We still need graphics, but in my opinion once you have a basic level of graphics (A Link to the Past is my baseline for total satisfaction) you need to flocus development time ad money on interactivity, level design and game mechanics. That is truly what sells games.
Unfortunately publishers that do this don't spend much on marketing because "it won't sell well anyway - consumers want graphics!" and their fears are "confirmed" when no-one buys it because they've never heard of it. How much is Halo hyped because of the graphics? The gameplay/level design/interactivity is pretty standard for an FPS: impersonal controller, shoot-the-bad-guys gameplay, reach-the-exit design. This needs to change, and Nintendo is getting there, but we need entirely new ideas about how to interact with a game and entirely new mechanics for gameplay and developers that are known in the industry for their level design not their artwork.
Sometimes we even need games that aren't really games at all. Brain Training. Animal Crossing. Wii Sports.
What about this:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1820/blockland00063yi8.png
It's called Blockland. It's online multiplayer, you play as a minifigure and can build with bricks, shoot at each other and drive.
Ubuntu. Linux for human beings.
If you are interested in trying Ubuntu or Linux in general, PM me and I will answer your questions and help you install it if you wish.
