I think graphics are very important to bring non-gamers in. I'm fine with certain companies like Crytek prioritizing graphics. I expect them and Epic to showcase their engines, and I'm glad they do. What I don't like, is other games with great game-play spending too much and hoping for sales just for the sake of graphics. Double Fine always seems to put out a nice game yet they don't break the bank for graphics. I think as indie-developed or smaller budget games continue to open more and more to mass distribution via Steam and consoles, the demand for high end graphics will increase because more and more will be playing games. What the industry as a whole needs to focus on, in my opinion, is getting everyone to find their game and play it. The Devs and Pubs who are doing well, bring new gamers into the fold as well as satisfy the hardcore. Very little of that, if any, has to do with graphics but has everything to do with style and game-play.

@aieon21 The reason it was considered a failure is because it was expected to recoup the losses of other games by same publisher. It sold well, just not as well as they were hoping.