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Hi, all!

I am starting an after-school (and some Saturdays!) program for middle-school girls at our campus. Just getting the lab set up and we would like suggestions for INITIAL games that the girls might want to play for the first few sessions.

We'll also ask them what games they want to play - but I need some titles to get started with on the first day.

Any suggestions? Want something fun and easy to get into - maybe something that their friends might be playing or that they have heard about.

I'd say aggressibe inline is good for a quick session, the controls are easy to learn, and there are lots of secrets/easter eggs. Plus, it's funny, and the soundtrack is great.

For a more extended experience, I'd suggest anything by Square Enix. I didn't manage to get any good games for the Xbox yet, but I've heard that Halo and Halo 2 are really cool. I could never afford them, though sad

well, depends on the audeince you are appealing to. Like my sister isn't a hard core gamer and likes simple games, she got her friend addicted to "Sly Cooper" and now the two play together.

but if you are aiming for a more gamer-savvy public I would suggest anything square enix, or maby a Soul Caliber? those are alwase fun. me and my friends play those at gamer club at our school. (( Super smash bros is another popular one, I have yet to be defeated as Kirby! WOHOO! thats girl power right there!))

Then there are those in the middle ground, like my friend. He can't play games to save his life but he loves a challenge, so He loves to come over and have me help him with challenges on bosses for Jack and Daxter games ( Jack 2 and 3 included)

Depending on which consoles you have available, "Super Smash Brothers" is a good, fun game that's pretty easy to get into and probably a lot of kids that age have at least heard of it.

I'll also agree with the anything Square Enix (I still can't get used to not calling them Squaresoft! gonk ) except a sizeable portion of their games are RPGs and take upwards of 40 hours to beat, so if you are looking for just fun leave off and pick up games those might not be the best.

Any of the Mario games, naturally. I used to love "Mario Kart" when that first came out, so that's another good one. If you have access to a Playstation "Naruto: Ultimate Ninja" is another good one. I don't even know if they still make it but the "Crash Bandicoot" games were always fun. I bet you could find some used copies pretty cheap.

Actually, either is good.

For the main sessions, we'd be better off with PC games - and we have some pretty darn good computers to run them on. But we also have a PS2, XBox 360, PS3, Gamecube, DS .....

Metroid Prime is a great girl game for the fact that Samus is a really strong main character without having to wear next to nothing. Plus the graphics are awesome, the fps gameplay is really intense and fun and the world is amazing.

Other then that any of the Mario Partys, Tenis, Soccer, Carts, Smash brothers, of course the Final Fantasies. DDRs, Bust a Groove, Guitar Heros. All of them are pretty fun. ^^

Even the 200 dollar hard mats can wear out easily, and arent as sturdy as the actual arcade consoles. Find a nearby arcade, get buddy buddy with the attendants. Free tokens in your pocket et voila.