From Windows Solitaire to Bejeweled to Wii Tennis, casual games have radically changed the landscape of games. By simplifying gameplay and providing quick but intense blasts of engaging play, casual games have drawn in huge new audiences of players who would never consider themselves gamers. These new players want games that are quick to play and easy to learn, yet still provide challenge. To entertain and engage the casual player, game designers must learn to think about what makes casual games work, from game mechanics to narrative content. Through the close examination of a number of casual games, you will learn how to inject the necessary game design elements into your casual games and give your designs the complexity and strategy they need to hook gamers. You will take away valuable insight and practical advice on what makes today's most popular casual games work and how you can apply these aspects to your own creations. The book focuses on how to create elegant games that draw in a wide variety of players. You will learn to: analyze and dissect the mechanics that make a game engaging; look for game design inspiration in everything from games to playful activities; strip down game ideas to the core element of fun and build from there; combine established mechanics into entirely new games. "Casual Game Design" is endorsed by the IGDA (The International Game Developer's Association).