Getting Gamers into Gaming

January 6, 2009

Matt posted an article the other day about getting his wife into gaming.  I’ve had a similar situation trying to get my girlfriend into gaming.  She’s always on the train playing some blocks game on her mobile so I see this as an opening, a gateway into my world of video games.  I try to introduce her into Castle Crashers, Braid, and to games that are storyline driven to try to capture her attention.  The response I would get from her is “I’m not a gamer!”.

For a while I let it slide, but I drew the line with these shenanigans when she delivered her standard “I don’t play video games!” as she grabbed my Nintendo DS.  Not a gamer, yet I can’t get my DS back?  When I get to turn my DS on, the battery is low!  Finding all the secrets in the New Super Mario Bros. before I do is a bit gamer like.  As is beating me in Mario Kart (once, only once).  I declare shenanigans on this non-gamer status!  You cannot avoid the designation of a gamer when you play games on your mobile or DS.  You are playing video games, than you are a gamer.  You may not be a hardcore gamer, but you are gamer.  Admit it.  Now welcome to our world.  I declare thee Bridge Gamer.

Hit the jump for more »

By Keith Carter | Tagged , , | Comments (7)

Getting my Wife into Gaming

January 5, 2009

My wife has never really been a big gamer. She used to play the NES way back in the day, but things pretty much feel off after that. It picked up again slightly when I got my DS Lite and a copy of New Super Mario Brothers, but that didn’t last too long. Now, she wants to get into playing a bit more since I spend so much time playing and writing about video games.

She’s always loved Tetris and said she would play that a lot if we had a copy for the DS, but I’ve been struggling to find a used copy (if anyone has one and wants to donate to the cause, please let me know). I think she’ll also enjoy a lot of things on the Wii, such as Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart, World of Goo, etc. I’m just not sure what else, outside of Nintendo products, that would appeal to her. The only real option I can think of is LittleBigPlanet. PC gaming is pretty much a non-option since sitting in front of her computer isn’t a way she wants to spend free time.

So, I’m turning to you, our loyal readers. What games do you think are good for getting my wife into the fold? Let me know in the comments.

By Matt Banks | Tagged , , , | Comments (23)