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Introduction

While hardcore games like online role playing games and graphic intensive, first person shooters are the video games that get the most attention in the technology headlines, much less is heard about the rich array of casual games that have been massively popular with older gamers since the earliest days of gaming. Casual games include any game that is simple enough for the average player to pick up and enjoy a satisfying gaming session in a short period of time. These games are considerably cheaper to design and market, and casual games are frequently available to play for free.

What Makes a Game Casual?

While any genre of video game can be designed as a casual game, there are a handful of features that all casual games share in common. The most important feature is that the game must be very easy to both learn and play. Most casual gamers play these games during brief breaks during work or other activities, and the purpose of the game is usually to provide mild entertainment rather than challenging gaming. With a few exceptions, most of these games also have simple, two-dimensional graphics that are reminiscent of early arcade style video games. The most common casual games are usually based on some form of puzzle solving play such as word games or are fairly simple strategy games similar to checkers or backgammon.

Casual Game Demographics

In an industry that has largely failed to catch the imagination of most female consumers, casual games are the one segment of the video game market that are played by women. Casual gamers break the mold of the traditional gamer demographics in other significant ways as well, such as attracting considerably older gamers and players who are at a more advanced stage of their career. Regardless of their various backgrounds, virtually all casual gamers hold in common the fact that they have neither the spare time nor the interest in dedicating hours at a time toward playing more complex or challenging computer games.

The Evolution of Casual Games

The most well known examples of modern casual games are those that have been bundled with home computers for well over a decade, most notably Minesweeper and Solitaire. In recent years, the world of casual gaming has moved primarily online to simple Flash based games that can be played for free in any internet browser. Some of the most popular casual game sights include GameHouse.com, Shockwave.com and FreeOnlineGames.com. Even the American Association of Retired Persons has gotten in on the action with dozens of games available at Games.AARP.org. However, casual games have begun creeping back into the format of the home video game console thanks to the increasing popularity of games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii with older consumers.