Crayon
Member
I feel like I dont call people often enough. Maybe someone can relate.
Like many of you, I am the video game czar among my friends. While we all played games together growing up, Im the one who had the passion that carried on into adulthood. This thread is about using games to reach out to those old friends who we dont call often enough. I want to reach out to people, and gift them games to play with me so we can have an excuse to chat over Mumble or Teamspeak.
Everyone give your suggestions for games that can bridge the hardcore-casual gap and be easily played with anyone who has a little free time.
Here are some criteria to consider, all pertaining to maximizing accessibility to fallen gamers:
- Multiplayer. Duh.
- Low cost or commonly on sale for cheap. Considering Im either going to be shoulder tapping ex-gamers to buy these games or outright gifting them, something like Dying Light (~$40 on sale) is unnecessarily expensive just to have a few kicks with some old friends. Cheap games are great for this. Bonus points for free games or games that sell as 4-packs.
- Steam availability. Steam really does make gaming easier. The handy friends list, patching, shopping, modding, I could go on. Its just easier.
- Easy to play. Simple games where a player can just click install and be off having fun is important. Its hard to have a chat when you are trying to talk someone thru complex setups or strategies. And its much easier to call someone up for a game that can be enjoyed for 30-120 minutes than a hefty investment like say... Civilization.
- Mac compatibility. Lots of people, especially non- gamers, have macs. Linux would be great, too but Linux users are uncommon and tend to be able to make it work.
- Low system requirements. Many many people have laptops with integrated graphics, which we know can play plenty of really fun games but may struggle with heavier games. Newer cpus can actually to 3d pretty well, but many people are rockin 3 or 4 year old laptops so lets keep it light on the silicon.
- Plays good with keyboard and mouse. Lots of people dont have a controller kicking around the house. And even if they do, the cant be bothered fiddling with it to get it set up. If a game doesnt play well with keyboard and mouse, then skip it. Bonus points for games that can be played effectively with a laptops trackpad or keyboard only!
- Optionally, games that are throwbacks to or clones of games we used to play when we were younger. Makes them more approachable and grants bonus nostalgia.
To start, Heres a few suggestions of games that I could play with a person who maybe hasnt played a game in years and have a good time:
Murder Miners
This is a re-creation of Halo in a Minecraft like engine. Undeniably fun and fuss-free fragging. It even has 4 way split screen if in case anyone visits.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/274900/
Hammerwatch
Have some Gauntlet, you crusty, over the hill so-and-sos! Tough but not too tough. Cute but not too cute. Two-button gameplay.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239070/?snr=1_7_7_230_150_3
Typefighters
Bttle i tout wiht yuor typing skills,
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/434290/?snr=1_7_7_230_150_4
Team Fortress 2
You need to have at least an okay computer to run this, but its free and built for fun.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/440/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1
.
.
.
I actually am just going to start this close-to-home social experiement as I have an old friend who is going thru hell and needs support from those of us who are not geographically in able to be present physically. On top of that its the kind of situation where theres just no words. We just have to be together. So I set up a Mumble server and Im making an effort to get the old gang together on Steam, the way we used to on the couch back when life was simpler.
Cmon, Gaf. Show me those games that can bridge the gap between our hardcore gaming selves and casual gaming friends!
I'd also like to hear any gaffers stories about trying to reach out to people in this way.
Love you, GAF. Always remember what's really important.
Like many of you, I am the video game czar among my friends. While we all played games together growing up, Im the one who had the passion that carried on into adulthood. This thread is about using games to reach out to those old friends who we dont call often enough. I want to reach out to people, and gift them games to play with me so we can have an excuse to chat over Mumble or Teamspeak.
Everyone give your suggestions for games that can bridge the hardcore-casual gap and be easily played with anyone who has a little free time.
Here are some criteria to consider, all pertaining to maximizing accessibility to fallen gamers:
- Multiplayer. Duh.
- Low cost or commonly on sale for cheap. Considering Im either going to be shoulder tapping ex-gamers to buy these games or outright gifting them, something like Dying Light (~$40 on sale) is unnecessarily expensive just to have a few kicks with some old friends. Cheap games are great for this. Bonus points for free games or games that sell as 4-packs.
- Steam availability. Steam really does make gaming easier. The handy friends list, patching, shopping, modding, I could go on. Its just easier.
- Easy to play. Simple games where a player can just click install and be off having fun is important. Its hard to have a chat when you are trying to talk someone thru complex setups or strategies. And its much easier to call someone up for a game that can be enjoyed for 30-120 minutes than a hefty investment like say... Civilization.
- Mac compatibility. Lots of people, especially non- gamers, have macs. Linux would be great, too but Linux users are uncommon and tend to be able to make it work.
- Low system requirements. Many many people have laptops with integrated graphics, which we know can play plenty of really fun games but may struggle with heavier games. Newer cpus can actually to 3d pretty well, but many people are rockin 3 or 4 year old laptops so lets keep it light on the silicon.
- Plays good with keyboard and mouse. Lots of people dont have a controller kicking around the house. And even if they do, the cant be bothered fiddling with it to get it set up. If a game doesnt play well with keyboard and mouse, then skip it. Bonus points for games that can be played effectively with a laptops trackpad or keyboard only!
- Optionally, games that are throwbacks to or clones of games we used to play when we were younger. Makes them more approachable and grants bonus nostalgia.
To start, Heres a few suggestions of games that I could play with a person who maybe hasnt played a game in years and have a good time:
Murder Miners
This is a re-creation of Halo in a Minecraft like engine. Undeniably fun and fuss-free fragging. It even has 4 way split screen if in case anyone visits.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/274900/
Hammerwatch
Have some Gauntlet, you crusty, over the hill so-and-sos! Tough but not too tough. Cute but not too cute. Two-button gameplay.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/239070/?snr=1_7_7_230_150_3
Typefighters
Bttle i tout wiht yuor typing skills,
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/434290/?snr=1_7_7_230_150_4
Team Fortress 2
You need to have at least an okay computer to run this, but its free and built for fun.
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/440/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1
.
.
.
I actually am just going to start this close-to-home social experiement as I have an old friend who is going thru hell and needs support from those of us who are not geographically in able to be present physically. On top of that its the kind of situation where theres just no words. We just have to be together. So I set up a Mumble server and Im making an effort to get the old gang together on Steam, the way we used to on the couch back when life was simpler.
Cmon, Gaf. Show me those games that can bridge the gap between our hardcore gaming selves and casual gaming friends!
I'd also like to hear any gaffers stories about trying to reach out to people in this way.
Love you, GAF. Always remember what's really important.
