Casual games allow us a taste of any game we want without the commitment . After looking at my iTunes account , I discovered that in the past few years I have downloaded fifty different games on my phone . I could probably name five of them , and I only play two or three on a regular basis . I have deleted most of them to make room for the latest app that piques my interest , or because after a few days they weren ’ t as fun as I had expected . This is the freedom that casual gaming provides . For a limited cost , anyone with a phone , iPod , or tablet can play any game imaginable for as long or as little as they want . Whereas console games regularly cost $ 60 , I allow myself to be more adventurous with casual games . I don ’ t mind spending $ 0.99 on a game and then realizing it wasn ’ t worth it . And because most casual games are also much cheaper to create and distribute than console games , the creators can take greater risks to focus on more niche and diverse audiences , rather than catering to whatever demographic will give them the greatest profit .
With the release of easy to use , sometimes even free , game development tools , creating games has become much more accessible of alate . The increased accessibility of creation provides a greater voice to those outside the mainstream gaming perspective . According to a study by Enola
Labs in 2015 , while casual games like Clash of Clans still have a predominantly male audiences , Candy Crush players are about 60 % female , and Bejeweled Blitz players are 78 % female . The app store provides a platform in which anyone can put out a game and reach an audience , even if that audience is sometimes very small . By expanding the audience video games are able to reach and giving them a platform through which to share their voices , more gamers and casual game designers are able to contribute to the development of the games , causing the industry and the audience to expand even further .
And yet , instead of providing a cheap and accessible way for players to distribute and try new games , the casual gaming industry has been commercialized to squeeze as much money as possible out of the players . While the industry will inevitably remain competitive and profit is imperative for game studios to stay afloat , it would be nice to see a return to gaming for gaming ’ s sake , available for everyone at any time . It is my hope that the increasing ability of individuals to create and distribute unique games for a low cost will encourage more of a return to a collaborative gaming experience , focused on games and players rather than profit .