- Casual game
A casual game is a
video game targeted at a mass audience ofcasual gamer s. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simplerule s, in contrast to more complex hardcore games. [Boyes, Emma, [http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6186207.html?tag=result;title;0 GDC '08: Are casual games the future?] , "GameSpot ", Feb 18, 2008, Accessed May 3, 2008] They require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play, and there are comparatively low production and distribution costs for the producer. [Surette, Tim, [http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6157427.html?tag=result;title;4 Casual gamer gets serious prize] , "GameSpot ", Sep 12, 2006, Accessed May 3, 2008] Casual games typically are played on apersonal computer online inweb browsers , although they now are starting to become popular ongame consoles , too. Casual gaming demographics also vary greatly from those of traditional computer games, as the typical casual gamer is older [cite news
url=http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/familygamer0105.htm
title=Older Family Gaming Market
first=Paul
last=Govan
work=Game People
date=2008-01-23
accessdate=2008-01-23] and more predominantly female, [cite news
url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6695921
title=Women driving 'casual game' boom
first=Troy
last=Wolverton
work=San Jose Mercury News
date=2007-08-23
accessdate=2007-10-13] with over 74% of those purchasing casual games being women. [cite news
url=http://www.casualconnect.org/newscontent/11-2007/casualgamesmarketreport2007.html
title=Casual Games Market Report 2007
work=Casual Games Association
date=2007-10-29]Overview
Most casual games have similar basic features:
*Extremely simple gameplay, like a puzzle game that can be played entirely using a one-button mouse or cellphone
keypad
*Allowing gameplay in short bursts, during work breaks or, in the case of portable and cell phone games, on public transportation
*The ability to quickly reach a final stage [cite news
url=http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/familygamer0201.htm
title=Casual Gamers Need Shorter Games - A Study
work=Game People
date=2007-10-29] , or continuous play with no need to save the game
*2D, abstract graphics
*Some variant on a "try before you buy" business model or an advertising-based modelThe word "casual" indicates that the games are produced for the casual
consumer , who comes across the game and can get into gameplay almost immediately. Every month, an estimated 200 million consumers play casual games online [cite news
url=http://www.casualconnect.org/newscontent/11-2007/casualgamesmarketreport2007.html
title=Casual Games Market Report 2007
work=Casual Games Association
date=2007-10-29] , many of who do not normally regard themselves asgamer s, or fans of video games.Casual games are usually free on-line or free to download and try (but may provide a revenue by in-game advertising). Commercial studios create downloadable games, primarily available on the PC. These games are typically addictive and are limited trials to encourage
casual gamer s to buy a permanent "deluxe" version for a small price (typically $20 or less). [Boyes, Emma, [http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6186207.html?tag=result;title;0 GDC '08: Are casual games the future?] , "GameSpot", Feb 18, 2008, Accessed May 3, 2008] They usually have more intensive graphics and sound. Recently, 100% free "full licensed versions" of casual games have become available through advertising.Indie game developers often create free games for online play. These games have a wide range of gameplay styles, can be played on almost any computer, and are often written to be played from within a
web browser , using Flash, Shockwave, or the Unity Web Player. They are more limited in the scope of action, graphics and sound than downloadable games since they are played through the browser. However, many of these developers have pushed the technological envelope in what is possible through the browser - often creating full 3D games, 2 player capabilities, save games and other advanced features.History
Microsoft's Solitaire, which came free with
Microsoft Windows , is widely considered the first successful "casual game", with more than 400 million people having played the game since its inceptioncite web|url=http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/29/casual-gaming-worth-225-billion-and-growing-fast/|title=Casual Gaming Worth $2.25 Billion, and Growing Fast|date=29 October 2007|accessdate=2008-08-11] . Subsequent versions of Windows included Minesweeper, and once Microsoft discovered the popularity of their pack-in solitaire, they expanded on it withFreeCell and Spider Solitaire.In 1989,
Nintendo 'sGame Boy was released withTetris as a free pack-in game. Tetris on theGame Boy proved immensely popular, and is credited with making Nintendo's fledgling portable gaming system a successcite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/nov2005/id20051123_168638.htm|title=Tetris' Maker Has His "A" Game|date=23 November 2005|accessdate=2008-08-11] .Casual games moved online in 1996 with the debut of sites such as
Gamesville and Uproar which offered multiplayer, HTML-based games in genres such as bingo, cards, puzzles, and trivia. These games required a constant server connection to keep players in sync, and did not include chat or avatars.The advent of Flash created a boom in web-based games, while also limiting them to using a single-button mouse, and having no built-in functionality for save states, encouraging designers to create simple games that could be played to completion in one short sitting. One of the most prominent casual games, "
Bejeweled ", started out as a Flash game.Casual games received another boost when cell phones with large color displays became the norm because, like Adobe Flash before them, the cell phones had limited capabilities ideally suited to short, simple games.
The arrival of the iPod in the casual gaming marketcite web|url=http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/familygamer0203.htm|work=Game People|title=iPod Breaks Into Casual Gaming|date=10 March 2003|accessdate=2006-10-03] , made more powerful games widely available in a portable format.
PopCap Games providedPeggle on Apple's music player and it was an instant success.Fact|date=July 2008Casual games are often computer simulations of traditional
game s such aschess ,checkers ,pinball ,poker ,sudoku ,solitaire , andmahjong .Genres
There is no precise classification of casual genres in the modern gaming industry. That can be explained by the easy ideas that form the basis for each game as well as a great amount of genre mixes existing in this field. The most popular casual genres for 2006 were: puzzle, word, action, card and
board game s. [IGDA: " [http://www.igda.org/casual/IGDA_CasualGames_Whitepaper_2006.pdf 2006 Casual Games White Paper] ", page 17, July 2006]Distribution
The
Internet is the primary distribution channel for casual games. Most casual games are either downloaded as limited-time trials or delivered as Flash orActiveX objects embedded in a web page. The evaluation copy of a casual game may limit the amount of play time, number of levels, or game sessions. Often more advanced features are not available. Some websites, such asPogo.com , create casual games as a web-only experience first, then follow up with more advanced versions as "downloadable" games.The ease of signing up to affiliate gaming portals, such as
Sandlot Games ,Big Fish Games ,Boonty ,MSN Games ,PlayFirst ,Reflexive ,RealArcade , orTrymedia Systems , has flooded the internet with such sites. Mobile casual games can now be distributed viaMovaya 's mobile game platform. These portals typically rank the games by popularity and sales. Games with strong sales typically lead to sequels and knock-offs. Games that do not convert are quickly buried.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
