Also, casual games tend to be small and have minimal processing needs, making them ideal for mobile devices, particularly cell phones.Īs a result, some pretty significant tech companies have become big players in the field, including Microsoft, RealNetworks, and well-known gamemaker Electronic Arts, which has amassed more than a million subscribers to, its online casual-game service. Advertising has emerged as a key revenue opportunity for games, and hardcore games reach only one of many demographics that advertisers covet. Several trends are helping push casual games out of the margins and into the forefront. Globally, thanks to the popularity of these games in China and Korea, the market is already closing in on $1 billion in annual sales. The North American market for casual games is expected to grow from an estimated $281 million in sales this year to $1.15 billion in 2011, according to DFC. But what casual games lack in hipness, they make up for by being cheap to make, addictive, and highly profitable. While people will wait for half an hour or more just to see a short trailer for big games that in some cases are months from release, casual games are little-mentioned and hard to spot on the show floor. "Casual games are a step in the direction of coming up with (the equivalent of) comedies and romantic comedies."Ĭasual games like Bejeweled and Zuma still don't attract much attention at the annual E3 trade show here. "The video game industry year after year is exceedingly good at pumping out action films," says Alexis Madrigal, an analyst at market research firm DFC Intelligence. While not new, the casual-games industry is enjoying a renaissance driven by advertising dollars and the ubiquity of mobile devices. The game industry appears to have found its answer with so-called "casual games," a category of software-based entertainment that includes word and puzzle games, board games, and even some classic arcade titles. That's basically the problem the video game industry has had-until recently. You'd have theaters packed with young men, but people who'd rather steer away from action flicks, including many women, would find something else to occupy their time.
#Windows casual games Pc
Requiring fast thinking and an even faster trigger finger, the PC version of this retro-inspired title will, along with most Windows Vista-optimized titles, support gameplay with both the keyboard and the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows," stated Microsoft.LOS ANGELES-Imagine if all Hollywood cranked out was action movies. "In addition, the ever popular "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved" (Bizarre Creations) will be making its debut on the PC. Updated variants of "7 Wonders of the Ancient World for Windows Vista" (Mumbo Jumbo) and "Luxor 2 for Windows Vista" (Mumbo Jumbo) will deliver intricate puzzles, "Bliss Island for Windows Vista" (Codemasters) will offer new adventures, "Crystal Quest for Windows Vista" (Codemasters) will enable users to collect crystals, "Spinword for Windows Vista" (Slam Games) will provide word puzzles to complement the gem matching puzzle of "Jewel Quest 2" (iWin) and the action adventure title "Darwinia for Windows Vista" (Introversion). Bringing realistically detailed graphics and enriched gameplay features to casual players, the downloadable Windows Vista-based titles will be launched in conjunction with the new operating system in late January," informed Microsoft.Īll the casual games that will be offered via MSN Games will be optimized for Windows Vista. "Puzzle-playing, fun-loving casual game players also will benefit from Windows Vista-optimized gameplay, with new titles available on MSN Games. According to the Redmond Company, the casual games that will be housed on MSN will be made available concomitantly with Vista's customer release on January 19, 2007. In addition to the titles that will ship with Vista, Microsoft will also debut MSN Games for Windows Vista. The Redmond Company has also introduced the Windows Vista Games Explorer to facilitate the gamers' access to their favorite titles.
By default, Vista offers casual game players a set of titles that includes the updated versions of games that have established themselves as classic aspects of the Windows operating system: "Minesweeper," "FreeCell" and "Solitaire." Along with the traditional casual games that have become and integer part of Windows, Microsoft is also delivering "Chess Titans," "Mahjong Titans" and "Purble Place".
Microsoft announced a new lineup of casual games optimized for Windows Vista.
0 kommentar(er)
