So both MadOnion and Remedy are going ahead full steam. If I'd need to single out one aspect, it would be playability. You can design a good adventure game, a good RPG, a good strategy game, or a good online action game. Some genres require good tech, some good content. All games and genres require good playability.
Technology is just the icing on the cake.
It's important, but if a game's not fun it's not going to do you much good. What's the most outrageous thing you ever did ON your job. . . . . I'm not the outrageous type, so I can't boast with many outrageous deeds. People you admire in the industry. . . . . Sid Meier of course.