Men more likely to steal, lie about casual games
by Kyle Orland 
{ Oct 30th 2007 at 10:39AM }
A Reuters report yesterday took an interesting angle on the conclusions of the Casual Games Association's recently released 2007 study. While others commented on the casual space's size and growth, Reuters decided to focus on how men are lying, stealing bastards when it comes to casual games. According to the CGA report, while men are just as likely as women to play casual games, the fairer sex is much more likely to pay for these games (women make up 74% of paying players). What accounts for the difference? According to Retuers, men are "more determined to find a free version or try to thwart anti-piracy protections on games." Or, y'know, they could be playing the copies their wives bought. We hope that's it, because finding a crack for a $20 game of Peggle is just sad.
But that's not all -- the Reuters report also reveals that men are more likely to hide their secret casual gaming shame. "The hardcore gamer who is playing 'Halo' with his buddies isn't going to brag that he just beat the next level of 'Zuma'." CGA Managing Director Jessica Tams told Reuters. And if they won't cop to playing Zuma, what are the chances they'll admit to an undying love for Flower Shop: Big City Break? Not large.
Well it's time for the healing to begin. Men, use the comment thread below to come out of the casual gaming closet and announce to the world your proclivity for matching gems and dashing between diners. We won't judge you ... much.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ZenGaijin @ Oct 30th 2007 10:47AM
I'm male: I've never stolen, I play casual games and Dogs are marginally better than cats.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 30th 2007 12:15PM
WRONG! Cats are the ubercreatures.
Thousands of years ago, Cats were worshipped as Gods.
They have never forgotten this.
ThornedVenom @ Oct 30th 2007 1:34PM
Cats are only good for minced pies and memes. =)
Eugene @ Oct 31st 2007 6:07AM
heh - is it bad that I read CATS as a reference to Zero Wing (all your base and all that)??? Must have been the CAPS xD
Marty @ Oct 30th 2007 10:48AM
Hey - I like cats!
But not the lame ones everyone adds stupid text to (you know, like "I gotz ur gamez now"). I hate those cats.
fawazr @ Oct 30th 2007 12:35PM
LOLcats...
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 10:48AM
Everyon loves casual games.
I like to play games like Zelda, Metroid, RPG's, games with depth. But you need time and dedication.
Sometimes you are tired and want to relax and enjoy a quick game, like Guitar Hero, some Elite Beat Agents, play some puzzles, Tetris DS... Picross DS is an excellent game.
Plus, a true gamer play games, and not complains about the gender of the game.
FidliousWong @ Oct 30th 2007 11:14AM
Gender of the game?
*starts checking his PSP discs for genetalia*
ThornedVenom @ Oct 30th 2007 1:39PM
YOU CALL GUITAR HERO AND EBA "CASUAL"?!?!!
They kick my ass so hard that I DOUBT that it's casual. >.< (heck, I even doubt the meaning of the word casual... it's like this word we use for incredibly fun games that no hardcore gamer wants to be caught dead playing)
samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 30th 2007 10:49AM
Casual games?
GAAAAAAAY!
baby sea tuna @ Oct 30th 2007 2:21PM
This, coming from one of Joystiq's biggest Nintendo apologists...I'm sorry, "defenders."
homerj312 @ Oct 30th 2007 10:54AM
It's not that I hate casual games, I'm just much more likely to do a crossword puzzle or something like that when I'm not playing Halo or Rainbow 6.
But I do love me some Portal and I guess that could kind of be considered a casual game.
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 10:58AM
You could try New York Times Crossword DS. It have over 1000 crosswords puzzles.
And it's only $20 dlls.
Sean @ Oct 30th 2007 11:02AM
I was thinking about getting that crossword game. I love me some crossword puzzles. I have Scrabble for my cell phone, too.
FidliousWong @ Oct 30th 2007 11:17AM
Fernando, is there ANY time you're not a commercial for a Nintendo product? I can buy a crossword book with 1000 crosswords for $5. But I'm not partial towards Crosswords myself. I prefer Sudoku. I just wish a decent Sudoku program came out on DS. Why is the best Sudoku STILL a bonus in Brain Training?
F. Rocker or Fernando R.? @ Oct 30th 2007 11:28AM
I don't sound like a Nintendo commercial =(
*This comment has been brought to you by Nintendo of America Inc. All rights reserved.
baby sea tuna @ Oct 30th 2007 2:13PM
I have the Crossword game. It was totally worth getting...until I lost my DS. Now I just need a new one so I can play it again.
Then again, I like cats so what the hell do I know?
rockintom @ Oct 30th 2007 10:54AM
Whatever, Peggle is fucking awesome, and I'll freely admit it. Whats to hide behind it? Even Tycho has professed his love for the game.
frozengod @ Oct 30th 2007 10:57AM
I preordered the Orange Box mainly to play Peggle Extreme.
There, I said it.
Viridium @ Oct 30th 2007 10:57AM
My buddies and I had a Zuma challenge. One weekend, whoever reached the highest level won. Zuma rocks!
rockintom @ Oct 30th 2007 10:57AM
Oh, and cats > dogs.
rom @ Oct 30th 2007 11:07AM
Rockintom, I just checked your math. You forgot to carry the 1. Here I'll fix it for you.
Dog > Cats
Zertoss @ Oct 30th 2007 11:10AM
Cats are the devil.
rockintom @ Oct 30th 2007 11:15AM
:(
Depends on breed of either, I suppose...
HineyWipe @ Oct 30th 2007 11:31AM
Cats and Dogs living together. Mass hysteria. Casual gamers!
I am a male. I am a casual gamer. Many years ago, though, I was not. Matter of fact, I had my initials on many arcade games at Spaceport. Oh, I just gave away my age. Oldskool now casual. Let me tell ya all about it...
FOXHOUND @ Oct 30th 2007 11:44AM
+1 for HineyWipe's "Ghostbusters" reference. :]
Sean @ Oct 30th 2007 3:20PM
Ghostbusters 4 teh wiin!
Zsavior @ Oct 30th 2007 11:01AM
I know this is a good story and all, but does anybody think today has been a really slow news day on gaming all around.
xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Oct 30th 2007 11:07AM
Yup all the women here in my office are playing games on MSNgames or YahooGames all day. Jewelquest, textwist, collapse, etc but I just cant get into those.
Thyme @ Oct 30th 2007 11:10AM
I'm not too big on casual games, but I like to play the online trial of Peggle once in a while. :P
Never stole one, though...
Batzarro @ Oct 30th 2007 11:19AM
Doea stealing count as playing the demo without any plans to full buy? Cause if so, guilty. Otherwise...CRACKS FOR CASUAL GAMES? The only time it crossed my mind is Metadoll...and there wasn't!
Psaakyrn @ Oct 30th 2007 11:19AM
So, is Puzzle Quest casual or not? It stands on the fine line between casual, and RPG insanity..
squeevi @ Oct 30th 2007 11:20AM
I love me some Zuma!! And I'm not embarrassed by that at all. Zuma and Bejeweled 2 on XBLA are the only reason my wife has ever even picked up my 360 controller.
Lurker28 @ Oct 30th 2007 11:26AM
I play quite a few casual games...I still to this day enjoy Tetris Attack on my SNES, Peggle is a fun little game, Guitar Hero, and Brain Age usually fill up my casual gaming needs.
Cyro @ Oct 30th 2007 11:26AM
I hate stupid cats! They are all Evil!
I dont freaking steal.
Casual Games are for gay people or men that are very very very in touch with their feminine side; so in touch is scary.
AstroZombie @ Oct 30th 2007 12:56PM
Halo = Casual
Gangsta Smurf @ Oct 30th 2007 11:29AM
Smurfs > Cats
Cyro @ Oct 30th 2007 11:33AM
Actually I was once said that the Smurfs were diabolical... Is that true?
Blu-Sam @ Oct 30th 2007 11:34AM
What about female? What cause them become?
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 30th 2007 12:20PM
um, what?
fawazr @ Oct 30th 2007 12:34PM
HA!
Will Heckner @ Oct 30th 2007 11:40AM
I wonder how the WoW "casual player" would compare with what's called casual in this article?
Antonio @ Oct 30th 2007 11:48AM
Some of these can hardly be considered 'casual games'. Sure they appeal to the average consumer, but at harder difficulties Guitar Hero, Tetris, Tetris Attack, and Elite Beat Agents can be pretty hardcore.
I think 'casual games' mostly refer to games with a internet-flash-game level of depth, something not true for any of the above titles.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 30th 2007 12:22PM
Tetris, Tetris Attack, and Elite Beat Agents could all be programmed in flash and be browser based.
Antonio @ Oct 30th 2007 12:51PM
I was referring more to the depth of gameplay. There's a certain level of depth associated with flash games where at some point you've maxed your ability and the game no longer offers any real challenge. Flash games are also not known for having a wide array of content (in terms of artwork, music, etc.)
I'm well aware these games could be made into flash games. Hell, most of the NES catalog could probably be made into a flash game. My point is that the depth of gameplay and content in these games is generally well above that of your typical flash game like Bejeweled. And that's why I say they're not casual.
Just my .02.
hvnlysoldr @ Oct 30th 2007 1:24PM
EBA does have a flash version now. OSU
pixelator @ Oct 30th 2007 11:51AM
My girlfriend is JUST as open to the idea of not paying for her games - she just doesn't know P2P or how to apply a crack patch.
Methinks this article fails to take into account the hacker divide between the sexes (which may be less pronounced among Joystiq readers but still exists in the 'real world' where women are generally less interested in such things).
In short, women steal and lie as much as men.
fawazr @ Oct 30th 2007 12:33PM
Then why are there so few female politicians? ZING!
Sean Newton @ Oct 30th 2007 4:38PM
Men do their stealing from the companies, and obtain the game without using our money.
Girlfriends act cute and get men to buy it for them, with real money, without using their money.
Wives whip out their husbands' credit card.
Although both genders probably succeed in around the same percentage, in not spending their own money to buy casual games... the women who use their wiles to obtain them aren't actually stealing the games. Hence, one source of disparity.
Derek @ Oct 30th 2007 12:01PM
I find myself coming back to casual games like Zuma, Bejeweled 2, and Pac Man CE more than anything else. After beating a hardcore game like Gears I'll never touch it again.