Here, in the land of plucky waitresses and endless burger joint simulations everything we need to know we truly did learn in kindergarten. This is an entertainment venue which rewards try and try again. This is a medium which affirms the golden rule. In fact through casual games we can become a child again and rediscover those things we once believed but are no longer quite so sure still exist.
Through casual games we can indulge in play as innocent and harmless as a childhood game of tag. Because, for a few measly minutes a day we can retreat into small, manageable worlds where no one loses, no one suffers, nothing explodes and no one dies. Casual games take this escapism even further. It’s more reassuring to play voyeur to the latest breakdown of Brittney Spears than it is to witness another car bomb or the unrest in the streets of Myanmar. Because it’s far easier and much more palatable to spend a few minutes in the fantasy milieu of Paris Hilton than it is with the realities wrought by George Bush. It is not a surprise that we increasingly turn to the web for a respite from our strange, new world. It is clear to me that 9-11, our various wars, and the general climate of fear and uncertainty has contributed greatly to internet escapism.
#MEEZ PLANT TYCOON DOWNLOAD#
In the past I’ve discussed my hair-brained notion regarding the advent of casual download games as they correspond to the declining state of world affairs.
They are figuring out that our hearts, our memories, and our recently awakened need for nostalgia are more important than ray-traced surfaces and real-world physics. Yet increasingly, casual game developers are figuring out the key to engaging players on an emotional level, not just a sensory one. This is difficult to achieve in a medium where download footprints and end-user machine specs must appeal to the lowest common denominator. The more senses you engage, the more immersed you feel. Immersion is primarily a sensory experience. Certainly games such as Luxor and Ricochet are immersive in that same sense – you can see it, you can feel it. That quality is generally reserved for core games or films, and usually it refers to the high level of realism and graphic richness which so often accompanies immersive entertainment. The concept of immersion is rarely discussed in regards to casual games.
#MEEZ PLANT TYCOON TV#
It does what any good film, TV show or book must do – it captures your attention and holds it. It offers a perfect blend of mystery and whimsy, just enough to make you feel part of its fictional world.
The opening is one of the best I’ve seen in this medium.
The Scruffs has a lot of things going for it, but it’s noteworthy for its use of story, characters and voice-talent. The point is that The Scruffs is great, because it managed to do to me what the new NBC drama Journeyman has failed to do thus far this season: suck me in. Because how else would you describe that feeling? You know, the one that makes you smile and laugh, that satisfying sensation you get when story, characters and game play combine to form a unified entertainment experience that simply whisks you away? I suppose one could call it joy, but that might be a little over-the-top. The Scruffs is the best hidden object game I’ve played since Big City Adventure and easily the most delightful game of the year. I was sitting at my desk minding my own business when out of nowhere I was hit over the head with a wonderful new game.
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