Suggestions for a non gamer? First Person Game?

Just got a new laptop, it is NOT a gaming machine, but it does have a dedicated graphics card.

System has:

2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB, 2MB Cache
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Vista Home Premium

I don't play too many games, but my nine year old does.

Any games that you "experts" could recommend, which would play decently on my new system?

Don't care if the game is a few years old... just so it runs reasonably well.

Thanks!

 

Doom 3 and Far Cry come to mind for older FPS genre games that should run effortlessly on the system specified. If your 9 year old likes simulation games then the Tycoon series is worth a look, as is the Civilisation series.

 

Call of Duty 4 should run alright. Great game overall. Unbelievably good single player (maybe the best single player fps of all time to date), and excellent multiplayer online.

 

Great, thanks for the replies!

I'll have to check 'em out.

any other suggestions, keep 'em coming! Again, I'm a total newbie when it comes to PC games!

thanks

 

Not to judge you on your parenting... but letting a 9 yr old play shooters?
if the game must have shooting, i would try getting him a basic RTS game.... or like the sim games, or rollercoaster tycoon.

 

Reps to AAN310. A 9 year old should not be playing graphically violent games like that. There's a reason they are rated for people approx twice as old..

 

Yeah, I just checked out a YouTube of Call of duty 4, and it is NOT for a 9 year old, in my opinion.

Doesn't have to be first person shooting, he plays sim games (Sim Coaster or something like that)

perhaps suggestions other then shooting games might be in order.

 

Yea... Doom 3, COD4, Farcry... all of those are rated "M". I was brought up that i can't play games until i am allowed to buy them (like i had to be 13 for T, ect.)
and while i dont like it, and diddnt like it. It really was a good thing my mom did....
So.... Games i would suggest for him/her
Rollercoaster tycoon (actually, any of the tycoon games)
The SIM games (like sim city, NOT NOT NOT the sims... i would not let him/her play that, due to stuff you can make them do)
Lemmings is really fun (it is old, but good)
E rated raceing games (avoid need for speed IMO for him/her. Well, if it is "E" then it is ok i guess. Just not the "Need for speed Underground" like games.

 

Half-Life 2: Orange Box should be both appropriate, fun, and run well on your notebook. He might like Unreal Tournament 3, too. That game is amazing and it isn't too graphically violent. Also download the World of Warcraft trial, I'm sure he'll really like that .

 

I'd suggest play Civilization IV with him. He probably won't be able to handle it on his own, but with you, he could probably have some fun. And maybe even learn something.

 

Err... Everything in the orange box is "M"
WAIT!!! BUY HIM PORTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST GAME EVER THAT IS OK FOR HIM TO PLAY (yes, it is T, but i would let it slide for this one)
And... WOW is kinda expensive for a 9 yr old to play

 

maybe TF2?

 

Yea... the CIV games would be pretty good. I guess i will repeal the thing i said about 13 to play "T" cause i guess games are a little not as bad as i remember "T" games being (i thought portal and CIV were "E" before i checked. But still check out the games to make sure they are appropriate.)

 

For the TBS genre I'd recommend the Heroes of Might and Magic series and the Age of Wonders trilogy. The PC specs stated by the OP will run all of the games without any problems.

Civ 4 complete is rated 12+ on my box cover, but I doubt seeing a bunch of animated figures going at each other is likely to put a 9 year old to spasms.

 

He'd probably have to explain things to ME with Civilization IV!

If that's not a violent game, that would probably be great for him.

 

F.E.A.R lol

 

My sister who just turned 9 plays Counter Strike and Team Fortress 2.
Personally, I think children has the ability to distinguish between real and fake violence, besides both game features content lock, no gore (blood) if not necessary....

Edit: oh and she doesn't really kill people /playing the games, she just likes to walk around the map, and play with taunts. xD

 

If 2 units "attack" each other there's various animations of the 2 opposing camps going at each other. There's no blood and the loser either collapses or explodes (if it's mechanical). The Civlopedia included in the game is a very concise summary on the historical background on all of the units and buildings in the game which might be handy if the 9 year old appreciates world history.

The series has a fairly high learning curve though, so adult supervision from the start might be helpful when starting from scratch.

 

LOL i was raised with violence, early counterstrike, doom, anything that blows up was way fun. but then again ima guy. guys like violence, by no means will i snap and start shooting my classmates in college. =/

 

Try Psychonauts. Great cartoon shooter, action/adventure game, and is available on Steam.

http://www.psychonauts.com/

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/psychonauts/index.html


Sid Meier's Pirates! is a great fun game too:

http://www.2kgames.com/pirates/pirates/home.php

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sidpirates/index.html?tag=result;title;0


And then there's always the classic Tomb Raider - Anniversary edition is best IMHO:

http://www.tombraider.com/anniversary/

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/tombraider10thanniversaryedition/index.html

Assuming your 9 year old is a boy, maybe it'll start to peak his interest in girls lol , or he may be too distracted to play the game

All these are available on Steam BTW. Tomb Raider and Psychonauts are rated "T" for Teen, but they're not really all that violent. My 9 year old nephew will play these just fine. As long as your kid has played mouse/keyboard games before he should do fine.


Plus check out the Lego Star Wars series, with Indiana Jones series due out soon too:

http://starwars.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx

http://indianajones.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx

 

OMG I FORGOT LEGO STARWARS!!!!! and lego indiana jones

 

If it's a 9 year old I'd say a Sims game

 

an of the 'sim city' series were great! and it teaches you a bit too!







....Leisure Suite Larry.... jk jk