Innovation good or bad for gaming?

[Sk8teland85]

With the success of innovative systems like the DS and Wii innovation is a topic everyone is talking about. Some argue that innovation is hurting the industry by making it too casual. While others think it is great since it opens new grounds to new ways to play. So what is your take on this subject.

[THEEVILSPERKY]

Too casual?  I don't see why there can't be a multitude of video-games that can extend to any audience.

Also, innovation is a good thing, no question about it.  Should we ever think outside the box?  Yes, of course!  Sega's answer to Mario with Sonic, a fast paced side-scroller both at the same time similar and radically different to Mario was a good thing!  Final Fantasy, a game like any other at the time became an instant classic!  Games like DDR and Guitar Hero aren't traditional video-games, but the popularity of these two franchises are through the roof!

Creating something new and unique, regardless of what audience is willing to receive it, casual or core or a mix, is always positive. ;D

[Shujinco2]

Right NOW, it's ok. But, could it be possible that it could get out of hand?

[Jono2]

innovation in any form is a good thing.  Sony is innovating by upping the next gen graphics significantly and using a different disk system.  Microsoft is innovating by continuing to expand on it's incredible online system.  Nintendo's innovation is obvious.


the industry needs to expand somehow, and just making more and more expensive consoles with better graphics won't attract new consumers, but that's a direction it eventually needs to head in regardless.

[blue_slime]

Innovation doesn't make things "casual", it allows for fresh new ideas that expand the market.  Sure, we're going to see more games that attract the mass market who like movie experiences (which the advanced graphics can bring nowadays), or physical activities (which the motion controls allow for), or family-friendly entertainment, but this is merely a natural part of the up-and-down changes as the industry matures.

[Commander Awesome]

Like Genius said on NS2, it utterly depends on what it sets out to do.

Innovation is fine and good. Adding a bunch of gimmicks to sell massive amounts of copies, however, is not.

[Zovistograt]

Innovation in gaming is great in the long run.  The only problem with systems that ride solely on an innovative feature is that there will be a sizeable amount of mediocre games that are made to showcase the new innovation.  These die down, thankfully, as they did on the Wii (somewhat) and the DS before it.

I think innovation is great for gaming if it appeals to hardcore gamers, not just casual gamers.  Take Wii Fit for example.  It's basically trying to reach out to fitness and yoga enthusiasts.  Great, but it has no appeal to their core audience and it is missing the whole point of video games: to sit motionless and get lost in a fantasy world of some sort, to escape reality.  What good is a game that forces you to do something you could just do outside?

[extraz]

good, if it weren't for innovation we would still be using the Magnovox Odyssey.