Is the web based casual game industry running out of steam? Read more at this forbes article...The web based casual game industry hit $1B in revenues in 2007  according to Parks associates . More and more games are being produced every year and its becoming an increasingly crowded space.

"There's no way to make money in this space" anymore, says Gamelab co-founder Eric Zimmerman.

The casual game developers depend on the large web portals for their game success. Big Fish releases 1 game a day. How many of these can remain on the front page to draw enough downloads?

GameSeekr like game sites help in promoting these games because users can search and find games rather than the portal way of front page promotion.

Europeans are known for their appreciation of everyday life. Their taste in videogames is no different.

Across the pond, consumers prefer racing and soccer games to blockbuster action, adventure and first-person shooter games that are the staple of the U.S. diet. Indeed, Europeans view such games as "evil," says Cevat Yerli, chief executive of Crytek, a German game developer that specializes in first-person shooters.

more from Forbes...

Speaking at that Paris Game Developers conference today PlayFirst CEO John Welch has said that core games firms looking to move into casual have underestimated what it takes to compete

"But they don't get the web and they will make the mistakes we already made."

....more

Grandma and Grandpa got game!

Mahjong Toy chest has logged in over a million plays on their website.

Popcap of Bejeweled fame and more recenty Peggle has put Popcap as a premier casual game brand. In this interview co-founder John Vechey, CEO David Roberts and PR director Garth Chouteau explain its structure and the thoughts behind its business and development moves.

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Source - WSLS 10

A video image released by the computer game’s creator showing an injured man may not appear to be graphic, but you may change your mind once you know who it is.

Source - Science daily

Surgery has been done inside some adults' hearts while the heart is still beating, avoiding the need to open the chest, stop the heart and put patients on cardiopulmonary bypass. But to perform intricate beating-heart operations in babies with congenital heart disease or do beating-heart complex repairs in adults, surgeons need fast, highly sophisticated real-time imaging that allows them to see depth.

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Here is a nice attempt at simulating driving on google maps.

On May 15, Jeanne Stevens was nominated to challenge Deb Heinrich for the 101st District seat as State Representative on the top floor of Memorial Town Hall, for which she once made cupcakes.
Stevens, a six year resident of Madison, grew up in Chappaqua, holds a law degree from Fordham University and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan for five years.
Although she says that her law experience will help her craft legislation and makes her comfortable in a legislative atmosphere, she also touts her common sense. And indeed, on her nightstand is "The Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating America," by Philip Howard.

The mother of four boys, she volunteers for Madison Safe Rides and co-chairs the town's Safe Homes program, as well as volunteers at the library of Island Avenue School. She is active in her parish, St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church, also in Madison. She also enjoys playing the video game World of Warcraft.