Korey: My thoughts are scattered on this whole issue on how we can fix this problem. I don’t think that changing the review criteria will work as it will likely cause some sort of revolt. We really need more core gamers to discover casual games (in an unbiased light) to really apreciate and understand them.

QuizzicalDemon: I think that casual games if applied to our gaming diet correctly definetly can and should hold their own. Often after an exhausting day I just want to kick back and play a game that doesn’t force me to work. A game, like so many casual games which is dispensible.

Personally I’m all for “Casual Gaming”. As you so rightly point out it encourages more people to try video games and with this comes acceptance that it’s just another form of entertainment, like reading a book, or watching a movie and not something to be sneered at.

By also encouraging a different demographic of gamers it also encourages developers to start thinking outside of the box in terms of game design and hopefully we’ll see more and more unusul games in the future.

I personally love FPS, racing, or action adventure games (when done right), but every now and again it’s great just to play Picross or Wii Sports for a change.

I think the more serious problem is how reviewers approach casual games. It does seem unfair to compare a Brain Training to a Contra 4, or a Wii Sports to a Metroid Prime. How can reviewers fairly judge casual games? The key might be acknowledging that ‘core’ gamers can play casual games too, and that they provide their own fun, unique experience.

Good post though!

And I’ve been holding off on upgrading my WP. Maybe I should wait some more?

I am going to have to revert back to the previous version. I hate this rubbish. ><