What was your very first game?
Of course physics presentations for the public are simplified, but physics isn't something that ordinary people do for recreation. And if it wasn't simplified, nobody would take an interest. You don't start off with statistical mechanics or quantum field theory, you don't even start off with Newton's Universal Theory of Gravitation, you begin with simple ideas that a newcomer can understand, like the basics of momentum, gravity etc. Open the first science book you learned from, and find the first physics section. What does it start with? The Schrodinger Equation?
Tetris is a fun game with simple controls. The problem is that the games that are made today have complex, unintuitive controls. But the idea that a wider audience wouldn't enjoy deeper games is wrong. A game can be very deep without having complicated controls that you have to learn all at once. Look at Mario Kart Wii. Much of the audience that played Wii Sports is now playing that. It's a deeper game than Wii Sports with more content. If the new market can upstream to Mario Kart Wii, why do you think they won't move on to bigger, deeper games, which still have intuitive controls and an easy learning curve?
Also, your final statement reeks of selfishness. "The Wii brought even more people in but that doesn't mean that gaming as a whole should have to change to accommodate it". The only reason you think this is because the games industry treats you as a preferred customer, and you like it that way. But by what right should you really be better accommodated than anyone else? It happens to be that way now, but it won't stay that way. Don't worry though, games will still be made that you'll play, and they'll be just as deep as they are now. They just won't be controlled with classic controllers.
A game I'm developing with some friends:
www.xnagg.com/zombieasteroids/publish.htm
It is largely a technical exercise but feedback is appreciated.
