If Miyamoto had worked on Geist, it would've been a better game. But he merely made some suggestions once he'd heard of their basic concept. One of those concepts was the possessing of the dog dish, which was a good idea. I blame N-Space for the rest, however mean that makes me, I simply cannot bring myself to sugarcoat it. Thus, I do not include Miyamoto in the Geist blamesphere.
As for Hey You Pikachu, it's worthy of notice because of the scenario structure of guiding Pokemon through friendly activities. Interestingly, you can draw some similarities between the tasks you perform in Hey You Pikachu and the tasks you perform in Pikmin: both Pikachu and the Pikmin can be directed around a gamefield to dig up and carry objects. And wonder of wonders, both games also have day-night cycles.
Also, the concept of a domestic setting and daily excursions for leisure activities (visiting the beach, visiting a forest where you'll cook, etc.) is still relatively novel and unexplored in games. In fact, it is a set-up that sounds more like non-game than real-game in its sense of urgency and fantasy.
As you can see, I believe a purchase is worth it if the game edifies or interests on some level of game design. Basically, money is never wasted if you really learn something from the game and are able to take something from it, if after you experience the game you are a more complete person than before.
Or if you have fun. One or the other. Or both.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com