Organic games

Everyone knows organic food is better for you, right? If you haven't washed the mud off your carrots before cooking then you clearly haven't lived. Honest. But game development? Surely the only organic element here is the month old pizza in the office fridge? Not so. Keith argues in today's Technology section that the gaming world would be a better place if developers allowed their offspring to grow organically. Think quirky demos rather than set-in-stone concepts - prototypes rather than brainstorming. I think he has a point too, especially for throwing up interesting handheld ideas. But I'm not sure I totally agree with his claim that the transitional period - i.e. now - is when audiences are most receptive to fresh concepts. Yes, new hardware owners are more willing to splash out on something for their new system - Fantavsion for PS2 anyone? - but give them a choice of quirky leftfield or shiny franchise update and it is obvious what will sell. But still, if developers can create something that appeals to a sizable minority who create a word of mouth around it as hardware penetration rises then Keith is right - thar's gold in them thar hills.