Topic: Miyamoto: The Industry Has a Long Way to Go, Needs More Creativity

I think the people who discussed money are right on point. The industry lacks creativity and risk because there is money involved. No one is willing to invest heavily into a category of game which could potentially be a commercial failure. With games costing more to develop, it's only natural for publishers to want to publish games that are guaranteed to sell well, and, therefore, turn a profit.

It's a business, after all.

That's not to say a game can't sell well and NOT be a cookie-cutter game (for reference, I'm referring to games such as Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, and all EA games as "cookie-cutter" games — these games follow a predictable gameplay mechanic, and are just given new skins, and are called a new game). You can have a game that bucks the trend and sells well, but it is a lot more difficult.

In the end, however, "...that which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." Whether platformer, action/adventure, RPG, or shooter, there is really nothing new or innovative anymore. What has not been tried? Aside from using technology that does not yet exist, nothing. The real trick, in order to appear creative, is then to use these gameplay mechanics and combine them in a way that is new, unique, and/or refreshing.

I conclude with my opinion that, while cookie-cutter games are stifling creativity, and are probably causing smaller, arguably BETTER games, to not sell as well, there isn't anything inherently wrong with copying a tried-and-true formula. The real problem comes in when you ONLY do cookie-cutter games. It's a real shame when a game like Call of Duty, which (IMO) is the definition of a bad game in almost all respects, can make or break a system. Nintendo WILL take a huge blow now that the next CoD will not be available on the Wii U. Nintendo WILL take a huge blow from the lack of FIFA and Madden. These are facts. And it's a shame. It's not only a shame that they won't be available on the Wii U (there isn't a real reason to not have them, if even the 360, PS3 and Wii are getting them), but it's a shame that their lack of inclusion will cost the Wii U in the sales department.