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I guess I'm a bit confused about how you're using casual to describe gaming. I'd argue that King Quest were some of the least casual games in history. I'm a l

I guess I'm a bit confused about how you're using casual to describe gaming. I'd argue that King Quest were some of the least casual games in history. I'm a lousy FPS player, but none of the Modern Warfare games would require a tenth the time I spent trying to get past the Yeti in Kings Quest V. The old Sierra games required constant focus and diligent note taking that I would have thought would rule them out from being casual. You'd never get anywhere with these games just spending ten minutes a day playing on the train. It can work for Monkey Island, since you can keep slamming things together until you win, but the Sierra games punish anything short of building a complete mental map of the game universe. EDIT: I suddenly became afraid that this post came off as snarky or sarcastic. I didn't intend for it to be. Honestly, I'm just getting old and recognizing that the definition of casual changed while I wasn't looking. I really do want to know what it now means for a game to be casual.

jiggy2011 15y ago
I'm not 100% sure what the definition of a "casual" gamer is anymore. I guess it's a demographic that does not fit the pimply faced teenager that many games were marketed too in the 90s. Take me for example, I probably spend an average of 3-5 hours a week playing games and I don't take them too seriously so I would think that would classify me as "casual". But on the other hand I generally enjoy in depth RTS or RPG games more than basic puzzle games. The old Sierra games I remember playing the most were the space quest series and I wouldn't describe those as "casual" since they were brutally difficult in parts.
- Shaanie 15y ago
  Hardcore and casual gaming used to be referring to the amount of time spent playing video games, IIRC. Nowadays, a casual gamer seems to be someone who enjoys primarily easier/social gaming (farmville etc).
  - jiggy2011 15y ago
    True, but I find it hard to say someone who spends 10 hours a day watering their crops on farmville (I know people like this) "casual" whilst someone who plays FPS twice a week is "hardcore". To me a hardcore gamer is somebody who is interested in ranking in competitions and being top of the online leader board. Where their ego is directly associated with the game. Or perhaps someone heavily into modding/mapping.
- egypturnash 15y ago
  Sometimes I think it's "anyone who does not obsessively play FPSs and other boy-oriented games about lots of killing".

jiggy2011 15y ago

I'm not 100% sure what the definition of a "casual" gamer is anymore. I guess it's a demographic that does not fit the pimply faced teenager that many games were marketed too in the 90s. Take me for example, I probably spend an average of 3-5 hours a week playing games and I don't take them too seriously so I would think that would classify me as "casual". But on the other hand I generally enjoy in depth RTS or RPG games more than basic puzzle games. The old Sierra games I remember playing the most were the space quest series and I wouldn't describe those as "casual" since they were brutally difficult in parts.

Shaanie 15y ago
Hardcore and casual gaming used to be referring to the amount of time spent playing video games, IIRC. Nowadays, a casual gamer seems to be someone who enjoys primarily easier/social gaming (farmville etc).
- jiggy2011 15y ago
  True, but I find it hard to say someone who spends 10 hours a day watering their crops on farmville (I know people like this) "casual" whilst someone who plays FPS twice a week is "hardcore". To me a hardcore gamer is somebody who is interested in ranking in competitions and being top of the online leader board. Where their ego is directly associated with the game. Or perhaps someone heavily into modding/mapping.
egypturnash 15y ago
Sometimes I think it's "anyone who does not obsessively play FPSs and other boy-oriented games about lots of killing".