The rise of casual games being produced is clearly on the rise as the market grows and grows hungry for another "party" game retailers would be more happy stocking nintendo ds Brain age games than the likes of a mgs game due to the fact that it will sell more as it appeals to nearly all the 64 million ds owners who are mostly made up of casual gamers. The top selling games are nearly always games like Mario and Sonic at the olympics or Brain age, all casual games that where no doubt made on a much smaller budget than more hardcore games but yet sold more and made more profit. now games developers realise the potential of producing casual games why would they make games aimed at the hardcore market unless they they are hardcore gamers themselves. If producers make a casual game they are nearly sure to make a profit there isnt really a risk involved as there is with making a game aimed at hardcore players some developers stay neatral and you get a "smart casual game" such as PES or Guitar Hero which can aim at both types of gamers. These games are generally higher budget and still make less profit than the lower budget casual games.The casual market is growing due to a much wider range of people it appeals to now you could find your gran and grandad at home playing games on a ds and nintendo wiis appeal to everyone which brings more people into the gaming community, but these new people to the community will want more casual games as thats what they have played before and are used to. So what i fear is that games developers may end up not aiming games at hardcore gamers at all and we could end up with nearly all games being produced being casual and hardly any hardcore games which would be unfair on devoted hardcore gamers whos money kept the industry alive when it began. I just hope some games developers keep faith and keep producing games for the hardcore gamer. rather than wasting skilled producers talent who are capable of making brilliant games to be making a game like Brain age just to make more money rather than be using their talent to create a masterpiece thaqt will still make money but not quite as much as a game like Brain age.