To be honest I'm sure you could describe almost any game in a 3rd grade reading level. After all Harry Potter is at 4th grade reading level.

Depends on what the casual game is for.

If it's just for killing time, it has to be something you can pick up and set down easily. A lot of iPhone games do that well. If it's for actual gaming or entertainment, well it just needs to work really. The concept has to appeal to those who don't really care about gaming too much. You can find some really whacko casual games that are out there but are seriously fun to play.

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Original post by Doctor Shinobi i am not sure if my question now is what makes indie games fun enough to make players play it again and again,or what makes indie games popular enough to get fans around them?

So what you're asking is:
1) How do you market things?
2) How do you make things fun?

The first question is simple: go to business school and study marketing.

I already explained the main reason Touhou got popular: It targeted a very specific market. Also, as I understand it, the games were not popular for a long time but the dev kept at it and made more and more and slowly the series built up a fanbase.

As for making fun... do you actually expect an answer to that?

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Original post by LockePick As for making fun... do you actually expect an answer to that?

actually? yes. i am not asking what my gameplay should be, i am asking what are the basic rules that make something fun,just like the basic rules that make music sound good or make something funny.

I wouldn't say that there are any basic rules, cause a new idea can constantly revamp those basic guidelines. In general though, a casual game is usually a very simple game. Nothing too hard or complicated. You'll find that most casual games are not very complex, usually they're straightforward.

aright then,thanks a lot. you all helped me understand that i need to look for a way to commercial my game when it's out,and that casual != indie.

Also by definition simple is NOT stupid. For instance you can play bejeweled as nothing but a click fest, or you can play it like it's a game of chess(bejeweled just an example).

I think this might belong more in the Game Design forum.

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Original post by lithos Also by definition simple is NOT stupid. For instance you can play bejeweled as nothing but a click fest, or you can play it like it's a game of chess(bejeweled just an example).

You can play chess as a clickfest too if you want.

What makes me come back to a game is, most importantly, natural mechanics that make me feel like I'm in control. Then I want challenges that stretch my skill, and force me to use the aforementioned control in interesting and fun ways.