Taxonomy
3 Cool Things at GDC
The first year I went to the Game Developers Conference (GDC), there was one session for casual games and it was in a closet across the street from the main convention center. This year, GDC devoted a whole day for the Casual Games Summit. Indeed, casual games are coming of age.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 3
Remember that controversial article from The Escapist the other week about "cloning" in casual games? Gabe did, and he responds, in this week's excellent installment of Gabe's Corner.
Gamezebo Interview: PopCap Games
In the beginning there was Bejeweled... and the world of casual games would be changed forever. Since launching Bejeweled in 2000, PopCap has consistently released great casual games, such as Bookworm, Zuma, and Chuzzle. If any company can be considered the "Godfather" of casual games, it is PopCap. And it is this reason Gamezebo has picked PopCap as first of many game developers to interview.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 1
As this is the inaugural issue of both Gamezebo and Gabe's Corner, I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to the site and explain what we're all about.
Platformers for the Masses
Look around your average casual games site and you're likely to think you have double-vision. Clones and copy-cats abound, whether it's the latest gem-swapping game or the next version on Sudoku. It's enough to make you think (and many people do) that the casual gamer has been figured out. Casual gamers, the argument goes, don't want something new - all they want is the same safe gameplay in a new package. Nobody is interested in innovation.
Gabe's Corner, Issue 2
Last week, most of the casual gaming industry converged on Amsterdam in The Netherlands for a weeklong event called Casuality. Contrary to popular belief, the event was not merely an excuse for a European boondoggle - but also a chance for key industry folks to discuss the pressing issues of the day. These included topics such as advertising in games, the need for more regionalized content, and the impact of community and multiplayer features.