I missed this yesterday, but Sega has unveiled a new free-to-play casual gaming portal, unambiguously titled, PlaySEGA. There's a large range of basic arcade and puzzle-style titles, including simplified versions of well-known console franchise like Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (in the mini-version, Mario is conspicuously absent). Visitors can earn PlaySEGA rings as they go along which can be used to customise their profile and avatar. According to Casualgaming.biz there are also plans to introduce a VIP area where it'll be possible to access 'proper' Sega titles like Chu Chu Rocket (hurray!) and Columns.
Of course, Sega isn't the first mainstream publisher to flirt with the casual massive. EA has its Pogo casual gaming site, and a whole division dedicated to creating casual/lifestyle titles. Ubisoft, too, has made major strides into this sector with its rapidly increasing Imagine range.
The one publisher you can't quite imagine entering this space is Rockstar. Hmm, but if it did, how do you think the creator of Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt would adapt its franchises for the online browser gaming market? Perhaps a GTA-themed colour-matching puzzler in which you line up three or more similar firearms? Or a drug-dealing version of Paperboy?
