What's more important for a new game; new characters/content or new gameplay mechanics?

[CM30]

As you likely know, Miyamoto stated a few weeks ago in a Game Informer interview that gameplay mechanics were more important than new characters in making an interesting new game. Here's his quote about it:


Certainly within Nintendo, we have people internally who are saying, “Well, we have our old characters from our old games, and that’s old IP, and we should think about creating new IP.” But the question that we always ask is: “Does a new character really make it a new game?” And to me, the answer to that is, “No.” What makes it a new game is new gameplay and new interactions. So when we’re creating a game, we’re always looking at it from, “What is the gameplay, and how are making that gameplay new?” And then, “Who is the character that is best suited to that gameplay?



But what do you think? Do you agree with Miyamoto and think that new gameplay and interactions are more important than new characters (and hence that the likes of Super Mario 3D World, Luigi's Mansion 2, recent Zelda games, etc are equivalent to new franchises)? Or do you think that the characters and 'world' being new is more important, regardless of whether gameplay is similar to in many other franchises?

Which of the two aspects do you consider most important for a game to be considered 'new'?

 

[Bonfyre]

*auto pilot activated* SPAGHETTI

 

[smoke]

I think new game mechanics. It's great to see something new introduced into the game. I like to think it gives a fresh new vibe to the game.

 

[Moclon]

..Why not both? (Fire Emblem Awakening, for example.)

 

[Smertrius77]

i know i just heard the news from ign

Miyamoto Teases Brand New Wii U Franchise

In an interview with Famitsu magazine in Japan (photographed on Kotaku),
Miyamoto has said that Nintendo is working on a brand new Wii U game
that isn't part of one of Nintendo's existing franchises.

http://ie.ign.com/articles/2013/07/10/miyamoto-teases-brand-new-wii-u-franchise?zeta_id=1025743481&utm_source=Targeted%20Blasts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New+Wii+U+Franchise_17721_958822_958829&utm_content=1025743481

 

[Captain Murphy]

As someone who would replay games often, game play mechanics don't get stale if there are enjoyable mechanics to begin. I'm more interested in the story of games, personally. Strictly speaking for single player games, though. Multiplayer games do get old if there aren't one or two new mechanics thrown in to each iteration.

Anyways, I don't look back on games and think, "Man, swinging with the Wii Remote was sure fun instead of pressing buttons," "Changing the perspective made the whole game for me!" I look back on a game and think about my favorite parts of the story, or the coolest places in the game.

Though, I am the type of person to pick The Last of Us or The Walking Dead over The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword even though I absolutely LOVE Zelda games, because I like the former two more story-wise.

 

[Claraviolet]

I believe it's the content but I am not so sure.
I like good animation and graphics too...I suppose.