Probably because it is the first thing you see

Because at a certain point it doesn't cost any more to manufacture low-end modern hardware as it does old hardware. Primary reason why the Wii is a pathetic joke. Repackaged Gamecube era hardware. They could have easily put together a no loss $250 system with hardware capable of 720p near 360 quality graphics.

Because any GAMEPLAY innovation could have been done on last-gen hardware. Apart from the leap to 3D, every other gameplay mechanic could pretty much have been done on inferior hardware. Most processor-intensive things are just aesthetic. The only exception I can think of is physics-based puzzles, but even those could be done on much weaker hardware than they are, if only the graphics were downgraded.

If you truly think that graphics are unimportant, you should be up in arms that they keep ripping us off for new console hardware just so it can run a game that your older hardware COULD run, if only the graphics were downgraded.

In simple terms, these are VIDEO games. IE mainly a visual experience. It's become part of our expectations that as we move forward in console generations, the visuals are the primary leap. However, that may change as we reach the limits of the current development mentality. Better visuals = more development time.

Of course, gameplay, AI, physics, design etc should all advance as well. But visuals will always be the most prominent. People shouldn't take this as a knock on the series, but why do you think Gears of War was so popular? It had the best visuals of the time, plain and simple. It showed that the next generation had arrived and was really a step up from previous consoles.

Because technology allows for it.

Graphics are the entire visuality of the game, if the graphics are horrid and animations are bad; it's takes away from the quality of the game. You cannot ever sacrifice gameplay mechanics for graphics. You can't have a pretty game that has terrible gameplay, you CAN have a game great gameplay and poor graphics yet... if there was extra polishing it would be even better. (All depending on the Art Direction)

Graphics are like the icing on a cake, it's really nice when it's there but if it's not, it's not the end of the world. You also can't cover up a moldy cake with icing. =)

Great now I'm hungry /sigh

Because they're charging us $10 more for them.

An excuse they aren't living up to.

I still play PS1 games. Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, among so many other older "out-dated" classics. I don't go back to these games because of the graphics, it's the game play that draws me back in and its the determining factor that sets apart pretty good games with amazing graphics from golden classics.

Very true and a good point indeed. Although I'm sure I could think back to a game that wasn't ground breaking in the graphics field at the time but did later turn into a classic of gaming (tecmo bowl anyone?). At the end of the day, every aspect of a game (graphics, audio, level design and controls) should propel its game play. Games that aren't game play centric tend to be forgotten.

Entendam meus amigos:

A inovação é a melhor coisa do mundo!

I have played games from every gen on every console since the late 80's to present day. This generation's graphics are mind blowing and I never thought I'd see it this soon. For me, the graphics and art design are just as important as the gameplay and controls. I never thought I would care that much about graphics but after seeing some of the finished products this gen, there's no going back for me.

Because fanboys say so!

I usually thing of next gen as more and better, forgive me me wii site.

If you really mean that graphics doesn't matter why didn't u stay with 8 bit like the NES, next gen means the next thing to come, and it differs depending on the console, if xbox/ps didn't go for graphics what they would do? wii went for gameplay... so this news doesn't have sense.

I am a graphics whore.

Next gen should be a step up in everything..not a step down..innovation is a good thing...but how long does it take before innovation becomes the standard and then just boring..exactly my problem with my wii

lol good article but i like things balanced in the games i like . the graphics story and gameplay have to be on key.lol wait till the holographics get into games .

I was hoping that the article would mention the Wii. After all, the Wii console was designed, among other reasons, with this in mind.

Its not like you can blame gamers for this reasoning. every gmaer that has grown up has distinguished next-gen as such: better graphics. Its the first thing you ever notice about the footage before you even see the hardware(unless you are a tech guru that can actually notice improved physics and A.I. with the naked eye).

Gotta admire Nintendo's focus on redefining the definition of Next-Gen with motion control; however, even with that console you can defy the next gen capabilities of the hardware with its graphics. The graphics maybe only twice as powerful as the Gamecube, but it is a technological leap over the previous Nintendo console, nonetheless.

It doesn't just does to people who can't afford a pc, because these so called next gen visuals aren't really all that good....just ok looking.

You see, I've always judged games on how they look artistically, with the amount of graphics.
For example, two of my most favourite games are MDK and Serious Sam. Looking at MDK now, MDK is a very minimal looking game, but what carries it off is the illusion of the world with those limited graphics. The same with Serious Sam, the game had very good graphics back then, but now, it doesn't look so hot, but what makes the game so good is the attention to detail in the historical architecture.

Crash Bandicoot is one of the best examples of this though. Just look what ND did with teh PSone, the Crash games still look excellent in this day of age.

Its all about art direction and since getting a Wii roughly a week ago, I think the Wii is perfectly safe, as long as it keeps on pushing on art direction wise with the 'limited graphics', I have no problem with the Wii, in fact an hour ago I was playing one of the most basic looking games on the Wii; 'Geometry Wars Galaxies' and loving it.

I had the illusion that this gen would mean longer games with a little better graphics than on the PS2 and XBOX. However I feel that games are exactly the same legnth as back then, they just look better and have better animation and framerates. But what I do like is the whole movement of the XBLA, PSN and WiiWare games, relying more on art direction than graphics.
For example, look at The Maw. The Maw looks like a XBOX game, does that lessen the game it is? I don't think so. Maybe more developers should start thinking that way.

Well if this atricle is attacking the argument that ppl prefer wii as "something else" than next gen machine I dont really know the point for it at all. Why cant wii be something else.

As for Next gen consoles, or actualy I should already say the HD-Consoles as the term next gen is getting old. But to the point.
The HD-Consoles X360 and Ps3 do both have extensive power to show gamers pretty graphics, but there are many other things that the "graphical" power may allow.

For example, bigger areas to explore (look oblivion or Fallout), New ways to be creative (look at littlebigplanet), MMORPG gaming is also bossible because of raw power that allows drawing all those gamers and data not to mention the HDD space that is really helpfull.
Then there comes physics which can really enchance gameplay with nice little puzzles or elements. Not to mention the gamers looking for more realistic firefights can also get what they want simply because consoles can handle more data.

Ps3 and XO:s powers are both used for much more than just simple graphics. And for the ppl that think HD as non relevant matter have simply dont know how hidious Ps2 games for example look on hd-tv :|
its also very helpfull for games as you can spot smaller things from distance more clearly because of higher resolution, and the HUD doesnt take up 50% of the screenspace.

Its stupid to even argue that its all about graphics.

next gen is blu-ray. If ur not teh blu-rayz, then you're so yesterday...