According to Casualgaming.biz, Sega plans to add over 30 new games to the site, many of which dip into the company's classic IP for inspiration. Hit the link below to check out the site. Registration is completely free, but the naked boy in Swiss Chalet feature will set you back 2,000 rings.

PlaySega.com [Official Site via Casualgaming.biz]

I think the biggest proof point in the death of consoles in my thesis is the Wii. The most successful, most difficult to acquire console in this generation is at least a generation old in hardware. The advances are in software and peripherals. Why do you need a box for that? If the real expansion is occurring because of what Nintendo has done, why do we even need a console? The technology could be adapted to run on your average set top box, at least in the next generation of set top boxes.

Welch does concede that console are more streamlined and easier to use than, say, PCs. His crystal ball gazing is more along the lines of Google-type cloud that doesn't even use hardware at all. Agree? Disagree?

Q&A with PlayFirst’s John Welch [VentureBeat via EDGE] [Pic]

The purpose of this series of articles is to attempt to shed some light on emerging trends likely to influence game design philosophy, and therefore, our industry at large in the next few years.

Rather than an essay in futurology, which is by definition very hypothetical, the trends described in these articles are already in motion — so the question we should ask ourselves is not whether these trends will appear, but rather what their impact will be on video game design.

It's a quick read and worth checking out; I'm curious to see how Luben will tackle the 'megatrends' in his next article, as they don't necessarily have the immediate relevancy of the set in the first article.

The Megatrends of Game Design, Part 1 [Gamasutra]

Develop reports that Capps also expressed plans to utilize the recently purchased Chair Entertainment to increase its stable of intellectual property. “We want to learn from casual games," he's quoted as saying, telling casual game developers on hand "we’re really jealous of the things you do and we’re going to steal all your ideas.”

He then chainsawed them all in half and took their brains back to Epic Games science labs for further study.

Epic Games looks to comic books for building new IP [Develop]

Wii Fit has gotten a ton of attention recently; reviews, criticism, and complaints have all cropped up in the wake of its release. Over at Lost Garden, Wii Fit is a launching spot for a broader game design discussion: Wii Fit and its ilk aren't exception, they're "merely the tiny tip of an immense iceberg. Almost any human skill, be it physical, cultural, political or economic can be turned into a game that enlightens and enables." Assuming, of course, it can fit a couple of criteria:

It turns out that most learnable skills can be turned into a game. However, there are constraints. A skill must meet the following criteria before it can be turned into a game:

1. Decomposable into simpler skills
2. Skills can be nested
3. Skills can be arranged in a smooth learning curve
4. Skills are measurable
5. Performance can be rewarded
6. Skills are locally useful.

As with anything posted at Lost Garden, it's a thought provoking little essay; while this sort of stuff will have little impact on the hardcore among us, one wonders what designers will come up with next — and how.

What actitivies can be turned into games? [Lost Garden]

When you’re reaching out to somebody who plays one or two games a year, it’s very easy. You don’t need to follow the rules of previous markets. But as they play more and competitors emerge, you have to rethink the way you do the games. The casual audience is becoming more demanding, for sure, and we need to make sure we’re proving more than what they’re anticipating... Young girls, for instance, are now used to games that are made just for them – and have started thinking they want something better.

Imagine Babies, anyone? Anyone?

Casuals Demanding More [CasualGaming]

Yeah, fuck all this stuff about casual gaming. I think people still want games that are groundbreaking...We're hopefully going to prove that there's also a very big audience for people who want entertainment in another form, who think of games as being a narrative device that can challenge movies.

Rockstar Games' Dan Houser on Grand Theft Auto IV and Digitally Degentrifying New York [New York Magazine via Eurogamer]
<Image>

Another big challenge, from the development point of view, is that sometimes you think you've come up with a great idea. In my core gamer heart of hearts, I think I've created something amazing! But then we show it to focus groups and it's not as well received as I would've hoped.

Some employees complained that they should have the games, which were on their old computers, on the new PCs so the state installed them on all of the computers.

But after an anonymous tipster wrote to complain to the local newspaper that people really shouldn't be spending their time casual gaming, the state decided to remove games from all of it's more than 3,000 PCs.

Oh come on, why should the Child Support and Public Health folks have to work any harder than the DMV people? What they really should do is install World of Warcraft on all the PCs... and then load the computer's up with liquid cooling and neon tubing. I hear that's all the rage in Texas government.

Games on state computers stirs flap [Missoulian]

New Stats Show Casual Explosion [Next-Gen]

There will be more announcements that will be, if you will, licensed intellectual property that will be looking at the more casual consumer that we see as a bigger force in the business...we think there's a different type of consumer that...doesn't want the authentic simulation game that we currently offer.

Moore: We must do better on Wii and DS [MCV]

Imagine all of the fun, strategy, and intrigue of a game of Risk without having to set aside an entire evening in order to play a game through to conclusion! It makes me want to break out my old copy of the game and make up my own objectives, though in my case they'd be more like, "Avoid landing on any soda stains", which is much trickier than it sounds.

So why is this important to the video gaming crowd? As Newsweek's N'Gai Croal reminds us, back in August EA signed a deal with Hasbro granting them the rights to create casual games based off of Hasbro intellectual properties. While the original Risk would never have worked via Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, Risk: Black Ops would be simply sublime. We'll keep an eye out, but don't be surprised if EA jumps on this one in the near future.

Risk: Black Ops [Gamers With Jobs via Newsweek's Level Up]

So I think the market for what we're doing — games that are more sensitive and are centered on character, not shooting — will be monstrous. I have a huge audience ... which is something ABC discovered when 'Women's Murder Club' debuted and it was their biggest premiere on a Friday night in four years."

Patterson pursues video game murders most casual [The Hollywood Reporter]

Maybe management could consider laying off on the aggravating tactics ingrained into current GameStop clerks who are forced to shill surcharges of questionable value. The phrase "merchandising to a broader consumer audience" could be interpreted as just about anything, but the company would probably be wise to consider making the experience a bit less sour. Any other suggestions?

GameStop Gets Casual in '08 [Next-Gen]

Hasbro, the makers of the word game Scrabble, have asked Facebook to remove its popular online take on the game, Scrabulous because of copyright infringement.

"Letters have been sent to Facebook in the United States regarding the Scrabulous application," said a Mattel spokeswoman in Britain.

"Mattel values its intellectual property and actively protects its brands and trademarks.

"As Mattel owns the rights to the Scrabble trademark outside the United States and Canada, we are currently reviewing our position regarding other countries."

Hmm, while it may seem silly, I believe Scrabble is an entirely original game, as in it's not one of these throw-offs of games created in the middle ages or ancient china. I wonder if they makers of Scrabulous can get away with a name change only?

Facebook Asked to Remove 'Scrabulous' [NYT]

"After working on top-rated shooters for years, we were ready to work in a smaller company and make smaller games. We started to notice how people with our background were making top hits in the casual games industry," explains Brian Meidell, co-owner of the Copenhagen based company, The Game Equation. "We realized that the high end of the casual games industry was within our reach, and that the shorter product cycles and smaller company setting was exactly what we wanted.

Top-tier developers making a switch to the casual games sector? It's happened before, and as the casual gaming market continues to grow in leaps and bounds it is bound to happen again.

The company's first game, Deep Blue Sea (demo for Mac and PC available here), is a pretty standard swap-three puzzler with a treasure hunting theme that adds a slight bit of strategy by requiring you get your diver and assorted treasures to the bottom of the screen in order to progress to the next level. It's got some lovely music, but for the most part it's just your standard, addictive little time-waster of a puzzle game. That doesn't really matter. What matters - and what is the main force driving the casual market - is that people are going to download the demo and a good number of them will pay $20 for this tiny little game.

What I personally find interesting is that this is sort of a de-evolution of the gaming industry. Back in the late 80's and early 90's, you would download shareware from companies like ID Software and Epic Megagames and then fork out money to download the rest of the game, allowing the companies to grow. Now the process is happening in reverse, as console developers migrate towards the casual market. Just a trend to keep your eye on, and a puzzle game to while away your first day back on the job.

Former "Hitman" programmers plunge into the casual games industry.

Former "Hitman" programmers launch their first casual game, Deep Blue Sea for PC and Mac, from their new game studio, The Game Equation.

Copenhagen, Denmark - January 2nd, 2008 - The hit game, Deep Blue Sea, is the first release from the brand new game studio, The Game Equation. "After working on top-rated shooters for years, we were ready to work in a smaller company and make smaller games. We started to notice how people with our background were making top hits in the casual games industry," explains Brian Meidell, co-owner of the Copenhagen based company, The Game Equation. "We realized that the high end of the casual games industry was within our reach, and that the shorter product cycles and smaller company setting was exactly what we wanted. These are games that remind us of the ones we played when growing up," he smiles.

"We studied the different options, and decided on the match-3 genre for Deep Blue Sea," explains Bo Cordes, co-owner of The Game Equation. "Our goal was to apply our knowledge and experience towards creating a casual game with totally smooth and responsive gameplay or, 'tight' gameplay as we call it." Deep Blue Sea's initial sales and feedback indicate that they have accomplished just that.

One challenge was creating an original soundtrack that sets the mood throughout the game. "We knew from working on the internationally best-selling 'Hitman' series that the game's sound and music mean a lot for its enjoyment, yet this is often the most overlooked element," Meidell clarifies. To this end, The Game Equation contracted a Danish composer, Rasmus Hartvig with years of experience creating music for films and theatrical productions, to create an integrated music and sound design for Deep Blue Sea.

"Making music and sound for computer games is a very different challenge from making music for films - you have to consider unusual factors like, 'would this be annoying to listen to after four hours,' and, 'what if these sounds are played simultaneously?' But I'm always up for a new challenge," says Hartvig.

Deep Blue Sea is the result of The Game Equation's experienced approach and dedication to detail. Deep Blue Sea is available for PC and Mac, both versions retailing at $20.

Deep Blue Sea and free demo for PC and Mac available here:
http://www.thegameequation.com/games/deepbluesea/

"We designed these pick-up-and-play games to be fun and entertaining, while still presenting depth in gameplay, long-term enjoyment and great value," said Rod Humble, Head of The Sims Studio. "Since The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast are available for digital download, the holiday shopper can avoid long lines and still share some fun with everyone on their list."

EA Introduces The Sims Carnival a New Product Line of Casual Games From The Sims Label Perfect for the Last-Minute Holiday Shopper

The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast — The First Two Titles From The Sims Carnival Are Now Available for Digital Download at Pogo.com

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—If you are still looking for that quick gift fix, The Sims Carnival™ is here to help with two family-friendly games just in time for the holidays. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced Friday the launch of a new casual game product line from The Sims™ Label called The Sims Carnival. The first two games, The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast are both available for digital download starting today at Pogo.com. These two entirely new casual gaming experiences from The Sims Label are enjoyable and accessible for players of all ages. Because of the games' broad appeal, they are the ideal last-minute gift for The Sims player on your list.

The perfect way to add fun and flex your skills through the holiday season, The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast can both be found now on Pogo.com™ together as digital downloads for $19.99.

"We designed these pick-up-and-play games to be fun and entertaining, while still presenting depth in gameplay, long-term enjoyment and great value," said Rod Humble, Head of The Sims Studio. "Since The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast are available for digital download, the holiday shopper can avoid long lines and still share some fun with everyone on their list."

The Sims Carnival SnapCity is a city building puzzle game that is strategic and accessible. It's never the same city twice! In this skill-testing interactive experience, players are challenged to position falling, colored blocks in just the right places to assemble their own personal city in open-ended gameplay. Players can pick-up-and-play or experience greater level of gameplay difficulty, keeping them on the edge of their chairs. The Sims Carnival SnapCity features an array of industrial, commercial and residential neighborhoods to build a city...in a snap!

The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast will have the player blasting away for hours! The goal in this arcade-style game is to clear out all The Sims-styled bumpers before the shots run out. The player is challenged to master skill shots, score combos and bonuses, and go for the high score! With over 140 action-packed levels, The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast is the fun casual game that can be played time and time again.

Product Specifications
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts Redwood Shores
Digital Download Availability: North America only, starting Friday, December 21, 2007

The Sims Carnival SnapCity

Platform: PC
Category: Simulation/Puzzle/Strategy
ESRB Rating: E

The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast

Platform: PC
Category: Arcade/Strategy
ESRB Rating: E

PopCap [via opposablethumbs]

A simExchange analyst Jesse Divnich thinks the board games made video games are the next big thing, telling Gamasutra that:

For emerging genres, we will likely see an influx of "board game" type titles over the next few years. I expect Scene It? on the Xbox 360 to have moderate success.

Since the Wii came out, I have called it the "board game for a new generation" — using the metaphor of a board game that many families still [play] but did more often before TV.

Either way, the bigger message seems to be that the future successful titles will bring the whole family together, ala board game...though not necessarily being a board game proper. Luckily, this should mean that tomorrow is filled with more than a bunch of 720p Monopoly ports.

Analysts: 'Board'/Party Games The Next Guitar Hero? [gamasutra]

Webs.com Launches First Social Gaming Network, SGN Webs.com SGN Library has delivered nearly One Billion Page Views in 90 days; Today Acquired FightClub and has added Street Race to its Rapidly Growing Roster SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 6, 2007 — Webs.com (formerly Freewebs), the second largest web publisher in the world, today announces the introduction of its Social Gaming Network (SGN), the first gaming network designed exclusively for the development and integration of gaming into popular social networks, and the acquisition of the popular social network game FightClub.

The hugely successful game WarBook, the first game from SGN to launch on Facebook in August 2007, is now one of its most popular games. The SGN network will continue to leverage the power of the 'network effect' to build a library of games exclusively for social networks.

"Social gaming has a different emotional connection to the online world because of the incredibly viral nature of social networks. There is a totally different gaming experience - competing against friends or colleagues and comparing your rank in the broad social network - that is driving the enormous pick up of games like WarBook and Super Snake, in a way no other game has seen without powerful brands behind them," says Shervin Pishevar, president of Webs.com. "With today's acquisition of FightClub, we intend to build on this 'network effect' and the extraordinary growth rates they deliver, and will continue to make great strides in this space as we become the leading developer and publisher for social networks."

Social gaming rapidly is becoming the top application on all social networks, appealing to a broad audience and offering a high level of engagement. Social gaming is a new kind of gaming experience - a viral phenomenon, fueled by friends inviting friends to play a game - and is having an unbelievable impact on the gaming industry, one which is set to continue to grow.

Webs.com is committed to providing consumers the best social gaming experience with its library of specialist games. This month, Street Race has been added to its current arsenal of games, which includes Blocky, launched in November, WarBook, the most active game by page views and the third largest game by users on Facebook, and Super Snake.

I get less concerned about game reviews because the casual gamers don't read any of those things...They're not swayed by a low score on IGN or a low score out of one of these gaming sites.

It's a little bit amusing, in that it's people reviewing games against measures that are important to core gamers yet are not important to casual gamers...The concept of a one-size-fits-all evaluation tool isn't as relevant...The measurement [of a game's appeal] for women aged 25 to 34 would more likely be whether or not they'd hang up on their girlfriend to play this game. 'Would you hang up a phone conversation for this game?' That'd probably be a truer measure for that target audience.

But the fact is, Vrabeck probably isn't all that far off the mark. And I'd expect casual games to be influenced far more by peer review, quick star feedback systems and one-liners at the place of purchase, than some gaming site exclusive.

EA Casual and the Problem with Reviews [nextgen]

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strong>Beanbag Studios Acquires the Worldwide Video Game Rights to the For Dummies® Brand

Plano, Texas, November 8, 2007 — Leading Casual Game developer Beanbag Studios has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop interactive titles based on the popular For Dummies® how-to books. The first two games, Sudoku For Dummies 2008 and Poker For Dummies 2008, will hit online distribution channels this year. Retail box versions will follow at a later date. Beanbag obtained the global rights to create interactive For Dummies titles, including cell phone and PDA games, in a deal with Wiley Publishing, Inc.

The announcement from Beanbag arrives on the heels of increased consumer awareness of the For Dummies brand, which launched in 1991. There are now over 1,000 unique For Dummies titles on the market and more than 170,000,000 copies of the franchise in print worldwide.

Beanbag will add to the surge by releasing close to 20 casual For Dummies games by the end of 2008. The first title slated for release, Sudoku For Dummies 2008, is based on the book of the same name, which sold more than five million copies in North America and spawned multiple sequels. Sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle game with millions of fans around the globe. Beanbag plans to release a new Sudoku For Dummies title on multiple platforms each year during the terms of its agreement.

Every casual For Dummies game from Beanbag emphasizes learning, practicing and playing. As a novice playing Poker For Dummies 2008, for example, simple exercises with easy-to-follow directions will amuse and absorb you as you acquire the necessary abilities. Basic skills will soon become second nature, allowing you to build broader strategies with confidence. Experienced players will enjoy skill-sharpening mini-games, such as odds-based Hold or Fold drills. Regular gameplay includes not only selectable levels of difficulty but also virtual opponents with their own personalities and play styles!

In addition, each casual For Dummies game from Beanbag raises the bar for the production of casual games with outstanding graphics, music and sound effects from the creators of the hit Xbox launch title, Shrek, and many other market-leading games.

In recent years, casual games have gone from a cottage industry to one of the highest growth areas in the videogames sector, increasing at a rate of 20 percent each year. The casual games market has surpassed $2 billion in the U.S. alone. Companies in the business of casual games reach virtually all demographic sectors. Women in their 30's to 60's comprise the typical casual game player, but men, teens, kids, college students and seniors also play casual offerings.

"The casual game segment is by far the fastest growing sector of the games industry," said Steve Bergenholtz, president of Beanbag Studios. "The increase has been so tremendous in the past couple of years, casual games now outsell hardcore costing many millions to develop. Since we are making games for the masses, our goals and the famous For Dummies brand are a perfect match."

Majesco operations VP Gui Karyo said the new studio would focus on building a product line and IP assets that "emphasize fun, addictive game experiences." Karyo also praised the experience of Petro, who will report to him, as he welcomed him aboard in the studio's leading role.

Majesco Announces New Casual Game Studio, Appoints Former Sega Exec In Lead Role [Gamasutra]

$720 million USA, Europe (includes online games and versions of those online games sold in retail outlets)
$517 million on mobile platforms globally
$1 billion in Asia

Does this stat include mobile gaming? Because most mobile gaming is casual gaming. But more importantly, how is casual gaming being defined for the accounting? Because, as confusing as we're making this, maybe most mobile gaming isn't casual gaming. We don't know! It's insanity!

My guess? Casual gaming is large for people who casually spend money. And the mobile phone market sucks every consumer into that trap. We'll let you know if these numbers ever get any clearer. Because, as usual, you're on a need to know basis. Yeah, you're kind of a big deal. We get it.

The Truth About Those Casual Game Stats [vh1gamebreak]

Most game developers are "core gamers", well versed in the complex logics of resource allocation. We tend to privilege simplicity and emergence in games, favoring sophisticated experiences that create new challenges each time we play. And perhaps one well-balanced, mastery-style casual game is less financially risky than many throwaway experiences. But such an attitude ignores the pleasures of the fleeting, the transitory, the impermanent. Casual games, perhaps, can do more by doing less.

It's an interesting take on things, but I'm not sure I can see any companies interested in turning a profit finding the one night stands of casual gaming a safe proposition.

Persuasive Games: Casual As In Sex, Not Casual As In Friday [Gamasutra]

I'm sure a lot of you have similar stories to this one: New Publisher Division, first six months: "We need to differentiate ourselves! Let's create radically innovative titles. Let's show the other guys how it's done!" A year later, of the 12 titles released, only one is a hit. Another two have been fairly successful, but with flaws.

Sales steps in: "We're not selling squat!" A coup d'etat ensues. Next year's portfolio is 50% clones, and 50% minor incremental innovations. Sales go up, but churn is high because players lose interest. We need to understand and plan this better. We need to realize that incremental innovation is what most players feel comfortable with. But radical innovation brings new players and renews the interest of existing ones who are done with their favorite genre.

The problem is in striking that healthy balance between "Oh god, not another [Bejeweled/Final Fantasy/insert game of your choice here] rip off" and investing in 'different' games that wind up flopping (see: Okami). That line is obviously going to be different for casual developers vs. studios making games for a 'hardcore' audience, but there's got to be a healthy balance somewhere.

Innovation in Casual Games: A Rallying Cry

Rohit Sharma, the chief operating officer of Zapak Digital Entertainment, told DNA Money the company is also looking at investing in content developers for gaming, from countries like US and Korea, and has a kitty of $5 million to $10 million for the same.

The ADAG-promoted venture is expected to invest $100 million in Zapak's three verticals — gaming portals, gaming cafes and content creation — over the next 3-5 years.

"We are launching a European site and a Chinese site and are looking to be a global brand very soon. We may also invest in some studios because software creation and ownership are key in gaming," Sharma added.

It's nice to see players other than China, Korea, and Japan getting in on the act. I wonder, though, how many gaming portals of the casual variety does the world really need?

Zapak's game for global play [DNA India]

WorldWinner and PlayFirst Team Up to Create Diner Dash(R) Online Cash Competitions

Players Can Soon Compete Against Others for Cash and Prizes While Expanding Flo's Online Restaurant Empire

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA and NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS—(Marketwire - Aug. 23, 2007) - WorldWinner, a subsidiary of FUN Technologies Inc. (TSX:FUN)(AIM:FUN) and the leading provider of online game competitions, and PlayFirst, Inc. a leading publisher of casual games, today announced an agreement that calls for WorldWinner to exclusively develop, launch and market cash competitions in the wildly popular online casual game, Diner Dash(R), and its sequels Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue and Diner Dash: Flo on the Go.

Developed by the award-winning independent studio Gamelab, Diner Dash follows former stock broker Flo as she quits her corporate job to operate her own roadside diner, growing it into a five-star restaurant. Top-selling Diner Dash debuted as a downloadable game in 2004 and is now available on several platforms including online, mobile, retail and coming soon to video game consoles.

"Diner Dash has such a strong following in the casual games community, making it an excellent addition to our WorldWinner portfolio," said Peter Blacklow, president of WorldWinner. "Based on the past success of Diner Dash, we expect the WorldWinner cash competition versions to be a hit for fans of Flo, old and new."

"Since Diner Dash first launched in 2004, it has been a number one hit across major online game portals, mobile and retail, and a popular handheld title, proving that casual gamers love to play their favorite game on many platforms," said Rich Roberts, vice president of sales and business development, PlayFirst. "Introducing cash competitions for Diner Dash with WorldWinner will give fans a new way to experience the game, while introducing the WorldWinner community to one of the most popular casual game properties."

Scheduled to launch later this year, the cash version of Diner Dash will be available to players exclusively on WorldWinner.com and its partner sites, including AOL Games, GSN, MSN Games and Pogo.com.

WorldWinner and PlayFirst Team Up to Create Diner Dash(R) Online Cash Competitions [via PlayNoEvil]

"Despite the growing popularity of YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven largely by casual gaming activities," James Kuai, a research analyst at Parks Associates, said in a prepared statement.

Over the last year, casual gaming has risen 79%, while social networks like MySpace and Facebook only rose 46%. Things aren't completely rosy for gaming's dominance, however, as the casual video viewing portion of the audience grew a massive 123%, which I attribute completely to Chocolate Rain.

"The casual gaming industry cannot rest on its laurels," Kuai said. "In order to counter the growing competition from other online activities, the industry needs to continue to grow its fan base and find ways to better monetize its existing audience."

Game-Playing Eclipses Social Networks, Online Video [Yahoo! News]

FOG speaks of the possibilities of Frisbee on the Wiimote, hula hooping with the Wii Fit board and branching out to other systems, including PCs, as motion technology reaches more platforms. They also cite dance pads as having potential for hacky sack, which was probably done better by the EyeToy. As for Slip 'N Slide, I cannot wait to buy that peripheral...or to see Reggie try a Wiislide on stage wearing nothing but a Speedo and blue footies.

Wham-O Toys Heading To Video Games [gameinformer]

One of the big problems of software development given the costs is that companies are slaves to Wall Street and Wall Street wants results. If you have a long-term perspective on development, you have to be thinking two years out. To build a good game, you can't bring it to market in less than two years. If you react to what is going on here and now, you may find yourself with a different marketplace by the time you get there with the code. We have seen it time and time again. Tomb Raider was a revolutionary product on the PlayStation. Everyone tried to do a rip off. By the time they got there, it was too late. When Grand Theft Auto came out, everybody gravitated to Grand Theft Auto. Now the Wii is having success. They are touting casual gaming. Supposedly everybody is going to race over to casual games. The unfortunate thing is the fruits of those labors will show up two years down the road, and if the consumer tastes shift, they will find themselves all dressed up with no place to go.

Of course...we won't mention PSN, the SIXAXIS, or things of that nature.

An interview with Jack Tretton, head of Sony Computer Entertainment America [mercurynews]

A study, commissioned by PopCap Games, showed that women love a good game of Cake Mania, and they aren't shy about it. After media content providers were determined to deliver advertisements catering to the young male bracket on consoles, the study by Information Solutions Group (ISG) reveals that casual gamers are "predominantly female."

In another article:

Leading Japanese mobile company NTT Docomo has published a study on mobile gaming demographics showing that female players are much more likely to play before sleep... Figures showed that 59% of female users play mobile games more than four times a week in comparison to 51% of male users.

I say, all this proves is that our boyfriends aren't doing a good job entertaining us. Kim Phu

Study Says Women Dominate Casual Gaming [Wii QJ]
Who Plays Before Bed? [Next Gen]

Steve Jobs will be taking to the stage at Macworld 2007 any second now. We know he's going to be talking about the company's new phone, according to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, but there's been a presistent rumor that he's also going to be talking about gaming.

Specifically, what I've heard is that Apple want to rev up their casual game production for both the iPod and the new phone. Makes sense. Is it real? We'll find out in the next 30 minutes or so. Brian Crecente

In downtown San Francisco earlier today, big brother site Gizmodo was deployed to cover the Apple Showtime event. Along with new Nanos, Shuffles, updated iPods, new iTunes movie store, and iTV, Apple unveiled its new video game line-up for the iPod. Titles include: Tetris, Bejeweled, Pac-Man, Cubis 2, Mahjon, Mini Golf, Texas Hold'em, Vortex and Zuma. Not bad for device whose previously "games" included Brick, Parachute, Solitaire and Music Quiz. The Giz guys even have a handy guide on how to get iPod games to work on your 5G iPod. Where are these iGames available? At the iTunes stores. When? Right now! Brian Ashcraft

Get Yer 5G iPod to Play Games [Gizmodo]

A UT-Austin grad just won $1 million playing solitaire, Bewjewled 2 and Zuma.

Yes, I'm disgusted too.

Kavitha Yalavarthi, of Odessa, Texas, won FUN Technologies first-ever WorldWide Web Games, taking home the big cardboard check after 12 hours of competition in Los Angeles Sunday.

Yalavarthi had to take out 70 other contestants from six countries and 22 states to win the big-ass check and highlight the futility of my existence.

That's fine, the joke's on her; she still has to go back to Odessa, Texas. Brian Crecente

Fun Technologies Awards Million-Dollar Grand Prize to First-Ever Worldwide Web Games Champion [Market Wire]

Gamasutra reports that according to a recent study, the elusive "casual gamer" is not as flighty a beast as previously thought:

A new report released by Macrovision Corporation, which operates the Trymedia Network for the digital distribution of PC games, reveals that, according to a recent worldwide survey, 37 percent of those who use casual games play nine or more two-hour 'sessions' each week.

This contrasts with assumptions that these mostly female, mostly older gamers were getting in a game of Solitaire or two during the gridlocked part of their morning commute and then returning to their lives as upstanding citizens.

"Just one more game," mutters Granny "Nubk1lla" Grace, gritting her dentures in front of the Xbox. Her wide-eyed grandchildren huddle in a far corner, clutching each other and praying mom and dad will return from vacation sooner than later, and then maybe they'll get something to eat and someone will check on the baby, who hasn't cried in an awful long time... Eliza gauger

Study: 'Casual' Players Exhibit Heavy Game Usage

The game is due for download sometime this spring.

Uno on Xbox Live Arcade [Xboxyde]

There are two ways, and it somewhat depends on the platform. In most of our platforms, we have developer license folks or portfolio planners, and that's what their job is. They take submissions and look over content and give feedback and plan what the portfolio is going to be with the folks who run the services. ...

I guess the follow-up question would be "what would be something that would be interesting to us?" Partly it depends on the platform. If it's something that's going to go on the Xbox 360, it depends on that demographic and the question of whether that content would fit there. And part of that also depends on what we already have. We don't want ten pool games. There might be a couple of pool games because there are game-variations, but we want games that will fill holes in the portfolio.

As for what games do appear, games that run on multiple platforms are much more interesting. Developers who are willing to take our API's and build in the score reporting features and the leader-board system and the achievement system are much more interesting. If you take advantage of the community features, that makes a game much more interesting from the standpoint of us, the host.

But I have to say, the core of all of it is "is the game fun?" Is the game approachable and does the game meet those elements of what a casual game is. I believe that's the agreement that we have with our players. We're going to put games out that are fun. That's our commitment. It does me no good to put out 500 games if 450 of them are bad.

Chris Early and Shawn McMichael Talk About Xbox Live Arcade [Blog]