Casual games go upscale

The programmers at PopCap Games Inc. used to think of themselves as the unloved stepchildren of the computer gaming industry. Their humble word puzzles and math teasers were in a different league from games in which role-playing characters spray bullets, slay dragons and maim rivals in fantastic virtual worlds. Such hardcore games can cost $30 million or more to develop — as much as a Hollywood movie.

Casual games are no doubt a proven winner. People who don’t care for RPG’s and FPS may very well love a good brain game. What absolutely amazes me though is that the latest PopCap game, Bookworm Adventure, cost over $700,000 to develop! Granted it’s nowhere near say, a Halo production, but still!