As a 10-year product management vet specializing in online products and online casual games, I’ve seen and done a lot. This is one place where I share my thoughts on the current state of casual games:

Predictions For Casual Games In 2009

Even in recession, people will want to be entertained–but what shape will it take? Predictions include the rise of Online Game Shows; the continued underpricing of iPhone game apps; the end of DRM as we know it; and more…

Casual Game Trends In 2008

When we’re not talking product management, we’re talking casual games. (Not a surprise, given my gig @Gamesville.) Today, we’re looking at the top five trends in casual gaming in 2008…

Gamesville: We Are The Bob Barkers Of The Internet

Local man won BIG in our Magic 21 game show on Gamesville.com so we fired up the Prize Patrol and drove out to Andover, MA, to present him with his winnings…

Casual Games Are Recession-Proof

All year long, journalists, bloggers and various analysts have wondered, “Are video games recession-proof?” The consensus seems to be: Yes! No! Maybe! DFC analyst David Cole puts it best, noting that the fizzling economy doesn’t appear to be affecting game software sales…

Spore DRM Debacle May Help Stop Piracy

Over the weekend, dozens of reviewers bombarded Amazon.com with one-star reviews of EA’s Spore because of the game’s draconian DRM scheme, which limits consumers to three installations. And that was just the beginning of the bad press for Will Wright’s latest brain child…

The Casual Games Da Vinci Code

You might be hard-pressed to argue that any game is going to help anyone understand their place in the world. Is it silly to think of Peggle as the new Da Vinci Code? Maybe. However, I think the opportunity exists in the play space…

Casual Gamers Deserve a Bill Of Rights, Too

Casual games typically don’t cost as much as high-end PC games or current-generation console games. But just because something is free or comes at a lower price point does not mean the consumer of casual games should be disrespected or ignored…

The Casual Divide: How Hardcore Are You?

Rockstar Games cofounder Sam Houser stirred things up recently by claiming he didn’t understand the divide between “casual” games and “hardcore” games. No, the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series claim that the game is the thing…

Casual Games: Social By Nature

Even as more venture capitalists see us “on the verge of a casual games backlash,” members of the media are trumpeting the rise of so-called social games. (That would be, yes, “the new hotness.”) But what are social games? Are they single-player games…

Is Casual Gaming Dead Already?

Since the debut of the Nintendo Wii, journalists have claimed there’s gold in the hills of casual gaming. Now, the claim–or is it, shark?–appears to have been jumped. Late last week, Forbes declared, “Casual Gold Bust”. Venture capitalists such as Sharon Wienbar have predicted that…