I get asked a lot, “What advice do you have for other girls who want to get into gaming?” Honestly, if you want to get into gaming, then It’s simple — go to the store, buy a system and a game…and congrats! You are now a gamer! It’s not like I am giving advice for a 500-mile run here.

Being a gamer shouldn’t be a choice; it should be a passion. Girls — and guys — shouldn’t get advice on how to get into gaming. It should just come naturally. So yeah, if you’re reading this because you don’t know how to get into gaming, then maybe you’re interested in gaming for the wrong reasons. Gaming isn’t about getting attention, feeling like you belong to a certain group of people, or being the best. It’s about fun and enjoying yourself!
On that note, I will offer a few suggestions if you are just starting out and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the different genres and options in gaming nowadays. There are so many different types of games out there that even I get overwhelmed at times, so hopefully these can help.

Bully – PS2
Not only is Bully a hit with longtime gamers, but its style of game play and ease of controls makes it great for starters. It’s an open-ended adventure where you play a new kid in a reform school. Your mission is to bully yourself to the top of the several different cliques (Jock, Nerd, Prep, and Greasers) so that you can stop the rivalry between them all. You have other school responsibilities like going to class, serving detention time and making sure you are in your dorm by curfew. Later you open up the nearby town of Bullworth (where you can get side jobs) and the local carnival (where you can play minigames or hop on some rides). Bully’s open environment allows beginners to familiarize themselves with the mechanics and also allows players to do side quests or main story missions at their own pace. I recommend Bully to any type of gamer: It has a great story, easy controls, and a fun environment — and it amused me till the end.

Burnout Revenge – PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360
Burnout Revenge can turn any non-gamer into a racing fiend overnight. It’s also a title that helps to remind longtime gaming fans why we love our hobby so much. No matter what your interests are, you will most likely love Burnout. It’s an adrenaline-packed racing game where the goal is not only to win the race but to takedown the other racers with various different moves. The controls are easy and the game play is addictive. If you get tired of racing, then you can take on “Crash Mode” and try to wreck as many cars in possible in a certain amount of time; the more damage you do the more points you earn. Now doesn’t that sound fun?!

Animal Crossing – GC, DS
I don’t know a single person — guy or girl — who doesn’t love Animal Crossing. The game is simple yet so complex — you live in a town with animals who love to talk and send letters and love you to send them letters in return. You can do anything in your town: shop, design shirts, fish, harvest fruits, chop down trees, start a flower garden, make friends, run errands… you never seem to run out of things to do. Animal Crossing is the perfect game for beginners: They set the pace of the game, and they mold the game to their tastes. The controls can be a little complex, but the game’s small-town setting is perfect place to learn.

Lego Star Wars – GC, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars is a lot of fun even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan. The controls are easy and the story is captivating. The game also can be played co-op, and what better way to be introduced to gaming than playing through a game with a friend or boy/girlfriend? Lego Star Wars is a great platform game as well; with well-designed levels that you never get lost in (you always know just what to do next). I recommend Lego Star Wars to any gamer of any age. This game, like the movies it is based on, is timeless.

Mario Party – GC , Wii
The Mario Party games are great; they are like the non-gamers game. Anyone can enjoy some Mario Party, whether you play single player or with a group. It’s always fun. Imagine a board game flipped into a video game with quick and fun mini games, silly little “happening” spaces, and items you can buy to help yourself or mess up other players. The Mario Party series is the most popular series in multi-player gaming because it’s so easy to pick up and play for just about anyone, whether it’s your little sister or the most hardcore of gamer.

I hope these help you in finding what type of game best suits your tastes. I tried to mix up the genres a bit, so if you liked one of these games, then you kind of know where to go next as far as your future game purchasing goes. Remember; keep gaming because you like it. Don’t let anyone (including me!) tell you what to play or what not to play. Play because it makes you happy.

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