why do people/game journelists keep calling mario a casual game?

[Mummelmann]

Siko1989 said:

Mummelmann said:
Mario is quite casual, I remember my mom and one of my aunts used to stay up all night playing SMB 2 and 3 and Duck Hunt. Why is it so bad that someone calls it casual (or calls a shovel a shovel)?
It attracts both casual and "hardcore" gamers and that equals a lot more sales. And that's a good thing, right? So what's with the complaining over this?

gee man your making me sound like i despise casuals lol.. im happy nintendo is expanding the audience.. i just though casual games are something like wii sports and thats it, i didnt know thats the definition of casual lol,

That was not my intention! I gathered from the OP that you were an open minded fellow who simply wanted some input on whether or not people view Mario games as casual! Some do, some don't. The part about calling a shovel a shovel was directed at some of the folks who seem to take offence when others call Mario games casual when there really is no reason to! In my opinion anyways...