Seattle - More men play casual video games than was previously thought -- the split is about 50/50 with women -- although women represent 74% of those who actually purchase casual game titles in the $2.25 billion worldwide market that is growing 20% annually, according to a report from the Casual Games Association, an industry trade group.

San Francisco - The Casual Games Association, an industry trade group of developers and publishers of casual online games, and casual games editorial site Gamezebo on Friday announced the nominees for the first annual Zeebys, which will recognize the best casual games of the year.