Is he some kind of addict?

Those manateens and their gateway drugs and virtual orgasmic rape, etc.

It`s true, I started my friends off on Wii sports and some of them have migrated onwards with the promise of better games. Others on the other hand have quite believing that games don`t get better than Wii Sports despite arguments to the contrary.

i used to play tetris now im addicted to meth.

So drugs really are good! :D

So, Ken... would you say casual gaming is... say... a "gateway drug"? You weren't very clear on your stance there, buddy.

@Truepatriot: So yeah, it's about midnight here, and for some odd reason your comment made me burst out laughing. Very nice.

I really like that building behind his shoulder (the one without the clocktower).

doesn't he look like the guy from X-Files?

forgot his name now.

So does that mean that in his book COD4 is the heroin of the gaming industry? That would explain why I haven't stop playing it in months. Bastards!!!!! As long as I don't see any baby's crawling on the ceiling though we'll be alright.

I can't wait for the PSA where the dads grilling his son about a wii remote he found

+ Watch video

I know that this door swings both ways.

I have one friend who started on Karaoke Revolution, and now plays Midnight Club, GTA and the like.

I also have another friend that started and Karaoke Revolution, and never moved past casual games.

I don't really think it's the Wii Sports. It's the person. If they're destined for games, they'll find it some way. If they're not, Wii Sports isn't going to change it.

The ultimate game drug is snorting those pieces in atari/nes/genesis/etc cartridges that rattle around inside when moved about. Trick is getting them out and having the game still playable.

@Erwin: I'm not exactly sure what you mean but I'm going to go ahead and... recommend dolphin sex. I hear the females literally pull you into them so I'm guessing it is as good as what you said but dolphins are cuter... if you are saying what I think you are saying.

*goes into bathroom stall and taps feet*

@Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB: Yeah, that's a pretty good way to put it. Not all people will "get" games, but casual games are a good way for those that will appreciate them to get into the medium.

Wii sports was only a getaway when I had others to play with, but other than that it wasn't a form of an escape. It was just me flailing my arms like an ass.
Man why does Levine remind me of Luke Wilson O_o???

@Spiffyness: and why is that picture of Levine so Fsking epic?

@okenny :): Nothing like that. Trust me. Just poking fun at people who are sure to use this as admittance of video game addiction and its unhealthy side effects
*runs hand under stall separator*

@ShaggE: hahah that was pretty funny.

I've kind of always thought that casual games would help people ease into other types of games, but like Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB said if they end up not liking the game or something it might just turn them off of trying other games; which kinda sucks because most casual games...kinda suck.

My instance on casual games is that there are Adult and Kids casual games.

To make my point, the largest casual games are Gran Turismo / Flight Simulator and GTA.

How many adults/People in general you know that own a PC/Console just to play those games?

I wish Wii had more adult casual games, realistic simulators, etc..

@Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB: My mom tried acid and cocaine, but she never stayed on anything stronger than marijuana. This wording could still work.

@Erwin: aww drats! Well just to set the record straight, it was my friend that enjoyed dolphin hex as in casting spells on dolphins. I accidentally typed "s" instead of "h"... repeatedly... say, it's hot in this room... I'm gonna go log off and open the window. bye!

@Old-school Sonic fanboy:
haha ty ty.is it weird that when i read "wii sports is a gateway drug" my first comment was the first thing i thought of o_O?

@okenny :): Specifically these by the way: [kotaku.com] [kotaku.com]
Yes, "manateen" was intentional. I'm not some stupid child-man.

So Wii sports=pot?

@Spiffyness: Just about everytime I have seen Levine he looks like he is thinking of something super epic. I think he is simply an epic man.

I agree that the Wii can be like a gateway drug. I know people who never understood gaming but they can see the appeal in the Wii and they now realize why I play games.

I'm having a hard time following his logic here. "Gateway drug" implies that people who play casual games will eventually get into the "hard stuff," but I don't see that happening very often. The people who bought Wii just for Wii Sports don't really go out and play games like Crysis or WoW. Or maybe they do and I'm hugely ignorant to the pattern of casual-to-hardcore gamers.

@Deux_ExMachina: I wish I could be that epic. Levine should give epic lessons.

I do have ONE epic tip, though: when walking over an extended period of time (walking TO somewhere, not for exercise), listen to "Tenrai ~Divinity II~" from the Advent Children soundtrack. You'll gain +20 epicness.

Games are an addiction. It started off with a bit of Mario here and there. Then I met Laura. She raided tombs and she made it look so glamorous. I've been hooked ever since. I even prostituted a friend for a game once. The worst thing is that the game didn't even play. I was so pissed! I really wanted to play Stretch Panic!

Guy likes to use the term "Gateway Drug" over and over and over and over and over again, but he does have a good point. Nice to see somebody in the industry (and in the world, for that matter) who isn't freaking out over the push to casual gaming.

Video Game developer admits "Playing Video Games Will Lead to Heroin Addiction". Next on Fox News!

You can lump this casual games movement with pop culture and fashion -- they have a resurgence about every 30 years. As Mr. Levine points out, casual games now have the same mechanics of early arcade games -- simple controls, simple goal, collect points. It's that formula that he refers to at the gateway drug. For some, a pleasure center gets hit, and they look for more similar experiences, which led to the success of Carnival Games (because it was a spiritual sequel to Wii Sports).

Perhaps within the next decade, we'll see the resurgence of adventure games. Speilberg and Quantic Dream are already going in that direction. Maybe that's where the "Wii junkies" will eventually end up next.

I always like to hear what this guy thinks. It's certainly more thought-provoking that hearing from Mr. Jaffe -- It's like comparing Michael Bay to Michael Mann.

@Ninja-Z: Its mostly the so-called "hardcore" gamers that freak out over the casual push. A bit of history would show that most early games were casual games; the gaming industry didn't start out with 40 hour epics.

I've been saying this for years!

Drugs... games... I, I can quit... quit anytime I want, thank you.

Would you kindly call casual games a gateway drug too?

Spiky hair gel is a gateway rug.

He certainly seems to be doing some INTENSE thinking right there on the photo!

"Wii Sports is a helluva drug!"

Yep. I played a little Peggle this week, and before you know it, I had played video games for the last 20 years! :p

@Billkwando:

Haha, nice.

It's true! My mom got into Wii bowling and the little shooting game in Wii Play, and now she's curious about other games. Gave SMG a try and seemed to enjoy it until it got too hard for her (about 10 minutes in, but hey). And actually seemed kind of interested while watching me play Uncharted -- warning me about baddies coming my way and trying to figure out where I needed to go next.

@erlik: So, what you're saying is, it's not a gateway drug at all? Like I said . . .

I guess the Wii has the "magical amount" of charm.

Hell, I've been thinking the same thing for ages.

hehehe... drugs.