First, there was PopCap Games (aka "#1 developer on XBLA"). Then, PlayFirst decided to get in on the act. And now, it's RealNetwork's turn. This past week, RealNetworks announced plans to bring their stable of casual games to all the major console download platforms.

While no major announcement (or overblown press release) has appeared yet, this tidbit was confirmed in GameDaily's interview with Erik Goossens, RealNetwork's VP of Game Content. When asked about RealArcade's games appearing on consoles he replied that work on those games "is happening as we speak."

The only real questions left are "which?" and "when?". Which games will they bring over? And when will they arrive? When is truly anyone's guess at this point. The question of which games are coming is more complicated because Real Arcade serves as a portal for games developed by other companies that already have a relationship with Xbox Live Arcade. That list includes PopCap Games (e.g., Bejeweled, Atomica, Insaniquarium), MumboJumbo (Luxor 2), PlayFirst (e.g., Chocolatier) and Sandlot Games (Cake Mania).

Slice it any way you want, XBLA will be getting a ton of casual game content in the coming year. Are you casual enough to handle it?

Full list of Real Arcade games here.

[via GameDaily]

PlayFirst, Inc., publishers of the popular Diner Dash series and critically adored Oasis, are teaming up with Hudson Entertainment to bring their stable of games to consoles in 2008. PlayFirst has been very successful creating platform agnostic casual games (read: PC, Online, and they even appreciate Macs) and this new venture will likely be just as successful. No specific games or platforms have been announced but something appearing on XBLA seems like a safe bet.

To get a good look at all the games that fall under the PlayFirst banner, check out their site. Diner Dash and Oasis appear to be merely the tip of the iceberg. And besides those games already released, you can only imagine what will come out of the imaginations of all their development partners.

With Hudson's copious amounts console development experience and the profusion of games from PlayFirst, this match is made in gamer heaven. Look at the quality of Bomberman Live! as an indictation to what we can expect and you cannot help but giggle like a schoolgirl. But only on the inside. Because you're totally hardcore. I mean...dude!

[via GamingTalkHQ, thanks Measure]