Sega has quietly launched the beta version of their online gaming portal / social networking site PlaySega.com. The site features a handful of casual games to poke at, including Sonic at the Olympic Games, which seems to be a port of the mobile phone version of the Official Beijing Olympics tie-in. Visitors to the site will be able to create their own personalised escape using items purchased through the website's ring currency, which you must play games to earn. I've already created my own escape, which is apparently a Swiss Chalet containing a small naked boy. Alrighty.

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Mike Capps, el presidente of Epic Games, recently spoke at the Casual Connect conference in Seattle, saying that his company had lost some of its "nimbleness" as a blockbuster producing studio. With massive titles like Gears of War and Unreal Tournament on its plate, its looking to explore new franchises on the cheap, specifically through comic books.

Develop reports that Capps also expressed plans to utilise the recently purchased Chair Entertainment to increase its stable of intellectual property. "We want to learn from casual games", he's quoted as saying, telling casual game developers on hand "we're really jealous of the things you do and we're going to steal all your ideas."

He then chainsawed them all in half and took their brains back to Epic Games science labs for further study.

Epic Games looks to comic books for building new IP [Develop]

Wii Fit has gotten a ton of attention recently; reviews, criticism, and complaints have all cropped up in the wake of its release. Over at Lost Garden, Wii Fit is a launching spot for a broader game design discussion: Wii Fit and its ilk aren't exception, they're "merely the tiny tip of an immense iceberg. Almost any human skill, be it physical, cultural, political or economic can be turned into a game that enlightens and enables". Assuming, of course, it can fit a couple of criteria:

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Casual gamers want better! Their expectations are becoming high says Ubisoft. According to the company's Games For Everyone executive producer Pauline Jacquey, it's competitors that are raising the stakes. Says Jacquey:

When you're reaching out to somebody who plays one or two games a year, it's very easy. You don't need to follow the rules of previous markets. But as they play more and competitors emerge, you have to rethink the way you do the games. The casual audience is becoming more demanding, for sure, and we need to make sure we're proving more than what they're anticipating... Young girls, for instance, are now used to games that are made just for them - and have started thinking they want something better.

Imagine Babies, anyone? Anyone?

Casuals Demanding More [CasualGaming]

Hasbro, the makers of the word game Scrabble, have asked Facebook to remove its popular online take on the game, Scrabulous because of copyright infringement.

"Letters have been sent to Facebook in the United States regarding the Scrabulous application," said a Mattel spokeswoman in Britain.

"Mattel values its intellectual property and actively protects its brands and trademarks.

"As Mattel owns the rights to the Scrabble trademark outside the United States and Canada, we are currently reviewing our position regarding other countries."

Hmm, while it may seem silly, I believe Scrabble is an entirely original game, as in it's not one of these throw-offs of games created in the middle ages or ancient china. I wonder if they makers of Scrabulous can get away with a name change only?

Facebook Asked to Remove 'Scrabulous' [NYT]

In case the Sims series wasn't casual enough for you, EA today introduces The Sims Carnival series, a new line of casual games from the Sims franchise. Two new games are launching today on EA's Pogo.com website. The Sims Carnival SnapCity sounds like a Tetris-clone, with players assembling a city from falling colored blocks, while The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast requires you to shoot at The Sims-styled bumpers until you run out of ammo.

"We designed these pick-up-and-play games to be fun and entertaining, while still presenting depth in gameplay, long-term enjoyment and great value," said Rod Humble, Head of The Sims Studio. "Since The Sims Carnival SnapCity and The Sims Carnival Bumper Blast are available for digital download, the holiday shopper can avoid long lines and still share some fun with everyone on their list."

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While PopCap games aren't my personal vice (I much prefer snorting coke off pleather escort boots), there's no question that they are a force in the PC/Mac casual gaming market. Now as part of a holiday sale, they've dropped the prices on their games by 50% until January 3rd. A kind of neat option they're offering is an emailable gift certificate. And if you can get over the looking like a thoughtless jerk to your spouse part, the certificate allows the recipient to choose from all 48 of PopCap's games with the option to play demos before purchase. I'd order one up for my mom, but since I gave her Puzzle Quest last Christmas her life has never been the same.

PopCap [via opposablethumbs]

EA Playground may just be a rip-off of Wii Sports, but it might be a good one. We're really digging the slot car racing at the beginning of the video. Now if we could only make the little NPC kids cry, we'd really have a game on our hands. And what, no cooties minigames?

EA Playground [gametrailers]