What makes a game casual?

I was sort of thinking about this today what makes a game casual.

Is a game casual if it's popular among casual gamers. well then call of duty, grand theft auto and halo must all be casual. c

do cartoon visuals make a game casual, well that doesn't make sense there are games with cartoon graphics that are mainly enjoyed by hardcore gamers.

so what is it that makes a game casual?

I was sort of thinking about this today what makes a game casual.

Is a game casual if it's popular among casual gamers. well then call of duty, grand theft auto and halo must all be casual. c

do cartoon visuals make a game casual, well that doesn't make sense there are games with cartoon graphics that are mainly enjoyed by hardcore gamers.

so what is it that makes a game casual?

kingyotoX

pretty much any game that my mom can play.PSBox3SixWi

This is the correct one^

It's more like a scale

CasualHardcore

The most casual are the party games, minigames and such.

Hardcoreness is something no one is really able to define.
Most games fall into the middle spectrum, where a lot of casuals play them, and a lot of hardcore people play them.

Games which are exceedingly easy for anyone to play and be good at.

Basically games that anyone can play and quickly get into is a casual title. Games such as Ninja Gaiden are exclusively for the hardcore and not everyone can play this type of game.

Halo, GTA, Smash Bros and World of Warcraft are all examples of casual games. They are easy for everyone to get into. However all of these games are prime examples of a casual game done right - they also cater to the hardcore audience.

What makes a game casual?

Games that anyone can pick up and play. Generally these games have a small learning curve, but this does not mean that they're easy. Solitaire is generally considered a casual game, yet it's hard for most people to win. Also, the game needs to be able to be played in a quick session, which could be between commercials, etc. I disagree with a previous poster that World of Warcraft is casual. It's too difficult to learn, and definately cannot be played in a 5 minute session really that successfully. Halo or CoD online sessions can, however, as well as games like Guitar Hero or DDR. These typically tend to be more hardcore than casual though, although they could make a case for being able to be played by casual gamers.

I hate the terms casual and hardcore, casual seems to imply dumb, or bad. Casual games get lots of hate even when they are good. I might say accessible games. I dunno. I like the bird man and the casual fallacy.

http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html

What makes a game casual?

Games that anyone can pick up and play. Generally these games have a small learning curve, but this does not mean that they're easy. Solitaire is generally considered a casual game, yet it's hard for most people to win. Also, the game needs to be able to be played in a quick session, which could be between commercials, etc. I disagree with a previous poster that World of Warcraft is casual. It's too difficult to learn, and definately cannot be played in a 5 minute session really that successfully. Halo or CoD online sessions can, however, as well as games like Guitar Hero or DDR. These typically tend to be more hardcore than casual though, although they could make a case for being able to be played by casual gamers.

Nytegard

good description dude!

Basically games that anyone can play and quickly get into is a casual title. Games such as Ninja Gaiden are exclusively for the hardcore and not everyone can play this type of game.

Halo, GTA, Smash Bros and World of Warcraft are all examples of casual games. They are easy for everyone to get into. However all of these games are prime examples of a casual game done right - they also cater to the hardcore audience.

Arhazard

I hate the terms casual and hardcore, casual seems to imply dumb, or bad. Casual games get lots of hate even when they are good. I might say accessible games. I dunno. I like the bird man and the casual fallacy.

http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html

laughingman42

er...how does casual imply dumb??? If you can't remember we are talking about games here!! this is a hobby and if someone doesn't bother engaging in the difficult games or doesn't engage for that long then you can't call him dumb!! Its just a HOBBY! I play hardcore games when I have the time otherwise I'll play a casual game for a quick session like an arcade racer.(midtown madness 3) :D

[QUOTE="laughingman42"]

I hate the terms casual and hardcore, casual seems to imply dumb, or bad. Casual games get lots of hate even when they are good. I might say accessible games. I dunno. I like the bird man and the casual fallacy.

http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html

Great_Ragnarok

er...how does casual imply dumb??? If you can't remember we are talking about games here!! this is a hobby and if someone doesn't bother engaging in the difficult games or doesn't engage for that long then you can't call him dumb!! Its just a HOBBY! I play hardcore games when I have the time otherwise I'll play a casual game for a quick session like an arcade racer.(midtown madness 3) :D

I'm talking about on SW. People talk about casual games and gamers ruining the market like they are bad or dumb or something. I'm not saying that they are dumb.

pretty much any game that my mom can play.PSBox3SixWi

That's funny because I keep hearing that games like GTA 4 and COD4 are casual games and games like SMG are Hardcore. Yet I can garuntee there are more moms playing Mario then the other 2.

[QUOTE="Great_Ragnarok"][QUOTE="laughingman42"]

I hate the terms casual and hardcore, casual seems to imply dumb, or bad. Casual games get lots of hate even when they are good. I might say accessible games. I dunno. I like the bird man and the casual fallacy.

http://malstrom.50webs.com/birdman.html

laughingman42

er...how does casual imply dumb??? If you can't remember we are talking about games here!! this is a hobby and if someone doesn't bother engaging in the difficult games or doesn't engage for that long then you can't call him dumb!! Its just a HOBBY! I play hardcore games when I have the time otherwise I'll play a casual game for a quick session like an arcade racer.(midtown madness 3) :D

I'm talking about on SW. People talk about casual games and gamers ruining the market like they are bad or dumb or something. I'm not saying that they are dumb.

Casual games that appeal to both casuals and cores aren't ruining the market. Casual games that only appeal to casual are.

[QUOTE="Arhazard"]Basically games that anyone can play and quickly get into is a casual title. Games such as Ninja Gaiden are exclusively for the hardcore and not everyone can play this type of game.

Halo, GTA, Smash Bros and World of Warcraft are all examples of casual games. They are easy for everyone to get into. However all of these games are prime examples of a casual game done right - they also cater to the hardcore audience.

foxhound_fox

You mean no "gamer" can be called a casual or a hardcore gamer!!! ofcourse you can define games to be casual or not.but like you said yourself defining the casual gamer is the problem.

Casual games that appeal to both casuals and cores aren't ruining the market. Casual games that only appeal to casual are.Shadow2k6

You mean no "gamer" can be called a casual or a hardcore gamer!!! ofcourse you can define games to be casual or not.but like you said yourself defining the casual gamer is the problem.Great_Ragnarok

[QUOTE="Great_Ragnarok"]You mean no "gamer" can be called a casual or a hardcore gamer!!! ofcourse you can define games to be casual or not.but like you said yourself defining the casual gamer is the problem.foxhound_fox

you missed my point! which was that it's difficult in some aspects to define a gamer as casual or hardcore.. but imo Hardcore gamers have more skill and take gaming more seriously. but ofcourse none of this is exclusive. any player can play whatever game they want regardless of their skill level etc. it's that a casual mite find a hardcore game too demanding and very likely not play it.but yes I accept thats it's not exact.

you missed my point! which was that it's difficult in some aspects to define a gamer as casual or hardcore.. but imo Hardcore gamers have more skill and take gaming more seriously. but ofcourse none of this is exclusive. any player can play whatever game they want regardless of their skill level etc. it's that a casual mite find a hardcore game too demanding and very likely not play it.but yes I accept thats it's not exact. Great_Ragnarok

[QUOTE="Great_Ragnarok"]you missed my point! which was that it's difficult in some aspects to define a gamer as casual or hardcore.. but imo Hardcore gamers have more skill and take gaming more seriously. but ofcourse none of this is exclusive. any player can play whatever game they want regardless of their skill level etc. it's that a casual mite find a hardcore game too demanding and very likely not play it.but yes I accept thats it's not exact. foxhound_fox

despite our conflicts in opinions you still seem to misunderstand some of my points. I never said that hardcore gamers are better than casual gamers. the term simply applies to your commitment to the hobby. a player can be hardcore or casual depending on his effort. and that could be playing for lot longer allowing the once casual player to enter the ranks of experienced players in competition. casual and hardcore is just a description of where you are at.

but then sometimes I consider my self to be a casual.when I just can't bother putting effort in and so will end up playing an arcade racer. but sometimes I consider my self to be hardcore when I play startegy games for long hours.my point is that the basis for my gamer description was defined by what sort of game I played.which means it's pointless to define a gamer as casual or hardcore. only thing we can define is games themselves. hope that makes sense.

I was sort of thinking about this today what makes a game casual.

Is a game casual if it's popular among casual gamers. well then call of duty, grand theft auto and halo must all be casual. c

do cartoon visuals make a game casual, well that doesn't make sense there are games with cartoon graphics that are mainly enjoyed by hardcore gamers.

so what is it that makes a game casual?

kingyotoX

There is no clear definition, and I reckon it depends on the context.
Halo 3 vs ArmA = Halo 3 is casual.
Halo 3 vs Wii Fit = Halo 3 is hardcore.

If there is no context, that's where it starts getting fuzzy. And what is a hardcore and casual gamer? No clear definition there either. And if a game appeals to both types, then what does that make the game? So it's all just really vague and stupid. You can only really define the extremes, i.e. ArmA and Wii Fit.

Button smasher games like god of warliberty71441

wow your so funny

[QUOTE="PSBox3SixWi"]pretty much any game that my mom can play.Mr-XXX300

That's funny because I keep hearing that games like GTA 4 and COD4 are casual games and games like SMG are Hardcore. Yet I can garuntee there are more moms playing Mario then the other 2.

that is bass ackwards.

despite our conflicts in opinions you still seem to misunderstand some of my points. I never said that hardcore gamers are better than casual gamers. the term simply applies to your commitment to the hobby. a player can be hardcore or casual depending on his effort. and that could be playing for lot longer allowing the once casual player to enter the ranks of experienced players in competition. casual and hardcore is just a description of where you are at.Great_Ragnarok

but then sometimes I consider my self to be a casual.when I just can't bother putting effort in and so will end up playing an arcade racer. but sometimes I consider my self to be hardcore when I play startegy games for long hours.my point is that the basis for my gamer description was defined by what sort of game I played.which means it's pointless to define a gamer as casual or hardcore. only thing we can define is games themselves. hope that makes sense.Great_Ragnarok

[QUOTE="Great_Ragnarok"]despite our conflicts in opinions you still seem to misunderstand some of my points. I never said that hardcore gamers are better than casual gamers. the term simply applies to your commitment to the hobby. a player can be hardcore or casual depending on his effort. and that could be playing for lot longer allowing the once casual player to enter the ranks of experienced players in competition. casual and hardcore is just a description of where you are at.foxhound_fox

but then sometimes I consider my self to be a casual.when I just can't bother putting effort in and so will end up playing an arcade racer. but sometimes I consider my self to be hardcore when I play startegy games for long hours.my point is that the basis for my gamer description was defined by what sort of game I played.which means it's pointless to define a gamer as casual or hardcore. only thing we can define is games themselves. hope that makes sense.Great_Ragnarok

well you need something to compare with. like sonmeone else said earlier compared to wiifit Halo3 will be hardcore and compared to AmA Halo3 will look casual. and here the aspect that is used to meassure is difficulty,depth etc. In my example I considered an arcade racer to be casual coz it doesn't require you to put a lot of effort in. where as a strategy game requires you to conentrate very hard etc...

[QUOTE="liberty71441"]Button smasher games like god of warKirlok

wow your so funny

yah really...:roll:

Casual Gamer: Someone that plays now and then for fun and might not find it important to get involved with the story, find every item ect.

Hardcore Gamer: Someone who puts alot more time into games. Plays through games, follows story, enjoys trying to find extras, want to get to best possible level and so on.

Casual Game: A game that is easy to learn and play. A game that does'nt require great knownledge or habits of gaming.

Hardcore Game: A game that usually aim for a perticular gaming group of people. Often takes alot more time to get involved in and used to. Requires great interest in the genre ect.

Now there are no black and whites, there are greyzones between these but this is pretty much how i'd put it if i would have to define causal vs hardcore.

For say a hardcore gamer, it's not as much the games they play as much how much time they spend on that perticular game.

pretty much any game that my mom can play.PSBox3SixWi

Kinda funny my wife plays every game I do and she is the Mom of my kids......

Button smasher games like god of warliberty71441

rofl good one. yeah, God of War is very casual.

I say games like Wii fit. It's very much geared towards casual gamers and overweight soccer moms.

Easy and anyone can play, from young to very old. I want to say family type of games. Fun.

Hardcore gamers are devoted to the specific types of games that brings them challenges, that no one else may enjoy but them. Grand Theft Auto and Halo are perfect examples of Hardcore games. A devoted, rabid type of following. Fun.

Not much skill required, lots of advertising, silly gimmicks, a low score, a 3+ or 7+ rating, high sales, a game based on a book, movie or tv show for kids, lots of colorful things.

All those things put together make a casual game. Im not saying a game with high sales and lots of advertising is a casual game, but a game like that requires no skill is most likely a casual game.

Basically games that anyone can play and quickly get into is a casual title. Games such as Ninja Gaiden are exclusively for the hardcore and not everyone can play this type of game.

Halo, GTA, Smash Bros and World of Warcraft are all examples of casual games. They are easy for everyone to get into. However all of these games are prime examples of a casual game done right - they also cater to the hardcore audience.

Arhazard

Well said these games do indeed cater for both!

I see Casual as games like the Sims or that silly pet game on the DS, when i look at games like GTA or Halo i see popular rarther than casual.

[QUOTE="liberty71441"]Button smasher games like god of warLyphe2k

rofl good one. yeah, God of War is very casual.

I say games like Wii fit. It's very much geared towards casual gamers and overweight soccer moms.

wii fit is hardcore !!

which type of people are fat ? pure hardcore gamers are fat course they do no sports and eat thinks like pizza! :D

and its not easy too do those yoga things or balance-games if you normally sitting on your couch :lol:

to me there is no "casual" or "hardcore" game. just games.

If you class yourself into one of these you are just limiting yourself to what you can play. most games are played by casual gamers. So in that respect all games are casual.

Some say that games which require no skill are casual. So they are saying casual gamers are stupid. But what game REALLY requires skill? anyone can play just about any game with practise.

"hardcore" gamers like to think of themselves as higher up than other gamers. They are the sort who will play tounemants for money, and will play games for 8+ hours a day and even more sometimes.

There is no "hardcore" or "casual" gamer really, different people like different games.

also just because someone calls themself a "hardcore2 gamer it does not make them any BETTER at a game. On shooters online I have played people who say they are "hardcore" gamers and I own them. On most games TBH there is no "I am better at the game than you", take COD4 for example, no matter how good you are, a noob can easily spot you first and kill you.