Have you been flirting with the idea of trying out casual adventure games? For an editorial about casuals and adventures -- with an eye toward starting a discussion -- and for ideas as to where to get started, click here.

Wonderful! A great food for thought!

Thanks, Becky!

Great Becky! Well done.

Ana

Hi, Becky!

From one casual adventure games newbie to another, congratulations on a well thought out and well written article. I think it will prove to be extremely helpful to those gamers who played the traditional HOGs years ago and don't realize that there is a whole new world of IHOGs just waiting to be downloaded.

I'm delighted you chose one of my favorites (Vampireville) to review because some gamers may shy away from it based on the title thinking that it's dark and gory. I found myself ROFLing more than once, especially at the butler! His lines are priceless!

Susan

Superb, Becky. I've been away from Hogs for a while, but your article really whetted my appetite again, thank you!

Becky,
That is a great article. I am sending it to a friend who is just starting to play casual games and was asking about the different types. I have played both casual and adventure games and do find some things they have in common.
Kathy

Beautifully Said Becky!

I can't agree with you more. I believe casual gaming has brought more people into adventure gaming, especially those who seek a strong and engaging story like myself.

I was turned off by MillionHeir as my first HOG, because it took forever and ever to get to the end of the story (which I found amusing). It was just that the many screens and numerous things to find (often the same items over and over and over again) that made it nearly impossible for me to have the patience to finish the game and see the ending to the story. Since then, I have played Romance of Rome (an IHOG) and Drawn and like them this way. Drawn was wonderful.

BTW: Concerning The Scruffs, I can see why you said you would hand them your hat rather then say you would eat it.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I expected, err..some disagreement, actually.

Becky. Like puzzler I forwarded this to a friend who I think would enjoy casual games.

Excellent article!
You've covered many things I myself have been musing about, and much much more.

I've bookmarked it so I can follow up on your recommendations.

Thanks so much!

guess i will have to play one of these to form an opinion ! i have played the hidden object type and absolutely didn't like it (purchased it by accident) . so maybe mcf - dire grove might be an interesting first choice.....i'll get back to you !

Thanks Becky. I've been waiting for the Chosen Child to come to stores. I've seen Dire Grove at Target and wondered about it. Sounds like an interesting game.

Thanks Becky,

You've made my buying easier, as I liked Ravenhearst but not others. Now I have good recommendations.

Great work.
Charllotte

Wow, Becky !! That is some "Set of Notes" !!

Thank You !!

I hadn't play a HOG (no tuning fork) before I saw a Mortimer Beckett one. I ended up buying all three in the series. Since then I've purchased Empress of the Deep, Double Play-Jewel Quest Mysteries and Mysterious City Cairo (Jewel Quest was good but it had a lot of bug problems), The Mystery of the Crystal Portal, The Mystery of the Crystal Portal: Beyond the Horizon (both really interested me), and Haunted Manor: Lord of Mirrors Collector's Edition (very good, though it did seem to get simpler the further into the game you went).

Guess you'd say I was bit hard by Mortimer Beckett, and the infection hasn't gone away.

With the exception of Jewel Quest, none of the HOGs I've purchased have caused my system any problems, something I can't say with Adventure games; the last Myst game I purchased caused me to buy a new graphics card because the game was so graphic demanding. Reason number one I like HOGs.

Reason number two is as Becky said in her article, you can close up shop and come back when you have time, without trying to remember where you were or what you had to do. And with my mind trying to go in 65 different directions at once, this is great.

Another reason I've latched onto HOGs is that not only are there HO to find but, as with the last couple I've played, puzzles that have to be solved to advance to the next round. Some have been easy to solve, others have caused what hair I have left to join that which, I've no doubt, is lying on the floor somewhere.

One thing I've learned playing HOGs is that I don't like timed HOGs. My eyesight, not being as good as it was when I was younger, makes me take longer sometimes to find things. And knowing there's a clock ticking doesn't make those HOs pop out any faster.

If you're unsure whether or not you'd like HOGs may I recommend giving one a shot using the free trial download most sights offer. You get 30-60 minutes free play and you're out no money. Just be careful, once bit you may never get rid of the infection.