Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to try my (old!) hand at gaming?

67 replies

dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 16:03

I've always felt that gaming would not interest me very much, as all the most popular games seem to involving killing people and to have ultra macho protaganists and women with few clothes on, sometimes being sexually abused or worse.

But quite a few women on Mumsnet seem to be keen gamers, and often games are mentioned which I know nothing about.

Can MumsNetters help me with the following; what games don't involve too much killing and don't demean women? what's the best system to buy? will it take over the rest of my life?!!

I'm 70, love messing about with technology, have spare time but not too much spare cash at the moment for endlessly buying new games etc. Also don't think 'fantasy' would do it for me either.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 18:25

Thank you for all your replies, you have all been very helpful. Sorry that I appeared to have left the thread but I got Skyped unexxpectedly by a friend in the uk. Have only skim read all your suggestions at the moment but am going to think carefully about the way to go. I am really pleased that there are so many different games out there that I had no idea about. I have a laptop so may go with that rather than buying expensive (for me) whatever Box, controllers etc to start off with.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 18:27

buckingfrolicks Nancy Drew sounds like my cup of tea, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 18:29

preciousxbane checking games out on YouTube seems like a really good idea, I wouldn't have thought of that.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 18:33

badlad the lawyer type game sounds awesome! I'm a terrific fan of detective/crime fiction, and spent quite a few years in a courtroom (not as a defendant!)

OP posts:
britnay · 20/12/2015 19:03

Another vote for Steam if you have a pc. It has a huge variety of games, definitely something for everyone. I've probably got over 150 games on mine, loads of different types, so I just play whatever suits my mood. (It also has a wishlist feature, which is handy for birthdays/anniversaries etc :p )

Perniciousness · 20/12/2015 19:10

I'd go very retro if I were you something like superMario or Bomberman

Original poster
dejarderoncar · 20/12/2015 19:14

Anyone rmember Jill of the Jungle? it was a simple platform game, but I liked that the character was a woman.

OP posts:
britnay · 20/12/2015 19:22

jill of the jungle was great :)

TheBunnyOfDoom · 20/12/2015 19:40

You can get games like Peggle and Bejewelled etc. for the PC and they're really cheap :)

londonrach · 20/12/2015 20:00

Wii with the wii sports, wii fit is the best. Alot of my patients are using them and its suitable for all ages! Several nursing homes as well have that and its very competitive. PersonAlly i like the tennis one!

MetalMidget · 20/12/2015 20:23

Another vote for the Phoenix Wright games on the Nintendo DS - supremely silly, but very good fun. The Professor Layton games (also on the DS) are also worth a look, lots of different puzzles bound together with an overarching story. Animal Crossing is adorable (not quite sure how to describe it, kind of like a lifestyle sim?)

The Wii U has some good fun games that aren't too violent, such as Mario Kart.

The PS4 and XBox One have a lot of great games (I'm currently enjoying Destiny, Guilty Gear and Transformers Devastation), but if you're not keen on violence it'll cut down the choices considerably.

PC games will give you a huge choice - as development costs are lower, developers don't have to be quite as 'safe' in their genres and subject matters as they do on consoles. As others have said, installing Steam would be a good start.

BadLad · 20/12/2015 20:27

You can also get the Phoenix Wright (lawyer) games on a Wii.

Naoko · 20/12/2015 20:29

There is a very lovely game called Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna). It's not very long, about 3 hours, but I recommend it to everyone because it's gentle, uplifting, and tells a wonderful story. It was made in collaboration with the Inupiat people of Alaska to draw from some of their traditional stories. You play a little girl and her fox spirit companion. Truly wonderful. Currently 12 quid on Steam, which is fairly high for something of that length, but come the Christmas sale you'll probably pick it up for not far over a fiver.

knitknack · 20/12/2015 20:30

What type of books do you like?

I think you'll have a lovely time discovering that it's not all bang bang you're dead or whoops where did my clothes go for female players ;)

I'm 43 and recently handed the xboxone over to the kids, buying myself a ps4 :D. I play elder scrolls online predominantly (as a female wood elf), but also LOVED 'the last of us' and a great British game called 'everybody's gone to the rapture' which cost a whopping £12.99 and was utterly beautiful.

I also have games going on fall out 4 and the witches 3, and am eagerly awaiting a couple....

I love gaming, always have and always will. Just treat yourself - it's easy to sell on any games or consoles you decide aren't for you (I did that with the evil within which was just TOO hard - I need to have a stealth option, can't just do do bang bang bang! Haha)

Let us know how you get on :)

On, the ps4 is also my Netflix and Amazon prime machine, plus did and blu-Ray.... It's a bargain!!

knitknack · 20/12/2015 20:31

The witcher 3, not 'witches 3' sorry

knitknack · 20/12/2015 20:34

Ah, in my hurry missed that you wouldn't like fantasy... Haha sorry - don't buy elder scrolls. I second then the professor leyton mystery games, they're fun. And if you have an iPad download 'the room' 1, 2 and now 3 for atmospheric puzzles...

Palomb · 20/12/2015 20:38

I lost hours of my life playing Skyrim and I'm not massively in to the 'killing people' part of gaming either. Ime, although sky rim games having some violence and killing in you can tone it right down and can use spells and potions to kill from afar. It's also not massively graphic. The storylines are brill limit too which is always a bonus.

BadLad · 20/12/2015 20:41

Skyrim is a brilliant game, as is its prequel, but for someone who doesn't want to kill people in a game, and doesn't want to play fantasy games, it's not the best choice. Also, as I mentioned earlier, if you are unfamiliar with inventory management, you are likely to get frustrated as you try to equip your enchanted dragon-bone helmet.

Palomb · 20/12/2015 20:46

Some how I too missed the not fantasy bit Confused

Minecraft is probably a good suggestion.

BadLad · 20/12/2015 20:47

Hopefully we'll get a proper sequel to Skyrim soon (not Elder Scrolls online).

I will snap it up on release day.

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 20/12/2015 20:51

I'm a pretty serious gamer, playstation through and through. I would second the comments that your choices will be limited on consoles if you want to avoid violence. One of the best story driven games is The Last of Us, it is violent in places but it is beautiful and a truly brilliant story. The wii U might suit you better as it's more family oriented and so has a lot of non violent games. Why not go into Game and have a chat, they will let you try the consoles and some games to see what suits. Don't be intimidated, or put off.....gaming is a great hobby.

Palomb · 20/12/2015 20:54

God I loved The Last of Us, I was gutted when it finished. I'm also looking forward to a proper game ESO game although I'm really enjoying Fallout4 at the moment, albeit played on easy so I don't have to spend too much time on the killing part.

knobblyknee · 20/12/2015 20:56

We have a PS4 and I prefer it to the Wi or Xbox. I only play Tetris which infuriates my adult, gamer son Grin

But there are also the smaller handhelds and if you are not sure about getting into gaming why not try those first?

britnay · 20/12/2015 21:00

I think that The Last of Use was the closest a game has ever come to being perfect for me. Has anyone watched any of the making of videos? Brilliant. I love just listening to the soundtrack..
It is such an emotionally powerful game that makes you care so much for the characters as their own friendship develops. Astounding.

Palomb · 20/12/2015 21:08

Yeah it was perfect, beautiful, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable.. Just very short! I might have to play it again.

Swipe left for the next trending thread