What's Your Casual Gaming Weakness?

GPT: "Though many supposed hardcore gamers might challenge the idea, almost everyone enjoys the occasional casual game. Whether it's Pokemon, the latest Zynga game or even Minesweeper; everyone has at least one casual orientated game they can't get away from."

[vgn24]

Pokemon for me :)

[jonlynch]

Pokemon is way too deep of a game to be called a "casual" title. People always confuse titles that kids like with casuals.

[Dramscus]

A casual game is any game that is easily accessible.
Anybody can pick up and play a pokemon game ind do well at it.
Most RPG's are casual because you get stronger as you approach the end.

Games like Demon's souls, 3d dot game heroes, MAG, metal gear solid mirrors edge, warhawk and a number of other games are NOT casual.

Whereas games like pokemon, mario, call of duty, zelda, katamari, littlebigplanet, borderlands, heavy rain, bioshock, homefront, uncharted, god of war, halo, gears of war, killzone. Are ALL casual titles.

You are welcome to disagree but high selling games are all (almost) by necessity casual. If you game is easier to play more people will play it. The simplest law of gae development right there.

PS. I'm not saying that in order to be a hardcore gamer you have to play core games. I'm not saying people that enjoy more casual games are less of gamers, All I'm saying is that some games are more difficult than others thus making them more of a niche market which relegates them to a core audience of people who are interested in those particular mechanics. Which are often difficult for people unfamiliar with such things to quickly become accustomed to.

I consider myself a core gamer because I'll play any game. I've played all the titles above from both core and casual lists. I know people that I consider bigger gamers than I that mostly play games of the casual variety, though they play not video games such as some of the cheap ass (board) games, munchkin, caracassonne, citadels, magic the gathering, warhammer, etc.

[Tony P]

"Casual" can mean a lot of different things depending on who you are and who you're talking about.

Casual can indicate the targeted demographic, mode of play, or the player's relationship with the game.

Look at the list of games in the article. Everyone seems to have a different interpretation of what casual means to them: Call of Duty, Angry Birds, Team Fortress 2, etc.

There is really no hard and fast rule for what is considered casual.

[zootang]

Call of Duty! I can't help it.

[Pixel_Enemy]

I agree, Cod is uber casual but it is fun in it's own way. I am skipping MW3 and going with BF3 instead tho

[saladthieves]

I would say SuperStar HD or Dead Nation. That's pretty much as casual as I can get.

I tried Angry Birds...I didn't like it. For some reason I don't see this strange fascination with this game that has some of my friends hooked to it. I guess the same reason why they see me playing BFBC2 Rush mode in multiplayer and don't get the fascination either :).

[SLLCKGT]

Its like jingling keys in front of a baby. They might be having the time of their life, but you know its nothing amazing. I've seen many non gamers go nuts over Angry Birds, for me its a yawn.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

but TETRIS has always been one of my favorite games ever. So simple and fun. I love to play it on my GB still.

[Dramscus]

Shooters.

There's only one shooter I wouldn't call casual.

Edit. I'm talking about MAG for ps3 by the way. If you think another shooter is hardcore tell me and we'll debate it (I enjoy debating in a neutral fashion{no trolls or flamers})

[electricshadow]

Just curious, do you think Battlefield 3 will be hardcore?

[Dramscus]

It looks like a very realistic game. In my experience with the battlefield games the single player campaigns have been more technically difficult than the multiplayer side. Which leads me to answer with the single player will probably be more "core" than the multi.

Lets face it though people buy these games more for the online than the campaign.

Though I haven't played any of it yet and they could really add in some tactical options to the multi player.
I think in order for a shooter on or offline to be hardcore it has to have tactics as a requirement. Not just an option, or a suggestion. If your not playing tactically it should hand you your ass with a silver spoon in it.

As with anything though it's not just black and white, it's all sorts of shades of grey and colours in between. Though I think most games just tend to be more casual because that sells better.

[saladthieves]

@Dramscus -

"Though I haven't played any of it yet and they could really add in some tactical options to the multi player. "

You haven't played it yet, so how can you just assume that it doesn't have tactics? People keep making this mistake. Yes it is true that it is a shooter, just like the other game called Call of Duty. In my opinion, strategy is what separates these two shooters. One has it, in the form of versatility in different ways you can attack such as vehicles; or different classes all in the form of teamwork. The other game (Call of Duty) doesn't incorporate strategy. Their play styles are different.

[ITLoo]

Pokemon. But only Red and Blue, none of this 600 pokemon bologna.

[electricshadow]

Angry Birds and Bejeweled 3. But, I don't care because those two games are so fun, in my opinion.

[Fishy Fingers]

Not a fan of the 'casual' or 'hardcore' tags, but I guess Angry Birds. Love it, all 3 games, all 3 stars on every level. Best toilet game going :)

[Pixel_Enemy]

"I don't subscribe to any labels" lol

[Fishy Fingers]

LOL... Well that kind of makes me sound a douche, but it's true, I dont really get the whole casual/hardcore tagging of games. For gamers, yes, games, nope.

[Pixel_Enemy]

It's a quote from nick and norah's infinite playlist. She asked if he was straight edge and that was his response

[I HARLEM I]

UNO WITH MY XBOX LIVE VISIONARY CAM........ YOU DONT KNOW WHO OR WHAT U MIGHT SEE!!! LOL.......

[Angrymorgan]

Sick of seeing naked guys on UNO, gives me nightmares

[LightofDarkness]

Angry Birds, Wii Sports, Kinect Sports. The big three then :p Dance Central is good for a laugh as well. Great when everyone's pissed after a good night's boozing, easy way to get "physical" as well, if ya catch my drift ;)

[claterz]

Sports Champions and Start the Party.
I'm trying to platinum both. They're so fun!

[Rivitur]

World of Goo, Plants vs zombies, Zuma, super meat boy, and Peggle.

[zgoldenlionz]

lately its been Duels of the Planeswalkers and Flying Hamster.

[sinclaircrown]

Fragger has me hooked right now. Angry Birds for a while.

Also YDKJ

[despair]

Solitare, freecell and hearts, a bit old school but it does work for me and that's if I can't find a real deck or other people to play with(for hearts obviously) nothing beats a real deck and people.

[Angrymorgan]

Army of darkness on iPhone, sick game

[bozebo]

When did pokemon become casual? Bearing in mind that I havn't played it since Yellow...

[Raichu50]

Halo