Casual Gaming Returns!

During the latest recording of the TD Gaming Podcast (due out in a few days) the topic arose about gaming going casual again. We touched on it, but it's hard to forget.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's we were all about arcade type quick style games. It was a test of the time, the systems really didn't have the power to wield too much more complexity.

As we moved into the early 90's we moved away from casual style games and side scrollers for a lofty 3D rich environment. We've created consoles with new controls schemes, more buttons (Atari Jaguar had 15 of 'em) and deeper graphical involvement.

We jumped to full motion video, high resolution textures and now we're performing 3D "acting" instead of full motion video. We're now capable of rendering life-like scenes in real time when years ago we used a video camera and encoded it.

Yet, something is changing. Microsoft recently talks about a casual gaming plan where they'll start trying to involve other family members in gaming. A more "family friendly" console--like the Wii.

Why now? Xbox Live Arcade has increased their casual titles, starting with things like Hexic HD, a few card games, pool and eventually Uno. Now we're seeing side scrolling action games, Heavy Weapon from PopCap was a good example of some hot side scrolling action.

Now they're talking about real game releases that are focused at family entertainment? Sony's PS3 is working on PlayStation Home, a very casual type environment.

Sure, many will still contain great graphical advancements but many are going "simple" instead of sticking "complex" with shorter fun game titles. Electronic Arts is opening a Casual Gaming division as well...? What is the world coming to?

It's history repeating itself. First we were happy to have video games, than we were happy to expand the demographic and get a bit more involved. Now, we're wishing for something new and different. As a matter of fact, it's really old and the same. But humans are a short life spanned creature with a shorter attention span and memory.

What's old is new again and we're learning that expanding our future by borrowing from the past isn't always a bad thing.

Game on. Casual style.