• CNN.com, Wednesday, March 1, 2006 10:15 AM

While PC and video game software sales delivered soft numbers in 2005, so-called casual games have caught fire, and are now played by more than 100 million PC users, according to traffic measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. Casual games are typically described as easy-to-learn, five minute diversions like puzzle, word, trivia, card, or classic arcade games. Most casual games are sold on a per download basis, usually with a try-before-you-buy sales model. Gamers often get 30 to 60 minutes of preview time before being asked to pay to download the game for a fee that's usually under $20. Some are free to play, but you have to pay if you want to keep a high score. Casual games have become so popular, big time Web publishers like Yahoo, AOL, USA Today, and CNET have started offering a casual games page. Companies that develop these games, like WildTangent and PopCap, have each reported well over 100 million game downloads. Just who plays casual games? As one industry pundit puts it: "Traditional video games are to MTV as casual games are to 'Oprah' or 'Desperate Housewives.' Video games often appeal to young boys, (while) casual games appeal to their moms, and increasingly, their dads and grandparents... but especially women." Guys also play casual games, but they tend to be more attracted to card/gambling titles.

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