[kadji-kun]

Originally Posted by nonax

I'm a sort of casual player. I mostly like the hidden object games. Started with them a few years ago and play them very regularly. Just click away all those objects without thinking is very relaxing! I'm not always in the mood for thinking and solving, I already have to do that at work. The other casual game genres like bejeweled and time management are not my thing though.

The power of observation is actually quite in the realm of thinking. Just not the logical thinking we are used to in puzzles and adventure games. Observation is always important to learn. Unless you are playing the game randomly clicking everywhere hoping to hits something.

[rtrooney]

Somebody, I'm not sure who, mentioned the ease of playing a casual game while traveling. I totally agree.

UA1 from Chicago to Honolulu is about a seven-hour flight. The UA2 return is a bit shorter.

If you are like me...someone that can't sleep on an airplane, casual games are a godsend. There's only so much you can drink. And only so many times you can read the inflight magazine. A good casual game on a laptop is a godsend.

The only thing I think might be better, and that's for the readers among us, would be a Kindle pre-loaded with your favorite reading material.

[renna]

Yep, I'm both casual and adventure gamer. I find myself playing more casual games these days with Mystery Case files: Dire Grove being the last really good casual game I played. I love Mystery Case File games. They have evolved over the series from just hidden object to more adventure game like puzzles in them. And honestly, I don't want an homework assignment - I want a game that I can play and enjoy and not scream at the computer when an illogical puzzle presents itself or mind reader... Honestly, if it's that much work then it's not fun to play. Think Paradise and not by the dashboard light. I can tell you that! The last good adventure game that I played was Lost Crown. It really hooked me in and made me want to play it to the bittersweet end. Okay, I'm coming off my soapbox now.

[thejobloshow]

I don't really get this casual gamer nonsense. You've got movie buffs but you rarely hear about "casual movie viewers" and it's the same with music, art, books... So you're a casual gamer if you're not addicted to it? I think a realignment of terminology is needed.

[kadji-kun]

Originally Posted by thejobloshow

I don't really get this casual gamer nonsense. You've got movie buffs but you rarely hear about "casual movie viewers" and it's the same with music, art, books... So you're a casual gamer if you're not addicted to it? I think a realignment of terminology is needed.

You don't hear about casual movie viewers mainly because its another term for Television viewers.

What is there not to get about the term "Casual Gamer"? It doesn't mean you aren't addicted. That is far from the truth. If you read throughout this threat, you will learn that Casual Gamers are those that play Casual Games. Now if you learned about what the term Casual Games meant, then you will know the terminology for Casual Gamer.

Next time, educated yourself.

[thejobloshow]

Originally Posted by kadji-kun

You don't hear about casual movie viewers mainly because its another term for Television viewers.

What is there not to get about the term "Casual Gamer"? It doesn't mean you aren't addicted. That is far from the truth. If you read throughout this threat, you will learn that Casual Gamers are those that play Casual Games. Now if you learned about what the term Casual Games meant, then you will know the terminology for Casual Gamer.

Next time, educated yourself.

Okay, this is your definition of a casual game.

Any game that is classified as "Casual" must be simplistic and is capable of being picked up and played with a very low learning curve.

So Mario 64, The Sims, DOOM, Ace Attorney, Street Fighter IV were all casual games? I found those titles elegantly simple and easy to learn. In fact - good game design is predicated on being easy to learn, difficult to master. Simplicity is something that most developers strive for. I find it easier to get through a game of Street Fighter IV than complete Minesweeper on hard.

This includes somewhat simplistic gameplay, controls, and start to quit execution. Usually it relies on how much effort it takes from the End user to play the game.

Okay, you must understand my confusion when I read vague descriptions like this. You appear to have defined a very narrow prescription for what constitutes a casual game. Start to quit execution, what the heck is that? I can quit any game at any time... Am I a casual gamer because I moved on from Brutal Legend after not wanting to complete all the side quests because of the little incentive it had?

Do you know what I think a casual game is? Snobbery.

A casual game is a derogatory term (in similar vein to 'limited animation') given to a title that doesn't strive to replicate reality and push the boundaries of technology.

Look at the other comments on the What is Casual Games thread:

Adventure games can be an art form, while casual games don't even try to be that.

My response: Battle Chess, Chessmaster 4000, Hoyle's Casino, Baku Baku, TETRIS!!!

Hum the theme to Tetris... now hum the theme to Metal Gear Solid 4.

As for a definition of Casual Games: Video games marked by short playing sessions and challenges which can be overcome with little or no specialized knowledge beyond the ability to learn the rules relevant to the immediate task at hand. Most casual games have limited narrative content and scenery change, and usually have very clearly-defined goals, often tracked by some form of visual score or meter.

This is a much more respectable attempt at a definition but again - the duration of a playing session for any game is dictated by user, many games can be mastered with just the knowledge of the rules relevant to the immediate task in the game and the rest of the definition is again not solid.

So if you ask me what a casual gamer is... my angered reply would be "Something you tell yourself exists to separate you from people who like games you deem inferior."

My more tempered reply would be "Someone who plays games in a relaxed state - hence casual." but I'm sure that's not what you're after.

EDIT: I should say it's interesting though. The POV of casual gaming comes from the same generational mind set that were saying "Adventure gaming is dead" and games have to be a. b. and c. I would at least expect people to cite some marketing research, but no... it's all narrow minded intuition. Wikipedia is citing Little Big Planet as a casual game too...

[Hillseeker]

Originally Posted by thejobloshow

I don't really get this casual gamer nonsense. You've got movie buffs but you rarely hear about "casual movie viewers" and it's the same with music, art, books... So you're a casual gamer if you're not addicted to it? I think a realignment of terminology is needed.

Welcome to the gaming community my friend. I have never seen so many people trying to put a label on someone that gamers do (not even political discussions is as bad as this) and this is adventure games we talk about. If you like to see the real fanatics talk a look at a random MMO community where people that describe themselves casual, hardcore, raiders, PVE gamers and PVP gamers are more or less at war with each other. It seems like the rule is if you are label yourself as one of the above titles then you must automatic dislike or even hate the others
I don't see the hate in here but the will to put a label on players is a bad thing and can lead to worse things.

[thejobloshow]

Wow. I guess we were the final word on this subject. To go from being insulted to feared, that's pretty good.