[casual_games] The Making of Casual Games

[Duncan Gough]

In terms of making casual, browser-based games, this is an excellent  
overview:

http://www.drizzle.com/~scottb/gdc/flash-paper.htm

One of the problems I've encountered is making the trial version of a  
game 'good enough', whilst keeping back enough features for the  
retail version to be worth the money. Besides scoreboards and other  
game modes, it can often feel like the benefit of paying for the game  
is negligible. As Brent and machaira have pointed out, the browser  
game or the trial version have to be addictive enough to hook people  
on almost the first play. Which in turn means that the game can  
suffer from the perception that it is too simple, that all of the  
surprised have been discovered.

On 22 Jul 2005, at 22:07, BRENT SILBY (def-logic) wrote:

> There are interesting points raised here.
>
> Personally, I never buy a console games--precisely because I don't  
> get value for money. I am so often disappointed with console  
> titles. Many are not much more than a video puppet show, requiring  
> the player to walk his puppet around for hours on end searching for  
> something to do. But this isn't the point--sorry. I might start  
> another thread on that one :)
>
> I rent games for $5 from a local video store. That gives me the  
> chance to play without too much investment. But, of course, there  
> is some investment even if it is only $5. Downloadable and browser  
> based games do not require any investment, so if a player isn't  
> satisfied within the first few minutes (or seconds) he/she will  
> simply close it and never come back. That's the main reason I try  
> to make my games addictive. I need people to open the game many  
> times since I effectively get paid per click. I want people to come  
> back !
>
> I have often thought that the coin-op model provides players with  
> more enjoyment because of similar reasons to those Wade mentioned.  
> You've paid your money, and you want to get as much for your money  
> as possible so the whole thing is a bit more exciting. If you get a  
> game over, then you've lost your coin, and that hurts.
>
> I'm not sure if this post is on track, but hopefully it adds  
> something to the discussion.
> Cheers,
> Brent Silby.
> DEF-LOGIC
> VIDEOGAMES
> www.def-logic.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: machaira at comcast.net
> To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 6:53 AM
> Subject: RE: [casual_games] The Making of Casual Games
>
> How many retail games these days don't have demos? Every PC game I  
> buy I usually play a demo for unless it's a trusted developer. Even  
> then I read reviews before I buy. For Xbox, I've usually played a  
> demo from Xbox Magazine before I buy it.
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
>
> >
> > Hi Dora-
> >
> > There are a lot of questions wrapped up in this one, but I'll  
> bite off a
> > little piece of it to start the discussion going.
> >
> > One fundamental difference in making a casual, downloadable game  
> (such
> > as those my company produces) is that players can try the game  
> before
> > they decide whether or not to purchase it. So, unlike the typical  
> retail
> > experience, players are not financially invested in the game when  
> they
> > are playing it. They haven't shelled out their hard-earned cash. I
> > believe that that financial investment (in a retail game) makes  
> players
> > give that game more of a chance; they *want* to like the thing  
> they just
> > paid money for. They don't want to be disappointed or to have to go
> > through the rigamar ole of returning the game. They'll slog their  
> way up
> > a steep learning curve, or attempt a badly tuned early level  
> dozens of
> > times, or put up with a frustrating control scheme for MUCH  
> longer than
> > someone with no financial investment.
>
>
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