Controller Phobia

One thing that all gamers share in common is that we all have fun playing games. And because we all have fun, we want to share that fun with our family, friends, and especially our girl friends. However, doing this is rarely easy, and many times we gamers are stuck trying to find a game that will act as a ‘gateway’ into games for our non-gaming friends. But I believe that getting a loved one into gaming is more than just finding a Gateway game, it’s trying to get them to pick up the controller.
I believe that entertainment can be separated into two categories: passive, and interactive. Passive entertainment of course is more along the lines of watching TV, not much to interact with. Game, however, fall into the Interactive category, forcing you to actually pick up the controller and press the buttons.
As simple as that may seem, it can be a real barrier when getting a friend or girl friend into games. Some people dislike interactive entertainment, and subconsciously feel like they shouldn’t have to do anything to be entertained. While I agree that sometimes passive entertainment can feel more rewarding than interactive entertainment, I still think that there is no other experience that can be duplicated like when you accomplish something in a game.
So you and I both know that there is no other experience like when you beat a really good game and feel like you have had the most amazing time of your life, but how do we share that with non-gamers? The answer is not a clear-cut one, but here are some hints to help cure some one’s controller phobia.

1) Don’t force people to play games. Nothing good can come from making some one do something they don’t want to do (unless you’re really lucky and they turn out to really like it) Making a non-game-playing loved one play a game like Devil May Cry right off the bat will not get them into gaming 99.9% of the time, in fact, it is more likely that it will turn the off to gaming, and they will associate their uncomfortable or negative feelings with all games in general.

2) Try to show them the positive side of gaming without having them actually play. We’ve all had it happen, were’ playing a game and some one walks in the room and looks over your shoulder to see what you’re doing and they get sucked into backseat gaming. This is an excellent time to show what games really are about; having fun.

3) Give and introduction to games that will feel natural. The number one focus in overcoming controller phobia in making the person’s gaming experience feel as less alien as possible, and making it feel normal to them. Games like UNO for XBOX live is a great game to introduce to a person who doesn’t play games. Why? Because it’s a commonplace, everyday game that everyone plays, the only difference is that when you play them on a console you’re putting a controller in the person’s hands, and that helps overcome and phobia by associating games with fun and positive experiences.

4) Last but not least is bringing in a Gateway game that you both can play together, mixing even more feelings of fun time spent together with gaming. So what type of games might be good for this you ask? That answer is not so clear-cut as well. It all depends on the person and their gaming tastes. One game that’s good for one may not be good for another; however, there are some games that I feel may be in the ballpark for this sorta thing.

Zelda is one, carrying a casual feel along with positive feedback. Most non-gamers are going to say “Zelda? I think I’ve heard of that before. It’s supposed to be really good right?” That positive aura can help immensely when trying to find a good Gateway game. But that’s not the only reason I suggest Zelda. The Phantom Hourglass has one of the simplest game designs and controls I’ve ever seen, making it almost instantly accessible. Since handheld games seem to be aimed more at a casual audience, it may be best to start there, but like I said, what works for one may be completely different for another. Running everything off the stylus and the DS’s touch screen is not only easy, but also fun.

Another is Elite Beat Agents. Everyone loves music, and this game capitalizes on that. With a broad range of music and humorous ‘story lines’, Elite Beat Agents is as easy to play as tapping the screen, literally. The whole game is played by taping the touch screen in coordination with the beat of the song being played, however, this does not mean that the game isn’t hard. The game’s difficulty level is easy enough for armatures (like myself) to play, but hard enough that you feel some motivation to complete the game.

Last but not least is Mario. Who can’t resist a cubby plumber having to attack sewer turtles in order to save the princess? I tell you I can’t. Besides being a cute game with a humorous slant, Mario has always sported easy game controls and mechanics, making it particularly fun to play.

Controller Phobia can be overcome, it’s just a matter of showing people that the controller is not a barrier, but rather a tool in gaining an experience that is unparalleled. Remember; don’t push it off on people. Some people will take to it right away; others will shun it even after having experienced it. All we can do is open the door; it’s there choice whether or not they take the first step.

-Solid Snake-