An suggestions for a new console player in training?
Friday, December 21st, 2007 - 10:29am
TIP: the actual point starts at the second main paragraph if you'd rather skip the nonsense, and my actual question is in the third.
Since, if I have posted I certainly can't remember doing so, hello everyone! I've been listening to the podcast since about 5 shows before Russ left but rarely visited the site. I think that's probably because the majority of gaming talk on the podcast is console based (understandably - it's a primarily console market now) and having been a PC gamer pretty much exclusively for my entire gaming life I didn't associate the site with anything that would be of relevance to me. "Why listen to the show then?" you may ask, to which I would reply, "This isn't why I was originally posting and, while my own inability to remain concise has lead us down this path, you are merely hindering progress with your question." Then we would glare at one another. Maybe there would be a fight. I'd like to think I wouldn't start it.
Aaaanyway, I played a few bits and pieces of NES/SNES stuff at friends' houses when I was younger and owned an original Xbox briefly but didn't have much time to play it. Otherwise I've pretty much been PC (or Spectrum, then Amiga, then PC) exclusive in my gaming. But in the next hour or two I'll be taking delivery of a shiny (well, black) new 360 Elite. It was fairly cheap, with no bundled games.
So, the question. I suck with gamepads/joypads/controllers/whatever-you-want-call-them and always have, obviously due to a lack of exposure. I don't want to dive into the recent slew of triple-A releases only to waste the experience with a poor level of controller skill. Can anyone think of any titles, perhaps downloadable from XBLA, that might be ideal to break in a complete controller-noob? Or is it best just to dive in and learn to swim once I'm there? I'm not too fussy about genre, gameplay style, graphical fidelity or anything that I might normally influence a proper game buying decision. Just things that might train my fingers and thumbs.
I'm not even sure if it's a reasonable question, but since gaming is clearly shifting primarily towards the console these days I would like to make sure I can get the most out of the experience. Also, I guess it may also be difficult for long-term console gamers to relate to the situation and answer objectively, but I look forward any suggestions!
Tip #1 Keep your sanity, don't use your headset on Live.
Tip #2 Go sign up for Gamefly
Tip #3 Go grab The Orange Box. It's a great deal of content for a great price. Portal is PHENOMENAL for both creative gameplay and atmosphere. It'll also be a good exercise in getting your bearings. It also comes with the entire Half-Life2 package which is equally PHENOMENAL and TeamFortress2 which is pretty decent on the 360 for a multiplayer game. That one purchase should keep you satiated for a while until you jump into Gears of War, Bioshock.
Might also help if we knew what kind of games you liked in the past.
Gamertag: RiverRatMatt
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Personally as a total console noob I started with Gears, it was part of the bundle I bought.
It was a pretty good start I think, using the cover system makes some of the adjusting to aiming with a controller a bit easier, at least you aren't standing in the open shooting at your feet while caught in a deadly crossfire.
Sivok wrote:
The puzzle game, Hexic, which you should already have, is a decent start.
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Yeah, but start playing on the easy mode... I second The Orange Box. You can't go wrong there.
Maybe a car racing game would be another good place to start? Project Gotham Racing 3 is a great game to be had on the cheap. PGR4 has some good reviews, too. For more of a simulation experience, you might try Forza 2.
For sports games, I might suggest Table Tennis or Fight Night Round 3. Both are great games.
On the arcade side, I love Bomberman, Worms, Geometry Wars...well, the list goes on.
At any rate, I think my advice would be just to dive in and learn by having fun!
XBox Live/X-fire: firesloth
You can download playable demos for allot of released games and all the xbox live arcade stuff. Just queue a bunch of them up and try before you buy! I use the setting where it will continue downloading games after you shut the system off.
Some demo recommendations:
Bioshock, Burnout, Project Gotham Racing, & any sports game that interests you.
XBLA:
Bomberman, Worms, Geometry Wars, Puzzle Quest, Carcassonne and Switchball.
Xbox Gamertag: Armchair Jockey Steam: Armchair_Allstar
Start with demos, move in to single-player games (Orange Box is a good option, especially as there is very little time pressure in Portal), and then get in some of the more casual GWJ game nights.
Don't bother with public multiplayer unless you're sure that's your bag.
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I agree with the Orange Box comments. Portal would be an excellent way to train your thumbs to use the dual-analog sticks. It starts out very slow so you can take your time aiming and moving. By the end the difficulty has been ramped up and you'll be turning, aiming, and shooting all while in the air. Plus it's an wonderful game experience.
The demo suggestion is also great since your shiny new black 360 has a huge hard drive. You could probably download every demo and still have space for more. Plus, they're all free so you won't waste money on a game that's not for you.
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No, no, no. Gears and Beers doesn't come until a little later. He can join up after he's beaten Portal. That'll put him on my level... at least until I start drinking.
Elysium: The democratization of the web ... has installed an illusion of a digital first amendment that protects speech no matter how poorly spelled or stupid.
XBL: E Munnie
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I'd say Gears would be the best entry into console shooters. It was built with new players in mind, in that it does not force you to use both analog sticks at the same time. You can take your time getting used to each axis individually and later merge the two at your own pace.
Although The Orange Box has a great control scheme, and is a great set of games, it does ask for dual analog competency and precision of the player.
Outside of shooters, I don't think a gateway game is necessary. So long as your playing games you like there shouldn't be much of an interface issue.
Danjo Olivaw Lives
I was in a similar position to you, tdous, (including the Spectrum bit), and the only tricky thing I've found to be 1st/3rd person shooters where one stick controls movement, and the other controls rotation. The games that have helped me so far are Gears of War(for all the reasons already mentioned), COD4 (because of the left trigger auto-aiming for you if you're close) and Bioshock on the easier skill level (which is pretty forgiving).
Remember that you can reverse the Y axis of the viewpoint stick if that is what you're used to with PC mouse and keyboard controls.
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