Casual Games Discussion Kuittinen, Kultima, Niemelä and Paavilainen working paper

The GameSpace Project Frans Mäyrä Scientific Leader Janne Paavilainen Project Manager Annakaisa Kultima Researcher Jussi Kuittinen Researcher Johannes Niemelä Researcher GameSpace studies design and evaluation methods of casual mobile multiplayer games 2 / 12

Frans Mäyrä Scientific Leader

Janne Paavilainen Project Manager

Annakaisa Kultima Researcher

Jussi Kuittinen Researcher

Johannes Niemelä Researcher

GameSpace studies design and evaluation

methods of casual mobile multiplayer games

Rationale for the paper Casual games are getting big 2$ billion dollar market in 2008 in U.S (est.) Casual games are reaching the masses How to study and design casual games? No previous academic study Study of the current discussion to map out the phenomenon 3 / 12

Casual games are getting big

2$ billion dollar market in 2008 in U.S (est.)

Casual games are reaching the masses

How to study and design casual games?

No previous academic study

Study of the current discussion to map out the phenomenon

The Discussion 1/2 Casual games i.e Zuma, Diner Dash, Bejeweled, Solitaire, Minesweeper, Snake, Chess, Checkers… Simple to learn and play, fast rewards, mainly non-violent themes… Definitions by IGDA, CGA, GDC... Casual gamers Casual games have introduced new demographics Special emphasis: women over 30 Also: lapsed gamers, elder people Widest possible target audience 4 / 12

Casual games

i.e Zuma, Diner Dash, Bejeweled, Solitaire, Minesweeper, Snake, Chess, Checkers…

Simple to learn and play, fast rewards, mainly non-violent themes…

Definitions by IGDA, CGA, GDC...

Casual gamers

Casual games have introduced new demographics

Special emphasis: women over 30

Also: lapsed gamers, elder people

Widest possible target audience

Zuma Mystery Case Files Diner Dash Solitaire Snake Minesweeper Bejeweled Boggle Bookworm

The Discussion 2/2 Gaming and playing as casual Motives for playing: stress relief, relaxation, distraction from pain, keeping mind sharp etc. “ Anytime, anywhere”, short time bursts, on the breaks etc. Other issues discussed Business models, accessibility, production, innovation and other value-based issues 6 / 12

Gaming and playing as casual

Motives for playing: stress relief, relaxation, distraction from pain, keeping mind sharp etc.

“ Anytime, anywhere”, short time bursts, on the breaks etc.

Other issues discussed

Business models, accessibility, production, innovation and other value-based issues

Tentative Terminology Casual IN games The phenomenon, the discussion Casual games Ostensive meaning (those games there) Casual game player One that plays games that are called casual Casual gamer About player attitudes, investments, skills etc. Casual gaming Low level game culture, instrumental values for games Casual playing Casual play styles and habits (gameplay) 7 / 12

Casual IN games

The phenomenon, the discussion

Casual games

Ostensive meaning (those games there)

Casual game player

One that plays games that are called casual

Casual gamer

About player attitudes, investments, skills etc.

Casual gaming

Low level game culture, instrumental values for games

Casual playing

Casual play styles and habits (gameplay)

Surveys and Casual Games PopCap Games, Macrovision and RealNetworks casual games surveys: Player demographics, motives, habits, time consumption, other interests… Some results paradoxical No distinction over the ones who play casual games and the ones who play casually (casual game players vs. casual gamers) Surveys most likely reached only the hardcore end of casual gamers No valid information about the phenomenon as whole 9 / 12

PopCap Games, Macrovision and RealNetworks casual games surveys:

Player demographics, motives, habits, time consumption, other interests…

Some results paradoxical

No distinction over the ones who play casual games and the ones who play casually (casual game players vs. casual gamers)

Surveys most likely reached only the hardcore end of casual gamers

No valid information about the phenomenon as whole

Game Research and Casual Business approach: Commercial studies have interest on the buyer Study on most active users Conversion rates Academic approach: Wider phenomenon Discussion as an indication Academic approach needs more refined terminology Difficult study cases: Low interest Low self-reflection of the player Attitudes and playing habits are changing factors (per game, per person, per day?) How to reach the casual gamers who lurk in the 98%? 10 / 12

Business approach:

Commercial studies have interest on the buyer

Study on most active users

Conversion rates

Academic approach:

Wider phenomenon

Discussion as an indication

Academic approach needs more refined terminology

Difficult study cases:

Low interest

Low self-reflection of the player

Attitudes and playing habits are changing factors (per game, per person, per day?)

How to reach the casual gamers who lurk in the 98%?

Conclusion and Discussion The discussion varies The phenomenon is evident Discussion is indication of the problematic and dynamic meanings Further studies should be based on more refined terminology Distinction of: casual in games, casual games, casual game player, casual gamer casual playing and casual gaming More to it? Need for expanded game experience model The emphasis on gameplay experience is not sufficient for casual phenomenon What is the phenomenon about anyway? Is it stabile phenomenon? Is it about the change of digital games cultures? Is it about bridging the cap between digital games cultures and non-digital games cultures? Or something else? 11 / 12

The discussion varies

The phenomenon is evident

Discussion is indication of the problematic and dynamic meanings

Further studies should be based on more refined terminology

Distinction of: casual in games, casual games, casual game player, casual gamer casual playing and casual gaming

More to it? Need for expanded game experience model

The emphasis on gameplay experience is not sufficient for casual phenomenon

What is the phenomenon about anyway?

Is it stabile phenomenon?

Is it about the change of digital games cultures?

Is it about bridging the cap between digital games cultures and non-digital games cultures?

Or something else?

Thank You! GameSpace http://gamelab.uta.fi/GameSpace Janne Paavilainen [email_address] Jussi Kuittinen [email_address] Annakaisa Kultima [email_address] Johannes Niemelä [email_address]