Just because the most popular games are simple mechanically doesn't mean they can't be complicated thematically. In fact, that's probably a sure-fire way of getting more people to play: lower the barrier for people who aren't that great at playing games, while delivering more interesting subject matter to make the experience more satisfying. Don't think it can work? One word: Bioshock. Yes, it's not perfect, but it's a perfect example of what games could do to grow. It's also an example of a game that drew on a unique source (in this case, the Art Deco movement). Not to toot my horn, but I'm currently working with a partner on a game based on Commedia Dell'arte, the ancient Italian theatre of improvised comedy and originator of slapstick. I don't know how successful it'll be, but it just goes to show that there are a ton of different sources game developers can draw on.

If it would result in less games that girlfriends everywhere automatically roll their eyes at, more power to Mister Schafer.

Embedded links define new grammatical rules. Jim is on the cutting edge of language.

no to much broader subject matter, I think.

AAA quality games with broader subject matter.

Then again, getting a game dealing with the realities of depression probably doesn't benefit from a level editor or wicked multiplayer.

But if someone really tried....

my comment was an abstract. It wasn't supposed to make sense...

yeah, that's it...

Jim is the cutting edge of language!

I love you, Schafer! You combine the elements of a mainstream designer and indie developer into one ball of power!

Sign my face!

Tim Schafer has developed many orginal games so he's probably one of the few people who can say this without being a total freaking hypocrite.

I thought Uncharted did a pretty good job at inching towards romantic comedy without being a crate of cheeseballs.

I have been playing Grim Fandango recently and I just gotta say e did an incredible job combining Casablanca and Dia de Muertos

@Peteru

Exactly. Waves of enemies is alright but I want MOAR!!!!

@SRCisFriday

Probably not. But that was what, 14 years ago? The setting and subject matter didn't seem to make an impact on the games afterwards, in the big picture.

While I think Schafer has a point, I would argue that the gaming industry to much closer to mainstream acceptance than ever before. The increasing trend we see in blending different genres (mostly action and RPG) could be seen as steps towards breaking out of established themes. Meanwhile, the latest E3 gives us more ways to interact with games than ever before. I'll admit that overall, subject material seems limited to a few different tropes (fantasy, sci-fi, WWII), I think that too is on its way to greater variety. Now we've got games about wannabe DJ's, cooking mamas and games where you can type anything from a working time machine to Cthulhu into existence.

how many of those people who bought Wii's will actually stick w/ gaming? How many will buy games other than Wii Fit, Wii yoga, Wii etc?
Wii is just another fad toy and not a vehicle by which to get video games into the mainstream.
I personally don't care about video games becoming main stream but I crave something new from the medium. I'm so tired of hack and slashes and shooter games. Yes it's cool blowing someone up in the most awesome way possible but after about 10000000 times i'm kinda bored. Give me something new like Flower but bigger and better. Make me feel an emotion other than "wow dude that's totally awesome".

@Oshiee and PappaDukes

Count me too. Oh and my cousins down the street who didn't think they would like gaming but now enjoy and support games (both "casual" and "hardcore") Alot more people will probably enjoy a "casual" system and then countine to buy games then a "hardcore!" one.

While it's true that "story" games are usually limited to a plot to which violence can be worked in, that is not always true; also, not every game or movie with violence is the "summer blockbuster" type. (Disclaimer: Do not confuse violence with gore for this comment, violence is anything time one actor commits to physical harm of another.)

There are games that have stories, that have little or no violence. There are story driven RPGs, Dating Games, MMORPGs, puzzle games, and more that contain all sorts of different activities to get the next piece of the story. Gamers who come on to forums and blogs are typically not the type that play these games, but there are millions of people who do.

There are violent games and movies that are not all B-movies or Summer Blockbusters. There's a difference between Saving Private Ryan and Starship Troopers.

Now for the tough sell...

There are still gamers and game developers out there that think the Story isn't about the experience of someone on the screen but instead the experience that the gamer has. Whether it's Wii Sports, Karaoke Revolution, Rock Band, DDR, Carnival Games, Tetris, or most Retro style games (where you get 2 screens of story at the beginning and end of the game, with several hours of uninterrupted game play in the middle) the story is the feeling and experience of the person or people playing the game.

That's something that movies can't do and why I post on forums and blogs about video games, not movies. Why I care about video games more than movies.

So make fun of the Wii. Make fun of the millions of people who play simple PC games. They are truer gamers than the people I see on the internet, hating on everything that they don't like.