How to Introduce People?

[Setsuna]

I've got a bunch of friends who know about Pokémon and have friends who play it, but it's always felt awkward talking to them about if they'd enjoy playing it, or hearing from them that it'd be too hard to start playing because they feel you need a lot of knowledge about Pokémon to play it.

My boyfriend told me he was interested in playing Pokémon because he knows I'm really into it, and I've helped him through Platinum, but he's never seemed fully interested in playing it. It's been about a year and a half and he's only got 5 badges. He bought SW/SH with me on launch and I've been helping him complete his Galar dex but it feels like he just gets frustrating.
Another friend is interested when I talk to her girlfriend about SW/SH and says she wants to play it but says it's not something she can get into easily because her girlfriend and I know so much more about the games than she does, and she says she'd feel lost.

I don't mean for this to be a vent thread, but I figured maybe more opinions could help.

 

[Nah]

I suppose you could tell them that it's not really that hard to get started and that you don't need to know everything to start playing the games. Those of us that started when we were kids managed to get through the games. And having you and other people around who have experience with the games should be an encouraging factor since if they need help they can ask you.

 

[Setsuna]

I suppose you could tell them that it's not really that hard to get started and that you don't need to know everything to start playing the games. Those of us that started when we were kids managed to get through the games. And having you and other people around who have experience with the games should be an encouraging factor since if they need help they can ask you.

I love the idea of being able to encourage them and give them assistance if they need to, I think they're being kind of stubborn about it and I don't want that to stop them from enjoying it. I'll probably talk with them about it soon, thanks!

 

[colours]

i think when you're a kid and you get into pokemon, it's a lot easier because as kids we use our imagination to self-insert ourselves into the pokemon world. when you're an adult trying to get into pokemon it's... probably a lot tougher to do that. not saying it's impossible, but definitely not as easy as being a kid and growing up with the games and the franchise as a whole. when you grow up with the series, you sort of keep that imagination which is part of why that interest is still alive today for fans that grew up with the series, even of the actual quality if things such as the games are lacking. it's the memories and imagination and the cute monsters themselves that keep dragging us in for more.

that's the way i think anyone approaching pokemon should look at it. heck, it can also be why Pokemon GO is so successful at what it does. sure, it's augmented reality, but it does quite well at putting players front and center at actually "integrating" pokemon into the "real world" as it were. the goal of pokemon is to make everyone feel like a trainer and to create that sort of immersion and connection with other people. failing that, it stands to reason that one is not going to be as invested as those who have that kind of immersion would be.

 

[Megan]

I suppose the best way to approach a Pokemon game if you've never experienced one before is to just turn your head off and let it happen. And it doesn't even matter if you're used to play more challenging games or if you've never actually played an RPG or something alike.

Adults are kinda accustomed to overthink things because a lot of stuff they have to deal with requires you to take such an approach. But Pokemon is not that kind of a game.