"Who buys these games anyways????"
People who like carnival games.
It's not rockets science. People like those kinds of games, and having the chance to play them as much as they want at home has a lot of appeal to those people.
It's the same reason GTA games sell. Some people like the thought of running around a city causing make believe mayhem (not top-down, cel-shaded mayhem). It's the same reason the really good FPS sell. Some people like playing soldier, whether it's the present or future (would count WWII, but there is the saturation of course). People want to explore a mystical or wonderous land, and that's why Zelda and Mario respectively sell. Some people like to use their brains, and that's why Brain Age and puzzle games sell. Some people want to be great warriors battling other warriors, and that's why fighting games sell.
Really, Carnival games has more in common with what makes those games hits than all the bells and whistles that many think even the Wii has to have.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs
