It was only a matter of time before the biggest woman’s channel got into the game market. Lifetime and Real Networks have partnered to create Lifetime Presents, which is a series of casual games that target females. Women are the biggest players of casual games and the biggest audience for Lifetimes shows.

The games will have ads in them that consist of short videos for the Lifetime channel. The ads will not be in all of the games, just a select few. The games that contain the ads will allow for longer free game play on the Real Networks in exchange for having to sit through ads in your game. Real Networks already has games that contain ads. The games that contain ads have doubled from 12 to 24 over the past six months. Real Networks has delivered more than nine million games with ads in them. I guess games with ads in them are here to stay. The users do get extra free play from the game enabled ads and if it is done right it shouldn’t be that intruding.

Lifetime is no stranger to distributing games. The network started distributing online games in November 2006 and since that time the traffic has tripled to lifetimetv.com. Lifetime has also published original web-based games and has moved into publishing downloadable games this year.

“Real’s pedigree for developing and publishing casual games for major consumer brands is second to none. The Lifetime Presents series offers a unique opportunity to further our relationship with a valued partner and deliver more integrated games to consumers,” said Charles S. Merrin, vice president of North American Games at Real. “Lifetime Television clearly understands what it takes to market casual gaming content effectively, via custom game development, in-game advertising and on-air programming support.”

The first game to be released in the series will be Sally’s Salon. The user plays Sally and has to manage a beauty salon. The tasks include performing beauty services, hiring employees and customizing salon services. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to run a salon, then maybe you should check out Sally’s Salon. Sally’s Salon will be released on July 25, 2007.

Thanks CNN Money