noob" sure comes to mind. Hell, she told me she'd never even held a controller with two analog sticks before.

So I covered the basics, all the way down to how to hold the controller and other biases we take for granted (ei; how to button mash "X", keeping your index and middle fingers on L/R 1/2, ect), and now, I'm stuck. I tried throwing some easier games her way, psn titles and the sort, but she never seemed to be able to get the hang of them.

What do you think I should do? where should I start with her? I've got no shortage of games and I'm fully willing to shell out a few dollars on a new game or psn title or dlc or whatever, so suggest something that'd be good for a beginer, and let me know if there's any techniques that I should teach her.

Your help is much appreciated.

It sounds like you should find her interests and go from there. Have you tried little big planet? thats always a good place to start with the PS3

 

[Shreder55]

I suggest a simple puzzle game (like Tetris duh) or a simple turn based RPG (Pokemon or Final Fantasy) to first learn how to even really use a controller and to improve their hand-eye coordination.

Then move to harder stuff and whatever game she wants to learn in particular (FPS, Strategy ETC).

 

[Bravo 21]

I'd say play split screen with her, that gives her the chance to learn the ropes without being verbally abused by online gamers

 

[Irridium]

Prince of Persia. The 2008 version that everyone hated. Probably the best if you want to teach her without using smaller games.

I also suggest what Kingpopadopalus(awesome name) said. Ask what she's interested in, and go from there.

 

[Humble Grapefruit]

Have her start, maybe, with some kind of basic side scroller, to get her used to using at least one analog stick in combination with other buttons. Then do something that might involve using both analog sticks. For instance, a look down shooter or something along the lines of that. The biggest problem with people I've seen just starting is getting used to using both analog sticks at the same time.

 

[Saelune]

Pfft. Should start from the begining. Get her a gameboy or N64 and start there. Or a NES emulator.
Mario, Sonic, Zelda, Kirby are some good starting points.

 

[electronicgoat]

Try something either retro or approachable. Try games that are enjoyable, but also make themselves easier for newcomers, like how TF2 has no grenades, class balance, and plenty of noob servers and training maps to practice on.

 

[Lyri]

Ask her what she likes and go from there, introduce her to the game but don't buy her a condescending title.
If she likes FPS don't buy her Pokemon snap. Basically erring on the side of not to easy or childish.

 

[ZydrateDealer]

Get her to pick a game from the shelf and stick with it till she gets bored rinse and repeat.

 

[Haydyn]

Well, do you want to turn her into a gamer, or just teach her how to play? Mario Kart 64 or any Mario platformer before the 64 would be great. Also, get her on a steady diet of Mountain Dew, hot pockets, popcorn, pizza, and Taco Bell. Take her splitscreening through Halo on easy. Any Halo shooter but ODST works. They key here is to start off with the most mainstream games throughout history. I'd recommend Zelda, but I myself have not played the series that much, so I can't give it the rub.

 

[LobsterFeng]

Go with the lego games if you have any. You can play two-player and it's really easy to get the hang of.

 

[Matt Wood]

a nice platformer would do good, maby try to stick to co-op games where you wouldnt have to ninja the controller every 5 secconds to demonstrate something....so little big planet.
then maby move on so more adventure action, witch *should* transition nicely from platforms, then see where it goes from there...

 

[AGrey]

pick the highest quality, most introductory game in each genre and have her try them out.

Some of the first games I remember playing were Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, Ocarina of Time, Goldeneye, and Warcraft


If there's a genre she's naturally attracted to, it will make it that much easier to teach her the controls, and she'll learn the skills that will carry over into other games.

 

[EZola19]

Maybe Tekken? I could be wrong (and please don't start flaming me on this one), but compared to the other fighters out there (SF, MvC, SC, etc) it's easier to learn, and has more immediate payoff. Play versus matches to give her a chance to get the hang of it. Throw a few matches, but don't just stand around.

That's how I got my Girlfriend to play and she eventually went on to finish campaign mode (which I could never get myself to do).

Maybe PC/facebook games also? I got my gf to play civ after giving her simpler strategy games on FB and on mobile devices.

 

[EZola19]

Co-op games are also good ways to do it

 

[MrJKapowey]

Alright, so I'm in a bit of a predicament here. A good friend of mine asked me if I could teach her how to play video games over the summer. My days are never really too cluttered up with work or obligations during summer vacation, so I told her if she got bored, to text me and see if I wasn't busy, and if I weren't occupied, to join me for some gaming. We had our first gaming session yesterday and, well, I've never said it before, and I don't plan to say it, but "noob" sure comes to mind. Hell, she told me she'd never even held a controller with two analog sticks before.

So I covered the basics, all the way down to how to hold the controller and other biases we take for granted (ei; how to button mash "X", keeping your index and middle fingers on L/R 1/2, ect), and now, I'm stuck. I tried throwing some easier games her way, psn titles and the sort, but she never seemed to be able to get the hang of them.

What do you think I should do? where should I start with her? I've got no shortage of games and I'm fully willing to shell out a few dollars on a new game or psn title or dlc or whatever, so suggest something that'd be good for a beginer, and let me know if there's any techniques that I should teach her.

Your help is much appreciated.

If they're into FPS games then I'd recommend starting with a private match on CoD, either MW2 or BlOps. Basically take them through everything they would nedd to know to play properly.
Here's a list of what I taught my friend on 'Quarry' when he first started console gaming:

Spoiler: FPS lesson

Spoiler: Movement

1 - Find an area on the map and get them to come to it, shoot into the air to show them where to go. Prior to the lesson, time how long it takes for you to do the trip. See what the difference in time is between you.

2 - Get them to climb a ladder - don't tell them what to do, just tell them to do it. See how long it takes them to work it out.

3 - Hide 'n Seek, hide somewhere and offer a description of it to them. They must now stab you. Try going to a hard to get to area (like the top of the off map crane on Highrise) and seeing how long it takes for them to reach you after they locate you.

Spoiler: Combat

1 - Get them to shoot you standing still at long ish range with a mid-cqc weapon. See how accurate they are.

2 - Get them to kill you whilst you run between two set points (i.e. across the mouth of an alley). See how many times you need to run.

3 - Get them to kill you whilst you run arond withing view of them, spraying wildly and using cover well. See how long you last but don't aim at them. The bullets are to see what they do when they hear the characteristic whine of them as they go past.

Spoiler: Advanced bits for both other sections. Try after those are done.

1 - Get them to run around the map whilst you chase them with a knife to stab them. Repeat until they can last for over 30 seconds. (not on Wasteland, it would be too easy - go for a cluttered map).

2 - Repeat, but you're running. But go easy on them, repeat it until they can get you in <30 secs.

3 - Camping training, they hide, you find them. They must find three different spots to hide in on the map which you deem acceptable. This makes them think about places to camp as you always need to know where the best spots are so you can plan your routes to and fro.

4 - Combat. You Vs Them. But go easy on them.

5 - Combat. You and a friend Vs Them and a friend. They must be in communication with each other as then they will learn teamwork.

6 - All four of you (You, them, friend, friend) go onto matchmaking for the moment of truth. How will they hold up under the pressure of eight year olds calling them 'gay niggers'? If they do reasonably well (say three-four kills to X deaths) then you have done well, they will do well at this game. If thye got one or two kills then they may need some more time. If they have no kills then maybe this isn't their type of game. See if they made mistakes that you can train them in and/or if they want to continue in playing FPSs.

The only other one I can think of that I would know what to do on is an RTS.

First be against them but don't attack them - tell them what to do.

Then attack them lightly but put on some pressure for them to preepmtively attack you beore your next wave arrives. If they do then reward them with giving them an easy time in your base.

Then you and them against AI - similar function to the second training match in FPS - teamwork and fighting for real.

Finally, let them loose on ESO or whatever.

I hope I've been of some help if they want to do FPSs or RTSs, but those are all I can advise on.

 

[OutforEC]

If you're going console, Mario Kart. I've never met anyone that didn't like that game. /cueEscapistMemberX"IHATETHATGAME!

If you're PC I'd go with Plants Vs. Zombies or possibly a free-to-play MMO that you can play together.

 

[ReaperGrimm]

I started off with Mario Kart 64, and Smash Bros so give them a shot.