How far can casual games on the big screen go? How far should they go?

In 2015, with the continuous influx of games, China's video game industry may have ushered in the best opportunity for rapid development. However, faced with a large number of casual games, many players have doubts about the playability of video games.

How far can casual games go? How far should casual games go on the big screen of TV?

How far can casual games go?

As the name suggests, casual games are entertainment games played in leisure time. Although the content and operation are relatively simple compared to other types of games, it does not mean that casual games do not have the charm and strength to attract players.

On PC and traditional console platforms, masterpieces and even masterpieces are everywhere, such as "Crysis", "GTA", "Halo" and other triple-A game masterpieces, which are all praised by players. But under the halo of these masterpieces, there are still casual games such as "Machinarium", a puzzle adventure game called "visual art", "World of Goo", and even "Chrono Braid", which can "reverse time and space", which make players crazy.

As a casual game across three platforms: PC, console, and mobile, "Minecraft" is a highly free pixel-style game with the theme of building the ideal world of your dreams in a randomly generated map. It is highly praised by players for its extremely high playability and rich collection elements.

The next-generation console PS4 is not to be outdone. While remaking the game, it also brought a unique casual game like "Light Fighter" to players. Although it is called a simple and fast-paced flying piece by many people, the graphic style composed of energy bodies and the creativity of collecting enemies to upgrade fighters have also made many players applaud its exciting game process.

Even surrounded by remakes of other types of games, casual games still have their own infinite vitality, firmly grasping the players' attention in a unique way and leaving a deep impression in everyone's hearts.

How far should casual games on TV go?

With the popularity of smart TVs, the living room, as a fixed place for family entertainment, has also seen great development of TV games, and many games have gradually appeared on the big screen of TV.

Although television has provided a platform for the development of many games, the initial operation method of the remote control has become an obstacle for many games to enter the television market. Even though there is now help from peripherals such as handles, the time required to perfect the adaptation has greatly delayed the appearance of these games on television.

However, casual games, with their simple operation methods, can not only be perfectly adapted to the remote control, but also allow interesting games like "Chrono Trigger" to be played smoothly and freely on the big TV screen with their unique style under the operation of the handle.

Although console games such as "Assassin's Creed" and "GTA" still have considerable appeal to many gamers, not every family member is suitable for playing such blockbuster games in the living room.

But for every family member, leisure and entertainment meet everyone's requirements. Whether it is the gameplay or the interesting game content, casual games can make every family member happy. Sometimes multiplayer games can also promote communication between family members, thereby better promoting interaction between family members.

For many game enthusiasts, big games may be their favorite, but on the big screen of TV, casual games, with their not-so-complex game content and operation methods suitable for all ages, have promoted communication among family members and made TV games an indispensable part of family entertainment. On the big screen of TV, casual games have also become one of the indispensable contents.

How to play casual games on TV?

Casual games are favored by many game developers due to their shorter development cycle, simple operation adapted to TV and applicability to people of all ages.

How can we make casual games shine on the big screen of TV?

First of all, the operation should not be too complicated. As a fixed entertainment place in the family, the operation of the TV should be suitable for all ages. It should not be too simple, as simple operation will easily make people feel bored, nor too complicated, as only a few people are willing to touch complicated things.

Secondly, the graphics are exquisite. Since casual games cannot achieve the high-resolution and fine graphics of game consoles, they can show effects that are not inferior to those of consoles through textures and other methods that do not increase the performance of TVs or boxes. For example, the game "Leo's Fortune" is a typical texture-style picture, but from the perspective of the realism of the picture, as long as the game makers are willing to do it, who dares to say that the realism of casual game pictures is not as good as that of next-generation consoles.

Finally, the most important point is the characteristics. Short game content is a major feature of casual games. Only by taking a different approach and adding some special elements in these game contents can we attract the attention of players. Like the two games that I have reviewed and experienced before, the entertainment game "Run, Sheep" seems similar to "Plants vs. Zombies", but the unique leg strength competition makes this game more interesting. And another game "Never Give Up" also combines small ink dots with rhythm parkour, making the whole game full of rhythm and challenge.

Therefore, casual games, or lightweight games, have been able to develop on various game platforms and carriers to this day. There must be a reason for their existence and growth.

The reason why casual games on the big screen of TV are often unpopular among players is, on the one hand, because the resources of TV games, which have just started, are really scarce. As the whole of games, casual games naturally cannot attract enough players.

On the other hand, there are very few TV platforms that develop games with great care. For a tank battle or a lightning-shooting game, there can be several or even dozens of versions, which completely fail to meet the psychological expectations of players.

The fault of casual games is not in their casual positioning. How to make casual games different and highlight them is an issue that the entire TV game industry needs to reflect on.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.