Casual games are small, colorful and captivating computer games with simple rules. Most feature intuitive gameplay, bright graphics and an absence of violence and brutality. The user doesn’t have to spend a lot of time learning the game's rules, but can start playing immediately after installation. The amount of time someone spends playing a game and the frequency with which they return to it can vary considerably.
Another distinguishing feature of casual games is their distribution model. Most are distributed on a shareware, or try-before-you-buy, basis. This model agrees with consumers, who don’t want to buy a pig-in-a-poke, but prefer to first acquaint themselves with a product. Users are able to download and play the full version of a game for a limited amount of time (usually 30 to 60 minutes), after which they must purchase a registration code.
This has a direct influence on the size of casual games, which varies between 10-50 MB. Casual games require no high-end hardware or special skills to run, yet still offer a lot of pleasure. Put simply, to play a casual game means to have a good time while escaping for a few minutes from work or routine activity.
