Yes, there is some innovation. Portals felt a bit innovative but only because they extended a very old game concept. Some portals already existed in the first old Doom. But some new elements like the physics, the second portal, the jumping techniques are new and fun. But don't forget: This game was originally built by a small company and then bought by Valve.

I dont see any innovation in Halo though. Rayman was funny and interesting especially for my son. But it was just another action game with influence from jump&run and shooting and a few narrative elements.

Spore is another interesting story. The hype tells it was innovative. And yes, the procedural animation is. But the game-play is just a mixture of shooting and collecting (first episode), rpg and rts (the following episodes). I feel nothing new in here, only a new combination or composition.

Regarding casual or not: I agree with you to dismiss this definition in our heads. An artist shall be free of any constraints. This is a good approach. But the world outside, the game magazines and web reporters still will put it into a drawer and categorize as they learned it.