As rumored earlier, Apple’s iPad will further push the mobile devices company into the gaming category. While we are starting to see 3D games on the iPhone 3GS and the iPod touch 3rd-generation, thanks to their robust hardware, they are not quite there yet, especially with the lack of a physical input device. The iPad seems to fall in a similar category.

The games that Apple demoed could be classified as casual. It’s not going to replace your PS3 and Xbox 360 anytime soon, but the breath of titles that are available, 17,000 the last time we checked (and way more now), will keep everyone entertained for a while. That’s also why Nintendo’s Wii became so successful and beat beefier consoles. Mainstream consumers want casual games they can pick up, quickly learn and enjoy themselves playing. They are not looking for competition but a few moments of fun, and that’s what the iPad delivers.