Casual Games Are The Rage
- Scribbled on February 27th, 2007 by Derrick Schommer
- Filed in Casual Gaming, Industry News
The cycle has come full circle, we started out playing arcades many years ago and since then we’ve moved into hardcore detailed games. Now, it seems, we’re heading back into the “dark ages” of casual games.
Companies like PopCap Games have known this from the start, as a matter of fact, they’ve made a living on this. Many gamers know Bejewled, Zuma, BookWorm and many others. The current success story is the Nintendo Wii and their ability to capture a large demographic.
Microsoft wants to tap into this flood of casual gamers too!
“The casual games space is growing at an unprecedented rate, and Microsoft has emerged as an undisputed leader in multiple-platform casual offerings, with more than 10 years of experience in the space. According to DFC Intelligence, revenue from casual games is expected to grow from $713 million (U.S.) in 2005 to $1.56 billion(U.S.) in 2008, fueled by the global appeal of games such as Bejeweled, Hexic, Diner Dash and Bespelled.”
They’re simply validating the market that many others have been feeding from for years. Will this hurt or help those casual game companies that make a living on this? With a market being validated by market monsters like Microsoft and Nintendo (more Microsoft) it’s hard to call this a bad thing.
Further validation is Microsoft’s new casual gaming site which targets the demographic that has not picked up an Xbox 360. These big companies are coming to the realization that many non-gamers really have an interest in spending some time gaming - they just don’t all want to shoot aliens like it was their job.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Thanks for the well-deserved Zuma reference.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
HAHAH, mad props to Zuma. Does that make up for my lack of referencing it in my last comment?
February 27th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
No, she’s still pissed. She doesn’t care whether it’s original to XBLA.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Oh well, at least I tried
February 28th, 2007 at 9:58 am
[...] we mentioned Microsoft’s new casual gaming site. Today, PopCap confirms their lead in the casual gaming market by putting their money where their [...]
February 28th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I think this is Nintendo’s bread and butter. I used to be hardcore with games, spending all night playing, but nowadays, a few minutes of Wii Sports or Tetris here and there is more practical (and just as fun).
February 28th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Um… MSN Games has been hosting casual games for some time now. I guess there’s a growing perception of them now, though.
Anyway, click my name if you want to see some nifty casual strategy games.
February 28th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Cool post!
February 28th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
go popcap!
February 28th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Since when has the golden age of the arcade been considered the dark ages of video games? It seems to me the masses are finally realizing quirky little games designed to be fun and fast are *shock* *amaze* a lot more fun than endlessly killing one another in [insert your favorite WWII battleground here]. Believe me, I’m glad to know casual games are on the rise, and press is always great… but… let’s not call the days of arcades the dark ages.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
The Dark Ages: (n) a period or stage marked by repressiveness, a lack of enlightenment or advanced knowledge, etc.
In reference to no “advanced knowledge,” the dark ages in this context is fitting for games that have not advanced to full 3D shooter/action/adventure games.
This doesn’t mean they’re bad or useless - it means they’re not technically as advanced as the games “of today.”
I am betting the team working on Halo 3 would dwarf that of a PopCap game, or a Cell phone game, correct?
Advancement is a good thing but there comes a time where many of us yern for simplicity and a different way - a way from long ago; remembering the Golden Age of Gaming in a new light.
Casual games are just one way of looking at a broad industry.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
[...] read more | digg story [...]
March 13th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
[...] Games Are All The Rage Filed under: Uncategorized — recar @ 11:53 pm Casual Games Are All The Rage The cycle has come full circle, we started out playing arcades many years ago and since then we [...]
April 18th, 2007 at 7:00 am
[...] banking on it. Microsoft has now launched a casual gaming site which is targeted for non 360 owners.read more | digg [...]
November 17th, 2007 at 9:56 am
[...] read more | digg story [...]