Rumors - News - Remarks by Russell Carroll

The Casual Experience? (March 29, 2006)

This year's Game Developer's Conference was just like all the other ones...except different.  While you are taking that statement to the bank consider this definition of casual games: "games played predominantly by women."  Almost 60% of 'casual' games are played by women.

I have no idea what that statement is supposed to mean, but it was stated several times at the various sessions on casual games at the Game Developer's Conference, so it must be VERY important.  This year's Game Developer's Conference found Casual games at the center of attention as everyone try's to get some of the potential revenue...so why do we care?

Well, by many definitions, Indie games are casual games.  One definition of casual games is that they are games that are easy to pick up and play.  In addition to being games that are played in small bite-sized chunks.  By this definition most handhelds are casual games and every arcade in America is full of casual games. 

Unfortunately 'Casual' games has the sound of something your mom would play, so I don't think we'll be adopting it anytime soon despite the industry usage.  It is interesting to consider however, just how far the industry has gone and wonder if your next indie-like game won't be coming from a much larger developer than in the past.  With that in mind, I was left pondering just what is it about indie games that makes them interesting.  For me there are two main parts...innovation and arcade experience.  Have some different thoughts?  Share them in our forum.

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By: Russell Carroll
Posted: Wednesday March 29, 2006