Comments on: What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common

By: Online Game Playing » Blog Archive » What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:25:36 +0000

[...] Nile The Apprentice: Los Angeles Private Eye – Greatest Unsolved Mysteries Mystery Case source: What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common, Daily Game Development, Business and [...]

By: GameProducer.Net » Azada Shows How to Beat Cloners

GameProducer.Net » Azada Shows How to Beat Cloners — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 06:03:28 +0000

[...] soon after I’ve asked for more innovation for casual games there comes a game that really nails it: Azada is not only the best selling game at the moment, but [...]

By: GameProducer.Net » Travelogue 360 Rome - New Angle on “Find Hidden Objects” Game Genre

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 16:55:29 +0000

[...] hidden objects in games is simple, yet popular among bestselling games. Technically it doesn’t require much – but in terms of gameplay it can be addictive and [...]

By: Emma’s Software: eBlog » Are Indie Developers Doomed to Clones Only?

Emma’s Software: eBlog » Are Indie Developers Doomed to Clones Only? — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:48:26 +0000

[...] Perhaps the problem is not that these developers do not want to make creative games but people don’t want to play games that have a very different structure of what they are used to. After all, all these games are the Top 10 for some reason… [...]

By: What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common — Your Wii Store Blog

What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common — Your Wii Store Blog — Fri, 25 May 2007 22:54:42 +0000

[...] wars Two games got my attention: Agatha Christie and The Apprentice. Both games could source: What Best Selling Casual Games Have in Common, Game Producer Resource: Daily Game Development, [...]

By: A Link to the Future » Blog Archive » Casual Gaming Redux

A Link to the Future » Blog Archive » Casual Gaming Redux — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:07:54 +0000

[...] Producer has an interesting post up taking a closer look at casual games.Â The author makes a number of points, but a few elements in particular stood out [...]

By: Orange Brat

Orange Brat — Wed, 23 May 2007 22:15:42 +0000

Here’s two links. The first is from the self-proclaimed most visited adv. site on the internets. It’s a review of the Christie game and from the head honcho of the site no less. He asserts that this title is the next generation of the casual game market. Also, did you know that Jane Jensen was the designer? Her casual game credits include BeTrapped! and Inspector Parker. Of course, there’s that little known trilogy called Gabriel Knight, too. ;) Gamasutra recently interviewed (complete with 15 year old head shot of her on the page), so she seems to be making a comeback. She’s making a new 2.5D adv. game called Grey Matter:

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/AgathaNile/Nile.shtm

Here’s a link to the Tunguska demo:

http://www.secretfiles-game.com/

The background of this Flash site is from the game (and it scrolls if you place the mouse at the right edge) and if you hold down the spacebar, the hotspot icons pop up just like from the game. The demo can be found in the file cabinet. Most reviews, both pro and end user, were quite positive when it came to this spacebar option and the technology behind the mouse cursor. I must admit that it spoiled me a bit, as well.

All right, I’ve promoted my favorite genre enough for one month. ;)

By: Roman Buodzwski

Roman Buodzwski — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:03:46 +0000

Juuso, all I said is that if you jugde a game as a developer you can easily misjugde the title and say “man, this game is so unpolished, it won’t make it”. I do this everytime. While ago there has been Amazonia game in top10 on BFG. It is so borring game that I really couldn’t understand how it made it into top 10 and Runes did not.

By: Andy Megowan

Andy Megowan — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:03:20 +0000

There’s a disconnect here.

The list you published was of best *selling* games. Developers didn’t assemble this list, and neither, I hope, did Big Fish. The list represents what the customers like enough to pay for.

In any medium–and especially in ours these days–we must use the popular as a point of departure, and then gently lead the customers to newer experiences. We must let them feel safe and comfortable every step of the way as we nudge them ever so slightly out of their comfort zone. Having a “fish out of water” plot in a movie or television show makes for great entertainment, but your typical customer doesn’t want that particular starring role. No, in fact, it’s a common NIGHTMARE to be on stage in front of an audience and not know where you are or what you’re doing.

If anything, the situation is worse in hardcore games, where folks frequently obey the buzz but otherwise stick with products that offer familiar, comfortable brands and gameplay, but with more content.

We can take this opportunity to gently lead our fans to amazing new experiences, but it may mean taking smaller steps than designers would like when creating new games. So the path from 3-match to RTS requires that the consumers enjoy seven or eight games along the way instead of two or three. I think I can live with making twice as many games!

By: Juuso - Game Producer

Juuso - Game Producer — Wed, 23 May 2007 18:24:11 +0000

Smart cursors alone won’t help – if the player gets stuck :) That’s not happening in casual games (the way it might happen in adventure games).

We’ll wait to see you start the 2nd Golden Age – keep us informed!

P.S. Where can I download a demo of Secret Files: Tunguska (I only found this review, but no demo…)