How to get your girl into gaming
Posted: September 27, 2008
Video gaming is a hobby exponentially rising in popularity. However, the odds are that your girlfriend does not share your interest in games. Why is that? This article will assist you in answering and resolving that question, as it does not have to be that way. Rather, playing video games is a new activity that you can enjoy together as a couple. Playing video games together can bolster the four basic foundations of a relationship: friendship, loyalty, love, and trust. Read on, and get ready to game.
"Girls Against Gaming" Issues
There are plenty of excuses and reservations against video games that your girlfriend may have: they are a waste of time, never played, never had any interest, never had them around, and most likely that they take you away from her. A brief review of these excuses will help you better understand how she is feeling.
- “They take my boyfriend away from me. He spends more time playing games than he does with me.” – Then you are probably a bum and you should pay more attention to her. For those girls who are over-exaggerating however, that is why she should read this article with you. Relationships are about sharing, including interests and hobbies. She should want to learn about the gaming world that you are so interested in.
- “Games are all violent and about killing people and stuff.” – Far from it. Perhaps that is all she has seen you or anyone else play. In that case, maybe you can surprise her with a few titles from this article that you would like to play with her.
- “I always lose. It is no fun.” – Some games can not simply be jumped into, and instead require previous gaming experience. If you want to play video games with her, you need to help her learn with the games mentioned here.
- “Games are a waste of time.” – Sharing interested, spending time together, and learning more about one another are important, and all of these can happen while playing video games.
- “I just do not like video games, okay?” – She is being defensive and probably has not played a game before. If you have pushed her to play in the past, have her read along with you. Show her you want to share an interest of yours with her, and that you will be with her the entire time.
- “Girls do not play video games.” – Yes they do; millions in fact. She will not be alone or an outcast by any means.”
Gamernalities
People game differently than one another; it is all based on personality, likes, and dislikes. The key to getting your girl to enjoy gaming is finding out what her “gamernality” is. Discovering her taste in games may take some time, but will be well worth the effort for both your hobby and relationship. Following the form and function outlined below will help the both of you discover what games she will best take to now and in the future.
“Casual” and “Hardcore” are two terms that get thrown around all of the time in the gaming community. In application, these adjectives can be used in reference to games and gamers, but with tweaked meanings. When used regarding games, these descriptors refer to the basic style and functionality; whereas when applied to gamers, the affect relates instead to the frequency of playing. This means someone can play hardcore titles casually, and another person can indulge in casual games hardcore-like. The terms are independent of one another, and it is important to keep them in mind when bringing someone new into the world of gaming.
The term “casual” generally refers to games that are easily picked-up and played by anyone, have few simple controls, and low to no evident progression. Many games that fall into this category are flash or web-based and are played by bored, procrastinating employees on the clock. Recently, casual games have become available as purchasable downloads on console machines.
Hardcore games are generally more involved than casual titles, have more controls, mechanics, include a learning curve, story, and progression. Progressing in hardcore games is more evident and drastic than in casual titles. This includes changes in story, characters, environments, mechanics, functionality, and controls. Casual games are known for staying relatively the same throughout play.
To ease into the realm of gaming, it is best to start off simple and more gradually into the complex.
Disclaimer
Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) titles are not recommended for girls who are new to gaming. This holds especially true if you are a hardcore MMO player. It can be intimidating, and you may scare her off prematurely. Until you have a better idea of who she is as a gamer there is no way to predict how she will immerse herself in it. The tiered levels were created specifically for your reference and it is not recommended to skip around for women who are new to gaming. As you play games, you will be able to discern her likes and dislikes, and be better able to present her with games that she is likely to enjoy.
Do not be a back-seat gamer unless she specifically asks for assistance from you. If you end up playing the games for her she will not absorb the full experience of gaming. Gameplay can be challenging, and if she is struggling it may be because she is unprepared for that title, or it does not fit her gamernality. What is most important is that she is having fun; if she is not, play another game. It is also best to take breaks, as all gamers (new ones in particular) are prone to burnout. If there is no game playing going on there is no progression, and that gets you no where.
Leveling Process
Level 1
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Simple Co-Op
Cooperation games are the best to being with, especially if this will be her first time gaming. These titles are intended to be simple and address the base for introducing her to gaming: playing together.
- Lego titles: Lego-based video games are relatively new, but present the essentials of the first level of gaming. Currently, there are three Lego games out for nearly every system: Lego Star Wars: The Compete Saga, Lego Indiana Jones, and Lego Batman. Each game is based off of the movie series it represents, and will generate a feeling of nostalgia as the film and gaming worlds merge together. Gameplay includes basic platformer mechanics of movement and collaborative puzzle-solving to advance. The remakes of movie plots are humorous and linear, making the game easy to follow and enjoy.
- The Adventures of Cookie and Cream: This vertical-scrolling collaborative obstacle course Playstation 2 title is adorable and utilizes little more than movement mechanics. The two of you embody rabbits that are attempting to find and save the moon, and to do so you must assist each other in reaching the end of every stage, by opening doors, pulling levels, and jumping on enemies. While the gameplay is easy, it is timer-based and the game can be somewhat discouraging as it harshly rates players at the end of every stage.
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Most Final Fantasy titles fall under the hardcore single-player category, Crystal Chronicles however is a Gamecube title designed specifically for multi-player co-op play. This fantasy-based game includes collaborative combat actions with which players can perform improved attacks and spells. Keeping each other alive is extremely important, and sharing weapons, armor, spells, and items will bring you together as a team. Unfortunately, playing this game does require each player to have a Gameboy Advance to use as a controller.
- Related titles: Mario Kart Double Dash!!, Rockband, Bubble Bobble, Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 and 2, Bionic Commando Rearmed.
Level 2
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Mostly Solo Co-Op
Games that include aspects of cooperative play, but are primarily based upon solo play are great if she enjoyed the simplicity of Level 1, but may not be interested in a hardcore or intense cooperative title. These games allow for her to experience story development and non-combat interactions on her own, but still have you as a back-up in combat situations.
- Eternal Sonata: This XBox 360 roleplaying games has turn-based combat, allowing for her to take her time and analyze the situation before making a move. She can give you control over a specific or multiple characters during battle, depending on how much combat she would like to experience. The story revolves around Chopin, his music, and his life; everything in the game from the characters to the environments reflects music and musical terms.
- Tales of Symphonia: Another roleplaying, fantasy setting game, this time for the Gamecube. Combat is in real time, and she can switch between the characters she has control over while you utilize one left over. Combat can be a little overwhelming at first, but can be mastered quickly. The story is epic and based upon saving the world, and the characters are unique and fun to learn about.
- Related titles: Star Ocean ‘Til the End of Time, Tales of Vesperia.
Intense Co-Op
The advancement into hardcore titles may be overwhelming initially, but these are entirely cooperative games and you will be able to support her throughout. These games will improve upon the trust that was established during Level 1; gameplay will keep her on her toes and introduce new conquerable challenges.
- Obscure: The first-mentioned horror title, a Playstation 2 game based on suspenseful puzzle-solving and life-threatening zombie combat. There are several high school students from which you and she can swap playing between as you attempt to escape from the cursed school. Combat is in real time, and some decisions if made incorrectly can kill off available characters.
- Ikaruga: This title is as intense as it is gorgeous; a top-down shooter originally made for the Dreamcast that was remade for the Gamecube. Game mechanics are rather simple, and their intensity can be altered through the game’s difficulty setting. You and she each control your own space ships and together you must use light and dark to defeat your enemies. This game has been heralds as difficult, but with practice and teamwork it will quickly become a favorite.
- Gears of War: Violent, gory, and entirely made for co-op play, this XBox 360 third-person shooter is not for the faint-at-heart gamers. Gameplay is based on getting big guns and blowing away alien enemies as a team unit. Learning to take cover, tag team enemies, and revive one another is the key to victory. Even if your girl does not have the best aim, this title is great to play together as it is based upon supporting one another.
- Related titles: Obscure 2, Gears of War 2, Diablo 2, Raiden Project, Army of Two,Twisted Metal series.
Light Competition
A little competition is a good way to let go and encourage playful fighting. Simple competition-based games are less dependent on hardened video game skills, and are easier for anyone to pick-up and enjoy. Many of the games can have more than just two players, and it is encouraged to invite over friends to play with to enforce gaming as a social activity.
- Mario Party: This series of games plays like board games as they include dice rolling and moving along game boards. Upon the end of all player turns a mini-game is launched that utilizes simple controls, enabling anyone to win. Winning mini-games grants coins which can be spent on stars in order to win the game. The random events that occur along the board are humorous, and the characters are all from familiar Nintendo series.
- Super Bust-A-Move: As simple as this Tetris-style game is, it is extremely surprising how easily competing players can get into it. Essentially, each player wants to clear their screen of a collection of colored orbs, but if one player clears enough of the orbs at once they will launch those orbs onto the opposing player’s board. The featured characters are Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble and a collection of their friends.
- Guitar Hero: This amazingly popular music title can be intimidating due to the hardware required to play. Donning the guitar for the first time is best done in single player mode, but after a few plays a little competition is encouraged, especially if you have yet to play this game as well. This game will play popular music titles and you two will be “strumming” along to the beat in no time.
- Related titles: Mario Kart, Tetris, WiiPlay, WiiSports, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Wipeout.
Level 3
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Solo
Once she has experienced playing alongside with you, it may be time for her to play on her own. In the beginning you may be there for moral support and suggesting various titles for her to play, but eventually you might find her sneaking out to the local game store picking out games on her own. While many multi-player games also include a single-player experience, the games below are instead dedicated to the solo gamer.
- The Sims: This series is only the most popular and best-selling PC game of all time, played mostly by women. Not to mention, there are a multitude of expansions. In this game you create your own person or family, build a house, and control their lives. They go to work, pay bills, and you get to buy them more stuff, add on to their house, make them get married, have kids, what ever you want to do with them. It is a sandbox for digital life.
- Diner Dash: Originally a web-only title, this casual game is now not only downloadable, but it is available on the Nintendo DS. She will play as Flo, who runs a diner, or assists her friends with their restaurants. The gameplay is as simple as point-and-click to move Flo about the screen tending to customers, food, and dirty dishes.
- Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg: The platformer genre encompasses many games, and this title for the Gamecube stands out in particular for its unique pet-like system and adorable chicken costumes. Save all of the chicken elders by rolling, growing, jumping on, and hatching various types of eggs; some of which hatch pets that follow and assist Billy, and others contain special items. This game provides a great introduction into the rest of the genre.
- Spore: As one of the most recently released titles on this list, this PC game has a lot to offer, even to non-gamers. The initial playthrough of the game acts a tutorial for the rest, bending the learning curve to a minimum. Gameplay focuses on evolution, creating and advancing a species entirely of your own imagination. The character, building, and vehicle creation system is an entirely unique entity on its own, and its easy-to-use controls can get anyone to be creative.
- Related titles: Uncharted, Super Mario series, Okami, Ratchet and Clank series, Final Fantasy series, Space Channel 5, Half-Life, Grand Theft Auto series.
MMO
Massive Multiplayer Online Games can be a hit or miss with every gamer. If you happen to play one of these, and you are interested in getting her into it as well now would be the time to approach that idea. It all depends on how she has taken the gaming experience thus far, and if you do not think she will enjoy it do not drag her into it.
On the other hand, if you do not yet play an MMO but are looking to do so with her, World of Warcraft will be your best option. The game is extremely simple for an MMO title, and lends itself well for couples playing together. Leveling, questing, and running dungeons can all be accomplished cooperatively, and playing off each other’s character’s strengths will enhance your already established team-like bond.
Intense Competition
Building upon the base generated by the simple competition games, this level will push her forward into more hardcore titles. These competition titles require more strategic thinking, have more controls, and expect the player to be a little more experienced with video games. It is important to note that handheld and computer titles will require each of you to have your own system to play on.
- Starcraft: A classic real-time strategy PC title focused entirely on global domination. Commanding one of the three available races, Zerg, Protoss, or Terran, each of you will be granted a place on an alien planet where you will build up a base, train units, and launch attacks from. As it is played in real-time, until your girl gets the hang of it, it might be best to play without additional AI competitors. This game can be played cooperatively, but is it not more fun to Zerg rush one another?
- Super Smash Brothers Melee: The ultimate multi-player fighting game from the Gamecube, the basis of which is obvious: beat the living crap out of each other as various Nintendo characters. Unlike typical fighting games, the controls are relatively the same for every character, allowing her to play around with whichever characters she chooses. If you are feeling adventurous, try out Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii.
- SSX 3: This is first featured sports-like game, this Playstation 2 title is an embellished extreme snowboarding game; complete with super speed, huge jumps, and all-out tricks. This game is considered a little more on the hardcore side due to the number of controls involved. While there is an extensive single player mode, through which extra tracks can be unlocked and characters can be improved, it is much more exciting going head-to-head against one another.
- Related titles: Halo, Unreal Tournament, Team Fortress 2, Tribes, Red Alert 2, Warcraft 3.
Outside of electronic gaming, after going through the tiered levels, you may be able to drive her interests towards table-top gaming; if that is something that interests you. Dungeons and Dragons is an exceedingly popular game with a recently released new edition. It focuses on being highly creative, communicating cleverly, and gaming socially; all of which may appeal greatly to your girlfriend.
In general, you will want to introduce new games at her pace, keep in touch with what she likes and dislikes, and if she seems neglecting to play make sure to keep the lines of communication open. Playing video games is only one of many things you two can do together, but if it is one of your main interests then it is important to share that with her. Enjoy gaming together.
Work together to achieve victory. Compete to improve understanding. Pursue a newly-discovered interest. |
