It’s January 3rd, and that means two things. Vacation time is over (sorry, kids of the world). And, it’s time for me to put on my thinking cap and proclaim 5 casual gaming trends you’ll see in the upcoming year. That way, in the small event they happen, I’ll be proclaimed a genius!

Every day this week, I’ll make a casual game prediction that will either astound you or make your shake your head.

Today’s prediction: Apple and iOS eclipses Microsoft and Windows to become the #1 platform to developer casual games for. I told you I am swinging for the fences! My explanation on the other side.

Gamezebo Rating:

Penguin World is a game that goes beyond “novel.” It’s honestly a bit strange, by Facebook or anyone else’s standards. The basic concept is that you’re a penguin and apparently what penguins do all day is forage for lost pottery in the Arctic, or possibly Antarctic, wilderness while fighting off polar bears. The game plays like a novel fusion of treasure hunting games like Treasure Isle and the Club Penguin virtual world for kids. The game might be intended more for children than adults, though it’s a little hard to tell at times.

Gamezebo Rating:

Farmandia can best be described as a “tried and true” farming game. While there is technically not much wrong here, the problem lies in the fact that there are much better alternatives out there with much more interesting ideas and activities.

Christmas is a time for giving, but it’s also a time for getting – and if you didn’t have an iOS device before the holidays, there’s a pretty good chance Santa placed one under your tree this year. As a result, lots of new gamers hit the App Store on Christmas morning – and OpenFeint has the numbers to prove it.