Why Casual Games Are Better Than Hardcore Games

SententiaS: "With the recent rise of casual games, we’re witnessing an unexpected clash between two industry sectors (casual on one side and hardcore on the other) with key figures from both sides predicting the demise of the other or of the entire gaming industry if one side is allowed to develop further. Recently we have quoted the creator of Angry Birds stating that “console gaming is dying” while on the other side of the barricade we have a loud crowd of doomsayers stating that casual games lack substance and they are hurting the industry as a whole. In my opinion both sides are completely off target."

[ultimate-remag]

u must suck @ hardcore games really bad 2 think that... much more less write an article about it... lol double facepalm...

[Dark_Charizard]

Casual < Hardcore

[BK-201]

No one disagree or agree with this asshole because he likes to ninja edit.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I don't even think there are "casual" and "hardcore" games, simply niche and mainstream games. People who try to make themselves feel better by labeling games "casual" or "hardcore" are just insecure elitists.

BTW, Mario, Legend of Zelda, and FF7 were once considered "casual" (or the past equivalent) when they first came out.

[Mr Tretton]

Those games were not considered casual back then, and non gamers were non gamers. Now, once 'non gamers' will play some Wii Sports.

Grandparents can play Wii, but they would not be able to figure out any of those games you listed.

[gorebago]

Lol-fest - to be fair puzzle games like tetris appeal to me but I absolutely hate angry birds.

To each their own but to make a bold declaration as loud as the title is wrong.

I'd rather get lost in a depth-filled console/pc-based rpg than be bored with a lame smart phone game that I'll be bored with within five minutes. I guess I'm just a luddite like that.

[Bigpappy]

Nothing is that simple. You can just say one game type is better than another. The results will differ depending on who you are speaking to. Thats why casual gamers prefer casual games, and hardcore gamers prefer hardcore games. Why must one thing always be better? What is wrong with co-existing as equally important?

[SententiaS]

Indeed, nothing is that simple and I am sure my article doesn't fully cover the issue. They can coexist as equally important, but it is clear both sides can improve and should improve if they wish to survive. Deciding which part from one genre is beneficial to the other if imported is the tricky part. However, it is clear that a market segment left virgin by hardcore games is now being exploited by casual games. Why and how? Well, that's the point of the whole article.

[nycrekid]

Your article sucks. The day casual games are better than core games is the day I quit gaming.

Also there is no such thing as hardcore games. Last I checked ps3 and xbox don't allow x rated games.

[PS3Freak]

LMAO!

[Shok]

Nah, BUT, casual GAMERS are better than these "hardcore" GAMERS, since well, they're not rabid loyalist fanboys who crucify each other for having varying opinions and tastes in gaming.

[Mr Tretton]

That's only half true, it's more that casuals wouldn't care if gaming died tomorrow, there's no passion there.

[Burning_Finger]

The title should be like this..

"Why Casual Games Are Better Than Hardcore Games In My Opinion." Fix'd

[antihiroprotagonist]

I work for a casual game company and I definitely think "core" games are much better.

[Stealth20k]

disgaea is better than angry birds?

hahahahahaha

[B1663r]

I don't know the HR lady in the office is pretty hardcore about her spider solitare playing.

[NoobJobz]

April Fools!

[Wikkid666]

I'm really surprised that there hasn't been some really cheesy goofs on N4G yet.

[NoobJobz]

There are

[Wikkid666]

I mean like someone making pic of new PS, Xbox, or Wii. That gets everyone in a complete frenzy. Something along those lines.

[tomcassidy]

I understand where you're coming from; However, I think you are delving too deep into the possibility of one of these industries affecting the other. My point is this: "core" gamers like their games BECAUSE of the learning curve. It's a rewarding experience to take a difficult to master control scheme and get good at it. A small example would be when my fiancee' got the hang of the "one stick moves, one stick looks" control scheme of current FPS' she was very excited and pleased with herself and started playing more. The same thing goes with any other core gamer and their core games. We find the learning to be a rewarding experience in it's own right. Now the "casual" gamer is non existent and what I mean by this is that when I'm on the bus going to work I whip out my iPhone and play a little Angry Birds or Bejeweled but when I get home I put it down to finish up some side missions on AC:Brotherhood. The thing to understand here is that these are not competing industries that will one day swallow up one or the other, but they are different parts to the same industry of enjoyment and fun that some of us have been experiencing for over 20 years. In conclusion, neither sect will eliminate the other as there will always be a niche for the two. Everyone is just freaking out because they act like a lot of those millions of people who downloaded Angry Birds don't also have Phat PC rigs, a PS3, or Xbox360 sitting at home too. Come on people! a gamer is a gamer is a gamer no matter what they play. So yes, your mom who loves her Social City or Farmville is a GAMER. She's just less in depth than you and you know what? That's ok.

[ZeroX9876]

nice april fool!

[LunaticBrandon]

What the Hell is a casual or hardcore game? I hear CoD fans call CoD a hardcore game and stuff like Mario is casual garbage. Seems a lot of people mean "gritty and realistic" when they talk about hardcore games. Mostly hardcore seems to be some shitty title people use to feel better about something. Casual seems to be used in a derogatory way.

If I had to define hardcore games it would probably include sims, and certain fighting games, FPS, strategy games and RPGs. Overall games that require a lot of practice and know how. Most games don't fit into this category.

Casual games would be Facebook games, shovelware and games that are streamlined to the point anyone can pick them up and play like Call of Duty.

[DigitalRaptor]

Casual games can be fun. Of course they can. Is it a good direction for the industry to go? Not so much.

Those games are made for people who are not really all that into gaming and want something more accessible and easy. They're made for the lowest common denominator. They focus on experiences that don't require a lot of time and personal investment, and the fact that people like that are such a huge driving force behind the gaming industry kinda annoys me.

They don't care about the industry. They don't care who makes the games they buy. They don't care about quality. They only care for quick and easy gimmicks. It's those types of selfish people that will be the downfall of this industry.

Casual gaming for its majority, is like the MTV of gaming. MTV was ruined by the people. Gaming still stands that same chance.

[AntiHeroComplex]

the majority is always wrong. thats how u know casual is bs.

[A7XEric]

This article is a fucking joke. Can only hope this is April Fools related.