Originally posted to Facebook:
I think most people who play Facebook games are likely playing games to "kill time" while "core" gamers are seeking a more intense and focused experience.
It's a difference of depth and experience: "Casuals" likely only know shallow games like Angry Birds and Solitaire while "core" gamers are aware gaming has deeper experiences to offer: The thrill of winning a close Team Fortress 2 match on cp_dustbowl, the disturbing revelations of BioShock, and the rush when clearing Jamestown on Divine difficulty for the first time, to name a few.
Such experiences don't diminish or exclude the pleasures of simpler games like Peggle, Bejeweled, or Words with Friends; "core" gamers may actually be able to appreciate such games even more than "casual" gamers, both as an experience and as a "break" from more intense games.
I think most people who play Facebook games are likely playing games to "kill time" while "core" gamers are seeking a more intense and focused experience.
It's a difference of depth and experience: "Casuals" likely only know shallow games like Angry Birds and Solitaire while "core" gamers are aware gaming has deeper experiences to offer: The thrill of winning a close Team Fortress 2 match on cp_dustbowl, the disturbing revelations of BioShock, and the rush when clearing Jamestown on Divine difficulty for the first time, to name a few.
Such experiences don't diminish or exclude the pleasures of simpler games like Peggle, Bejeweled, or Words with Friends; "core" gamers may actually be able to appreciate such games even more than "casual" gamers, both as an experience and as a "break" from more intense games.