There is a casual cash in on almost every console, I believe MS has had the least (I'm NOT saying they don't have any, just no PS type Bob The Builder, Winnie The Pooh, Kiss Pinball type titles.)
Hardcores do not have a monopoly on the VG market. But they do buy hardcore games. As long as you support the games and studios you like so that they make a profit, they will put out product. It is their job to figure out how to make that profit or die. They might make a game for a more expanded market as well as H/C titles, but as long as they profit from making H/C games there is no reason for them to stop. H/C is not niche (yet), no matter how many h/c people are whining that it is going that way. I don't believe H/C is going away (I just wish the whining would).
In 2007, casual sales did not hurt Bioshock, Reistance, the Orange Box, LOZ:TP, GOW, Halo3 (could be called casual by many), COD4, MassEffect, AC, RE4Wii. And look at how many of these games were $59.99 to cover the costs of developing HD graphics. And they still sold. So did Mario. Simply means more people playing games.
Remember, lots of casual games are popular with H/C gamers as well.. GH/RB/GTA/GT say hi. Casual is not the problem, shovelware of all types is. And every console has shovelware, Nintendo did not create it (though leo-j and kingofwales believe they did). I think Atari created shovelware. I think there is more PS shovelware by leaps and bounds. Wait until development costs go down a bit on PS360 (and they will as technology moves forward), the shovelware will come to them en mass as well.
There will always be some companies willing to put out crap to make a quick buck (both H/C and Casual), but there are those who care about quality as well (also in both H/C and casual games). They prey on those who don't take time to research the games they buy.
Support high quality games and help them make a profit, they will continue to exist. If they don't make these games for a profit, they will either need to find a way to decrease costs or sell more games. But H/C games will continue to exist. Long after you quit gaming.
As an afterthought, I promise you this; Letting studios budgets go out of control and buying games for $69.99 and up (as there are a few of these coming out) will only cause prices to go up across the board. $49.99 for Wii (because of lower development costs) and $59.99 for PS360 is the current standard, but the upcoming games that are raising the pricepoint are doing so because they can, and it will raise prices across the board.
Wii Code 3456 7941 4060 2924
