Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
The Rise of Casual Games
The increase in use of PCs and mobile devices set of a new trend
in casual gaming: limited-complexity games designed for brief or
impromptu play sessions. These games began to attract industry
attention. Many casual games, such as PopCap Games' Bejeweled (2001)
and PlayFirst's Diner Dash (2003), were puzzle games. Others games
of ered a relaxed pace and open-ended play.
Once the Internet, and especially the Flash plug-in, became standard
for PCs, websites began adding simple, casual games as extra features.
Commercial sites such as Orbitz and Nickelodeon, for example, use Flash-
based games to entertain their audiences.
Some popular casual games. Clockwise from top left: Tetris (PS3 version, 2011); World Of Goo
(2D Boy, 2008); Bejeweled (PopCap, 2001); Angry Birds (Rovio, 2009).
Recently, social networking has driven an increase in casual games.
Games such as Zynga's Mai a Wars (2009), FarmVille (2009), and Cafe
World (2009) are tied into sites such as Facebook. Although the games
themselves are free, players have the option to purchase in-game
items.
 
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