Playing video games can represent a significant investment of time, especially depending on what you play. Some games are easier to pick up, play a little and step away from, particularly anything that’s focused on an intense, fast-paced multiplayer experience. But if you’re like me and love games like Fallout 3, Mass Effect or Dragon Age Origins where exploration and deviation from the main plotline is encouraged it can be difficult to get full satisfaction from a scant few minutes of gaming. In youth it’s easy to devote scads of time to exploring every digital world you come across, but in adulthood it becomes harder to fit into your schedule. Jobs, children and social lives demand attention! Having a girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse who ‘just doesn’t get it’ can be a hassle, since they might rather spend leisure time watching television, building birdhouses or something. I stand as living proof that not only can gamers everywhere continue to play long after settling down into a loving, happy relationship, but that it is indeed possible to make gaming a shared pass-time between you and your girlfriend. I’ll tell you the top 5 ways to get her into gaming (without using a Nintendo Wii).
5. Start Simple: There’s a reason why the Wii is so popular and it has less to do with a love for overweight plumbers than ease of operation. Modern controls are encrusted with buttons, knobs and joysticks that we manipulated with practiced ease. It’s important to remember that things aren’t simple for those just starting out. Some control schemes are very complex and difficult to master. I myself took the better part of a year to truly master the double analog stick FPS control scheme. Above all, it’s important to pick something that’s easy. Fighting games like Street Fighter or Soul Calibur can be good jumping off points, because you can control the level of difficulty by choosing versus matches and simple button mashing can be extremely fun. Anything that’s got a 1-on-1-competition mode is a good choice for the same reason. Playing something that you can’t really lose is an especially good idea.
4. Tutorials Aren’t Enough, Games are Hard: No matter how basic you think a game is you’ll arrive at a point where your initiate is confused or boggled by the on-screen directions. It’s exceedingly important to be patient and willing to explain anything and everything about the game. If circumstances permit, allow your initiate to play around a bit and experiment with what they can do. Be encouraging when they get it right and supportive if they mess up/fall off a cliff/get devoured by a dragon. It’s also very important to be devoting all your attention to helping them figure it out. Stop what you’re doing in the game to assist them, no matter what’s happening to you. Remember, you can always start over. Giving a refresher on controls each play session may be necessary and should be encouraged.
This feature list continues on the next page, please click below to find out our final three ways to get your girlfriend into gaming.
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