I’ve been thinking about bowling lately: why is that “sport” so popular in video game form? Whenever there’s some news about older gamers playing on the Wii, they’re playing Wii Bowling. Bowling has been near the top of the most downloaded cellphone games lists for years. It’s not like real bowling is the hottest activity around.
Another peculiar trait of casual gamers is that they like games that aren’t considered “real games”: Brain Age and other training games, Sudoku and other puzzle games. Some casual players can play for more than 20 hours each week, yet if you ask them they don’t consider themselves “gamers”. Why is that?
I think it’s because video games aren’t yet perceived as socially acceptable by a lot of people. A friend of mine had to listen to a lecture by his aunt during the holidays on how she’d never play any game because they’re “just for kids”. Bowling, on the other hand, is an adult activity. Brain training is exercise for the brain, so that’s a convenient excuse to play those games. Puzzles are just like the crosswords you find in newspaper so that’s acceptable for adults to play too.
Those casual games are more socially acceptable for adults to play, so more adults are willing to try them. The Wii Fit board is another game disguised as something more serious — self-conscious players can buy it to enjoy themselves but save face by claiming it’s just for exercise.
That’s something to consider when making games for non-gamers: make them something other non-gamers won’t find immature.