In terms of engines: they get reused all the time. Even without rewriting a single line of code, the simple fact that it’s running on better hardware automatically increases it’s capabilities. Add in some rewriting to add new features and, assuming the code base was decent to begin with, you’re good. If you actually think that every time Id (or whoever) releases a new engine is rewritten from scratch, you don’t know how programming works. Doom 4 was a modified Quake 3 engine, which was a modified Quake 2 engine, which was a modified QuakeWorld engine, which was a modified Quake engine. I guarantee that if you’d look deep enough in the Doom 4 engine, you’d find code that hasn’t been touched since 1995. Only a fool reinvents the wheel, and only a complete fool does so every 2 years.

People are buying the hardware and being satisfied with the installed software (Wii Sports), and generally not buying anything else.

And what incentive is there when Zelda (GameCube) looks almost exactly like Zelda (Wii)?

It’s stagnation. When the initial flurry of Wii sales peters off, what then?

How? With your wallet.

From what I can tell Nintendo is doing exactly what the customer wants - they’re selling Nintendo DS’s like its going out of style, and beating down both consoles in NPD reports.

Don’t like it? Don’t buy into it. That’s the reality of the situation.

We’re talking about Nintendo just reusing Gamecube graphic assets without even increasing the resolution! There’s nothing on the Wii that can’t be done on a GameCube. Can you say the same about the Xbox and 360, or PS2 and PS3?

Halo 3 is coming out on Xbox 360, Halo 2 existed on Xbox, does that count as recycling?

But considering the Xbox didn’t create any memorable franchise characters besides Halo I don’t see them being real valid scenario.

Nintendo has a long history of previous consoles to recycle. I guess PC games don’t count because you cannot recycle them?

PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3 titles going to count? I mean, I heard this game called Metal Gear is going to go over there.

So, seems like everyone does it in the Industry, unless you can discount the above examples.

GBA to DS. GameCube to Wii.

Are you telling me people recycle Xbox to 360? (Well, some launch titles like GUN, but not, say, NBA 2K6…)

GRAW, GRAW 2
CoD2, CoD3
(Insert EA Sports Game here)
GTA (insert subtitle here)
Final Fantasy (certain series)
Need for Speed Carbon, Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Diablo
Total War (first two)
Half-Life
Dead or Alive
Mortal Kombat
DDR
Guitar Hero

Some games utilize the same engine with a new storyline, others utilize new engines with the rest of the game being pretty much the same concept (GTA, Unreal T., Half-Life)

Is this bad? Maybe in some cases, but a) the games sell and b) its familiar.

For games like GRAW, its obviously they’re “continuing” the storyline so do you want the game to turn into an RTS? Maybe a Civilization time game? No, you want GRAW 2. Does it command a 59.99 price tag? That’s debatable for sure.

For Zelda, what exactly do you want it to become? You just love the series so much you want it to be SO MUCH MORE than it really will be?

Some use the same engine, does that discount the game as good right off the top? I don’t think so, I think it might just mean the prices should be a bit less given half the code was already written for ya, but this is the games industry, what do you really expect?

Some games deserve sequels, people command them. Some games could use a fresh new look and style but that doesn’t always go over well (Look at Zelda II compared to the one before and the few after).

Game sequels are not always bad, which is proven in the fact that gamers buy them and many don’t get “1.0″ game ratings.

I don’t think Nintendo is doing anything less than that of Ubisoft, EA, Konami (how many contra’s and metal gears). Do we hold them up to some special light and just don’t see them being “like all the others?”

I think, like Sony, people just want something to bitch about Sony could cure cancer tomorrow but people would find some way to make it look bad for them.