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sundin13 on 17 March 2017
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The_Yoda said:
sundin13 said:

Innovation isn't just about doing something first. It is largely about bringing it to a mass market and tapping into the potential of the idea. Nintendo seems to be the only console maker who is willing to put 100% into an idea. Including a Wii Remote or a Wii U Gamepad or even the 3D screen with the 3DS with every console establishes a userbase more than a peripheral device which allows developers to use the technology without destroying the player base.

This sets up a platform which encourages innovation and encourages different gameplay experiences and different ways of creating games. While 3rd parties don't always tap into this potential (although there are certainly examples of them doing so such as Red Steel 2), the uniqueness of the consoles allows Nintendo to flex its creative muscles in a way which wouldn't be possible on other consoles. 

I think it is very fair to say that in terms of input devices, Nintendo is the only console maker willing to take risks and innovate. 

BOLDED: if we go with that premise wouldn't the other companies be innovating but failing while Nintendo would be "successfully" innovating? Sorry but in my mind innovating is bringing something new to market, not being successful / more successful using someone elses ideas

The way I see it, innovation is largely utilizing the potential of an idea moreso than popularity (although popularity as I said before often allows the potential to be utilized better). If you want to say "the first person who used motion controls innovated and everyone after is just copying", then from what I can tell, give all the credit to Datasoft back in 1981 for the "Le Stick" controller for the Atari 2600 or maybe some Arcade games even before that. I personally don't think that makes any sense because clearly, what was brought to the table through the Wii utilized the potential of motion controls much more fully. The same can be said of the Eyetoy. While the tech itself may be "innovative" (although I'd have to look into that), the utilization didn't tap into that potential to the same level as the Wii. Because of that, I'd say that Nintendo innovated with the Wii at least in how they used motion controls. Its kind of like if someone built a plane, but only used it as a fan for a few years and then someone else came in and started flying. Sure, the tech was already there, but the utilization was still innovative.