In the reading titled “Casual Revolution,” the author, Jesper Juul, talks about the difference between “casual” gaming and “hardcore” gaming. The casual gamer isn’t looking to get engrossed in a video game with advanced graphics and a complex system of controls. They’re looking to just have some fun. Whether they need to take a break from homework or just have some fun with friends on a Saturday night, these gamers don’t need to be won over by stunning gameplay or a thrilling storyline. On the other hand, hardcore gamers take playing video games very seriously. According to the article, they should “spend as
much time as possible, play as difficult games as possible, play games at
the expense of everything else.”
These are the typical stereotypes of casual and hardcore gamers, respectively.
An example that comes to mind for casual video games is Lego Star Wars for the Nintendo Wii. In the game itself, it has an emotionally positive element to it. The low graphics and fun storyline make it enjoyable for all ages. There are multiple instances in the game where characters fall down, play jokes on each other, and bump into doors, which adds to the less-serious atmosphere of the game. The game is also easy to learn how to play within a few minutes on the Wii. There are only four main components that a user needs to know to complete the game: jump, attack, toggle characters, and use items. Juiciness of the game includes getting over 1 million coins, completing objectives, and unlocking new content. The interruptibility of the game lags, however, as the user must reach a checkpoint before they can save. However, the straightforwardness of the game allows the user to reach checkpoints relatively easily. Finally, the punishments in the game are very low. A user starts out with four hearts, and each hit by an opponent eliminates one of these hearts. When all four hearts are depleted, the user is destroyed, but the game still continues (though you lose all your coins). So basically there is no possible way to lose the game.