NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Casual game

The term casual game is used to refer to a category of electronic or computer games targeted at a mass audience — typically with very simple rules or play techniques, a very low degree of strategy, making them easy to learn and play as a pastime. They require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play, and there are comparatively low production and distribution costs for the producer. Casual games typically are played on a personal computer online in web browsers, although they now are starting to become popular on game consoles, too. Casual gaming demographics also vary greatly from those of traditional computer games, as the typical casual gamer is older and more predominantly female.^[1] Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Look up rule in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Chess is one of the most well-known and played strategy games of all time. ... A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ... A web browser is a software package that enables a user to display and interact with documents hosted by web servers. ... The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a popular video game console. ...

Overview

The word "casual" indicates that the games are produced for the casual consumer, who comes across the game and can get into gameplay almost immediately. Casual game players do not normally regard themselves as gamers, or fans of video games. A contemporary computer mouse, with the most common standard features: two buttons and a scroll wheel. ... Cell Phone redirects here. ... Look up Keyboard in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A keyboard can refer to a: Alphanumeric keyboard, any keyboard that has both letter and numbers on it Typewriter keyboard Computer keyboard IBM PC keyboard Musical keyboard, a keyboard on a musical instrument Keyboard instrument, such as the piano Keyboard synthesizer, a... Consumers refers to individuals or households that purchase and use goods and services generated within the economy. ... This article is about gamers - people who play games. ...

Casual games are usually free on-line or free to download and try (but may provide a revenue by in-game advertising). It is important to understand that these are two distinct markets within casual games. In one market, larger studios create downloadable games, primarily available on the PC. These games are typically addictive and are limited trials to encourage casual gamers to buy a permanent "deluxe" version for a small price (typically $20 or less). They usually have more intensive graphics and sound since they are run on the players computer directly. Recently, 100% free "full licensed versions" of casual games have become available through advertising. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The second market consists of primarily indie game developers who 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 based on Flash or Shockwave technologies. 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. Adobe Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both the Adobe Flash Player, and to the Adobe Flash Professional multimedia authoring program. ... Adobe Shockwave (formerly Macromedia Shockwave) was Macromedias first and most successful multimedia player prior to the introduction of Adobe Flash, called Macromedia Flash at that time. ...

History

Microsoft's Solitaire, which came free with Microsoft Windows, is widely considered the first successful "casual game" and was particularly played by office workers who were using Windows for their work. Subsequent versions of Windows included Minesweeper, and once Microsoft discovered the popularity of their pack-in solitaire, they expanded on it with FreeCell and Spider Solitaire. Solitaire is a card game that is included in most versions of Microsoft Windows. ... â€œWindowsâ€ redirects here. ... The game begins when the user clicks on a blank square. ... Part way through game of FreeCell on KDE. FreeCell is a solitaire card game superficially similar to Klondike. ... Spider Solitaire redirects here. ...

In 1989, Nintendo's Game Boy was released with the free pack-in casual game Tetris. Tetris on the Game Boy was immensely popular partially because, as a casual game, it was quick and simple, which was ideal to the portable gaming model. Nintendo Company, Limited (ä»»å¤©å ‚ or ãƒ‹ãƒ³ãƒ†ãƒ³ãƒ‰ãƒ¼ NintendÅ; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ... Tetris (Russian: ) is a falling-blocks puzzle video game, released on a large spectrum of platforms. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ...

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. The most prominent game from this period was Diamond Mine, released in 2000 by PopCap Games and licensed by Microsoft, as Bejeweled for their Microsoft Zone. Online User Generated Casual games were first launched by GameBrix , in 2007 at the Game Developers Conference at Moscone Center. Adobe Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both the Adobe Flash Player, and to the Adobe Flash Professional multimedia authoring program. ... Bejeweled is a popular puzzle game first developed as a browser game by PopCap Games in 2001. ... PopCap Games is an online gaming developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Microsoft Zone (also known as Zone. ...

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.

Casual games are often computer simulations of common games (such as chess, checkers, pinball, sudoku, solitaire, and mahjong) but also versions of retro games - including the well-known Tetris. For other uses, see Game (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Western board game. ... starting position on a 10Ã—10 draughts board Draughts, also known as checkers, is a group of mental sport board games between two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over the enemys pieces. ... This article is about the arcade game. ... This article is about the logic puzzle. ... This article is about the solitaire family of card games. ... This article is about the four-player game of Chinese origin. ... Tetris (Russian: ) is a falling-blocks puzzle video game, released on a large spectrum of platforms. ...

Casual game 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 are: puzzle, word, casual action, card and board games.^[3] Below is the listing of the most popular genres along with the game play description.

Minesweeper, a popular computer puzzle game found on many machines. ... A puzzle is a problem or enigma that challenges ingenuity. ... Tetris (Russian: ) is a falling-blocks puzzle video game, released on a large spectrum of platforms. ... This article is about the logic puzzle. ... The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is a non-profit organization designed to promote, and strengthen the video game industry, and have computer games recognised as an art form. ... A word game or word puzzle can be of several different types: // [edit] Letter arrangement games The goal is to form words out of given letters. ... For the 1970s Canadian TV game show, see Party Game (game show). ...

Traditional

// For the game on The Price Is Right, see Card Game (pricing game). ... A board game is any game played with a premarked surface, with counters or pieces that are moved across the board. ... starting position on a 10Ã—10 draughts board Draughts, also known as checkers, is a group of mental sport board games between two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over the enemys pieces. ... This article is about the Western board game. ... This article is about the various cue sports. ... This article is about the four-player game of Chinese origin. ...

Hardcore

Chess is one of the most well-known and played strategy games of all time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

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 or ActiveX 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 as Pogo.com, create casual games as a web-only experience first, then follow up with more advanced versions as "downloadable" games. Adobe Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both the Adobe Flash Player, and to the Adobe Flash Professional multimedia authoring program. ... ActiveX is Microsoft technology used for developing reusable object oriented software components. ... Screenshot of The New Pogo. ...

The ease of signing up to affiliate gaming portals, such as Sandlot games, Big Fish Games, Boonty, PlayFirst, Reflexive, RealArcade, or Trymedia Systems, has flooded the internet with such sites. 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. Sandlot Games is American video game developer company. ... Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Seattle, Washington. ... Boonty is a global supplier of digital distribution solutions for online and PC gaming. ... PlayFirst is the leading publisher of highly-original games made for casual gamers wherever they play. ... The Ouroboros something reflexive refers to itself. ... RealNetworks NASDAQ: RNWK is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Seattle, United States. ... Trymedia is a division of Macrovision that provides digital distribution services based on its proprietary ActiveMARK DRM and digital distribution technology. ...

In addition to online portals, casual games are increasingly available at major retailers, particularly Wal-mart, Target and Best Buy. The success of Bejeweled at retail, where it sold over 100,000 copies in the US, has made retailers much more open to carrying casual games rather than value priced core games (such as first person shooters, strategy games, etc.). The largest retail publishers of casual games in North America are MumboJumbo (Bejeweled, Luxor, etc.) and Merscom (Buku Blast, DNA, etc.) Bejeweled is a popular puzzle game first developed as a browser game by PopCap Games in 2001. ... Bejeweled is a popular puzzle game first developed as a browser game by PopCap Games in 2001. ... Luxor is a series of action-puzzle computer games, developed by MumboJumbo, with the first release in 2005. ...

Casual Games are also ported to mobile phones. Some mobile casual games allow players to meet and compete against each other (e.g. World Sudoku League).

List of Casual Games that have had impact in the industry

. ... Tetris (Russian: ) is a falling-blocks puzzle video game, released on a large spectrum of platforms. ... Part way through game of FreeCell on KDE. FreeCell is a solitaire card game superficially similar to Klondike. ... â€œWindowsâ€ redirects here. ... Spider Solitaire redirects here. ... â€œWindowsâ€ redirects here. ... Tanarus is a 3D multiplayer online first-person shooter featuring tanks that was commercially released on November 30, 1997. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $66. ... Bejeweled is a popular puzzle game first developed as a browser game by PopCap Games in 2001. ... PopCap Games is an online gaming developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... Collapse is a puzzle game published in 1999 by the software company GameHouse. ... GameHouse is online developer/publisher game software company. ... Slingo is an online multiplayer game created in 1995 by Slingo, Inc. ... Diner Dash is a casual video game developed by New York game development studio GameLab and published by PlayFirst. ... PlayFirst is the leading publisher of highly-original games made for casual gamers wherever they play. ... Zuma is a fast-paced puzzle game developed by PopCap Games. ... PopCap Games is an online gaming developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... Virtual Villagers is a village simulator from independent game publisher Last Day of Work released as shareware for Windows and Mac OS X. // The game includes a basic background story to support the gameplay. ... Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Seattle, Washington. ... Cake Mania is a time management game developed by Sandlot Games in 2006. ... Luxor is a series of action-puzzle computer games, developed by MumboJumbo, with the first release in 2005. ...

Notable casual game publishers and developers

Sandlot Games is American video game developer company. ... Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Seattle, Washington. ... Boonty is a global supplier of digital distribution solutions for online and PC gaming. ... GameHouse is online developer/publisher game software company. ... iWin is an online gaming developer, publisher and distributor, based in San Francisco, California. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (ä»»å¤©å ‚ or ãƒ‹ãƒ³ãƒ†ãƒ³ãƒ‰ãƒ¼ NintendÅ; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... The term casual game is used to refer to a category of electronic or computer games targeted at a mass audience â€” typically with very simple rules or play techniques, a very low degree of strategy, making them easy to learn and play as a pastime. ... Screenshot of The New Pogo. ... PopCap Games is an online gaming developer and publisher, based in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... The Ouroboros something reflexive refers to itself. ... Shockwave. ...

See also

. ... In Fantastic Dizzy, the player has to complete a sliding puzzle to get an extra life. ... For the 1970s Canadian TV game show, see Party Game (game show). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Indie games are video games that are created independently of the financial backing of a large publishing company. ... Jay Is Games (A.K.A. Casual Gameplay) is a regularly updated webgame reviewing website that features hundreds of links fit into many categories (tags) that have been deemed Jayisgames worthy, meaning that they are of high enough quality to be reviewed on the site. ... Gamezebo is an editorial website that focuses on casual games, offering reviews, previews, interviews, features, tips & tricks, news and podcasts. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External Links

Categories: Articles to be merged since October 2007 | Video game genres Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Action-adventure games (British English: arcade adventure) are video games that combine elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. ... Three enemies from Silent Hill 4: The Room, a survival horror title released by Konami in 2004. ... A simple platform sequence from the game Wonder Boy Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles. ... GTA: San Andreas is a sandbox-style game with a huge free-roaming map. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Side-scrolling game. ... Solid Snake hides behind a tank in Metal Gear Solid, a popular stealth video game. ... Vehicular combat (also known as car combat) games are typically video or computer games where the primary focus of play concerns automobiles or other motor vehicles, normally armed with guns or other weaponry, attempting to destroy vehicles controlled by the CPU or by opposing players. ... This is an article about the computer and video game genre. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Zork I is one of the first interactive fiction games, as well as being one of the first commercially sold. ... A visual novel is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art. ... For the 1970s Canadian TV game show, see Party Game (game show). ... Minesweeper, a popular computer puzzle game found on many machines. ... A word game or word puzzle can be of several different types: // [edit] Letter arrangement games The goal is to form words out of given letters. ... There are two types of traditional games: In games, a traditional game (historic) In computer and video games, a traditional game (computer) is a computer program adaption of a non-computer game (such as a board game or card game). ... A board game is a game played with counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a board (a premarked surface, usually specific to that game). ... // For the game on The Price Is Right, see Card Game (pricing game). ... A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... For flight simulator software from Microsoft, see Microsoft Flight Simulator. ... Screenshot of The King of Fighters XI (2005, SNK Playmore). ... Beat Em Up is the Iggy Pop album on which the band were first labeled as The Trolls: Iggy Pop, Whitey Kirst, Pete Marshall, Alex Kirst, Lloyd Mooseman Roberts. ... HACK/slash is the name of a graphic novel from Devils Due Publishing. ... Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply role-playing games (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that traditionally use gameplay elements found in paper-and-pencil role-playing games. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An Action-RPG, or action role-playing game is a type of computer and console role-playing game which requires quick action or reflexes from the player. ... Screenshot of The King of Fighters XI (2005, SNK Playmore). ... A roguelike is a computer game that borrows some of the elements of the 1980s computer game Rogue. ... A tactical role-playing game (usually simply called tactical RPG, sometimes referred to as strategy role-playing game or SRPG) is a type of computer role-playing game (CRPG) in which the focus of the gameplay is on making tactical decisions in battles. ... Shooter games cover a fairly broad spectrum of sub-genres that have the commonality of controlling a character who is usually armed with a firearm that can be freely aimed. ... This article is about video games. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A run and gun (also known as run n gun or for some variants, overhead shooter) is a sub-genre of video games that incorporates elements from shoot em up games and platform games. ... For the video/computer game genre, see Shoot em up. ... Tactical shooters include games of the first-person shooter (FPS) and third-person shooter genre of video games that generally simulate non-fictional, squad-based or man-to-man combat. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... A screenshot from The Sims: Deluxe Edition. ... The SimCity series, a well known example of the city-building game type. ... Dating simulations (dating sims) are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. ... Typical view from Transport Tycoon. ... This article is about the computer game genre. ... A government simulation or political simulation is a game that attempts to simulate the government and politics of all or part of a nation. ... Screenshot of BVE 4. ... Life simulator games, or life simulators, are simulation games in which the player lives or controls an (or several) artificial lives. ... A pet-raising simulation is an online or computer game that focuses on the care, raising, breeding or exhibition of simulated animals. ... A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the playing of traditional sports. ... Extreme sports (now also known as action sports) is a general, somewhat hazily-defined term for a collection of newer sports involving adrenaline-inducing action. ... Chess is one of the most well-known and played strategy games of all time. ... This article is about the strategy game genre. ... Artillery is the generic name for either early two or three-player (usually turn-based) computer games involving tanks fighting each other in combat or similar derivative games. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A real-time strategy (RTS) video game is one that is distinctly not turn-based. ... A destroyer patrols local space around its attached carrier in Nexus: The Jupiter Incident. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... A turn-based strategy (TBS) game is a game where the game flow is partitioned into well-defined and visible parts, called turns or rounds. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it easier to understand, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... â€œMMOâ€ redirects here. ... Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) is a category of computer games that combines first-person shooter gameplay with a large number of simultaneous players over the Internet. ... A screenshot of Eternal Lands, a MMORPG Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a genre of online role-playing video games (RPGs) in which a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual world. ... Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy (MMORTS) is a genre of online computer game that combines real-time strategy (RTS) with a large number of simultaneous players over the Internet. ... It has been suggested that Eroge be merged into this article or section. ... An eroge , erotic game) is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Educational games are games; board and card games, including video games that are designed to teach people, typically children, about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assit them in learning a skill as they play. ... Open source music video game StepMania A music video game, also commonly known as a music game or rhythm game, is a video game where the gameplay is oriented almost entirely around the players ability to follow a musical beat and stay with the rhythm of the games... Space trading and combat simulation games are a genre of video games which is characterized by trading, combat and exploration while in a space ship in a simulated space environment. ...

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