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As powerful a platform as Windows XP is for interactive entertainment, Windows Vista quickly takes playtime to the next level. The secret to its success: Players of all ages, genders, and skill levels can instantly get in the game.
Thanks to widespread support for “casual games,” user-/family-friendly amusements that require zero background or familiarity with the pastime to enjoy, cutting-edge digital diversions are no longer the domain of hardcore Halo 2 fans alone. Available for download or through local retailers, these titles don’t just cost less and sport lower system requirements than typical Games for Windows, making them even more accessible to beginners. They’re also immediately engaging, providing the type of catchy, hands-on experience that’s easy to learn, yet hard to master, ensuring they’re a perfect fit for diehard enthusiasts as well.
Related Links
|
As powerful a platform as Windows XP is for interactive entertainment, Windows Vista quickly takes playtime to the next level. The secret to its success: Players of all ages, genders, and skill levels can instantly get in the game.
Thanks to widespread support for “casual games,” user-/family-friendly amusements that require zero background or familiarity with the pastime to enjoy, cutting-edge digital diversions are no longer the domain of hardcore Halo 2 fans alone. Available for download or through local retailers, these titles don’t just cost less and sport lower system requirements than typical Games for Windows, making them even more accessible to beginners. They’re also immediately engaging, providing the type of catchy, hands-on experience that’s easy to learn, yet hard to master, ensuring they’re a perfect fit for diehard enthusiasts as well.
Following is everything you need to know to play like a pro.
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Standard features |
Standard features
Casual games have several distinct characteristics:
| • | Low prices—Think U.S.$19.99 or less on average, compared with a standard U.S.$49.99. |
| • | Minimal system requirements—Even older PCs can play these titles. While peripherals like sound and graphics cards or wireless gamepads provide enhancements, add-ons are optional. If you compare the minimum system requirements to run Windows Vista with the system requirements to run Peggle—just one popular game—you’ll see that you will be able to play these games for a long time.
Low system requirements mean you won’t need to upgrade to run games like Peggle on Windows Vista. |
| • | Familiar themes—From travel to trivia, weddings to Westerns, and even cakes to island castaways, casual games generally feature concepts based on everyday topics or pop-culture references, increasing their overall reach and appeal. Many are further inspired by timeless arcade favorites—and can be played for cash and prizes online. |
| • | Small sizes—Game downloads average about 5–25 megabye (MB) in size, meaning disk storage won’t be a problem. Better still, you can also retrieve them with little difficulty, even if you’re on a dialup or DSL Internet connection. |
| • | Try before you buy—Dozens of providers like MSN Games, Oberon Games, and PopCap Games offer endless hours of amusement. The best part: Titles either cost nothing to play right from Internet Explorer, or can be sampled gratis before you decide to purchase them, courtesy of complimentary demo versions.
MSN Games: a great place to play. |
| • | Ease of installation—Installing casual games onto your PC couldn’t be simpler. Just click on the file you’ve downloaded or, in the case of retail titles, follow the included software manual’s instructions to launch the program—a step-by-step, guided wizard will walk you through the process. |
Free with Windows Vista
Several casual games are included with Windows Vista straight out of the box and can be accessed directly from the Games Explorer.
Access free games right from the Windows Vista Games Explorer.
Between enhanced versions of old favorites with better graphics and gameplay to all-new games, you’re sure to spend weeks entranced by these hits. (Parental Controls let you easily prevent kids from doing so when they should be focusing on homework instead.)
Examples of some of the games in Windows Vista include:
| • | FreeCell—The card game classic receives a facelift with additional animation and built-in hints and tutorials. |
| • | Minesweeper—Avoid explosives as always, only now atop selectable backdrops boasting customizable grid sizes and slicker picture quality. |
| • | Purble Place—Includes three challenging children’s diversions based on baking sweets, matching shapes, and playing guessing games.
Purble Place gives children some challenging fun on your PC. |
| • | Solitaire—A fresh edition featuring several decks and scoring systems, plus handy save options so you can take a break at any time, then pick up where you left off later.
Classic games like Solitaire get sweeping upgrades in Windows Vista. |
Other bonuses include Spider Solitaire, Hearts, and InkBall, with Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate users also able to enjoy catchy puzzler Mahjong Titans and 3-D smash Chess Titans.
You can preview the entire selection of Windows Vista games.
Top picks
While hundreds of older titles are all compatible, several acclaimed casual games have been specially enhanced for use on Windows Vista.
These all-star outings promise major upgrades like snazzier audiovisuals and additional levels, and can even cause your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows to rumble, offering the most immersive gameplay possible.
Among the leading selections:
| • | Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved—Already a breakout hit on Xbox Live, picture a frantic outing that’s as much psychedelic light show as mouse-mashing blaster.
Geometry Wars—enhanced for Windows Vista. |
| • | Luxor 2—Create matching color patterns by blasting varyingly hued balls at encroaching chains of spheres atop stunning backdrops based on Egyptian myth and lore. |
| • | 7 Wonders of the Ancient World—Assemble mankind’s most famed works by matching magical runes and watching history literally unfold before your eyes. |
Be sure to check MSN Games regularly for new and exciting updates.
Additional resources
Literally hundreds of outlets exist to grab casual games from, yours to browse and enjoy any time of day or night. Here are several sites we’d recommend:
| • | Big Fish Games—One of the largest casual game distributors; literally offers a new title every day.
Find a new game a day at sites like BigFishGames.com. |
| • | Pogo.com—A social hub where you can chat, make new friends, and compete in multiplayer match-ups. |
| • | Café.com—A great place to mix and mingle with fellow enthusiasts and play for free worldwide. |
| • | Reflexive Arcade—Pick from dozens of digital delights; purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. |
| • | Gamezebo—Specializes in previews and reviews of casual games, offering in-depth looks at the hottest new attractions. |
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Scott Steinberg Scott Steinberg is managing director of Embassy Multimedia Consultants. A freelance author and radio/TV host, he’s covered gaming/technology for 275+ outlets from CNN to the LA/NY Times, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and TV Guide. Other ventures include software publisher Overload Entertainment and Games Press, the ultimate resource for game journalists. |
