The Learning Curve

I think I am starting to see why the Wii is selling better than other systems. If a person is interested in becoming a gamer, they might not know how much there really is to learn. New players can easily be drawn to titles like Fight Night, Madden, Halo, Call of Duty, God of War, or Infamous because of their amazing graphics and their general appeal. My question is, if you are truly a beginner, how long does it take to actually be a good enough player to enjoy playing?

Of course this question assumes that you have to be a good player to actually have fun. While some people really do enjoy learning, depending on the game/genre, I find that it can be really frustrating. I have often found myself pushing buttons and having no clue what I am doing and how I am doing it! Maybe I should say what I mean when I say good. A good player would generally be someone who has general knowledge of game basics and strategy to hold their own versus the CPU or human players on a non beginner level.

Simple, right? I don't really think so. A new player that decides to rent or buy used games can easily find themselves without even a game manual. This leaves the player without even basic information like controls, modes, or even concepts. Plenty of information exists on the web, but a lot of this information is not geared to someone who is truly a novice. Most are geared to making a good player an excellent player.

Even if the new player has the benefit of the game manual they may quickly find that a lot of games aren't so simple to play. The list of controls for something that is seemingly simple can be enormous. Some games require that the player not only remember what each of the buttons on the controller represents, but also what pressing several at once will do. Worse yet? Sometimes players are expected to hit several combination of buttons in a sequence. How is a new player expected to do this in a quick paced game such as most fighter games?

It is not that I do not appreciate what hardcore games have to offer, but I think the market is giving a not so subtle clue that more isn't always better. At least Sony and Microsoft are starting to realize that the controller is a major aspect of the learning curve for new players. Nintendo was lucky enough to figure this out before the others and I praise them for making games that are playable for anyone and everyone. With that said, I really like and generally prefer games on PS3 and Xbox 360. I just really wish for games, in all genres, that hardcore gamers will enjoy but is also easily picked up by beginners. There is nothing more upsetting than getting really excited about a game only to give up in frustration within the first hour.