I love innovation in video games - new experiences and new ways to play. It's not what drives the industry, but it's my current favorite thing to look for when trying out a new game. Has it been done before? How is this different than everything that's come before it? If the answer is "it's just rehash!" then I really can't be bothered to play the demo or even read the current news about it.

Are you the same way? I grew up with a Commodore 64, where 2D platformers were king. For 5-7 years, I played over 100 games (my cousins were big time floppy pirates) that were basically the same style of gameplay. The C64 only has one button on the top of the joystick, so you either shot something, or jumped, or both. The games that weren't 2D platformers are the ones that became really memorable. I still remember the suspense of shooting down balloon-wearing foxes in Pooyan, and bouncing off the walls of Pitfall 2's caverns. The rest of the copycats just blended together.

I didn't realize it until I turned 30, but my favorite games of each generation were also new styles of gameplay that I had never experienced before. I spent countless hours playing Twisted Metal 2, Tekken 2 (PSX demo disc anyone?), and Final Fantasy 7. Each game seemed so innovative and fresh at the time, but with sequel after sequel and spiritual successors that have mere superficial updates, I get less and less enjoyment playing the same style of game. I finally reached a point where my pleasure-ometer reached 0 and JRPGs (once my favorite game style) began to piss me off.

There are just too many cardboard cutouts and not enough innovators in the market today. Creativity isn't rewarded with dollar signs, but the most memorable games of every console are the ones that took the biggest leaps. Will you even remember the Call of Duty sequels in 10 years? I think instead you'll remember Noby Noby Boy.



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BTW: my bro and I do a weekly podcast

Jumpmen Podcast ep 16: Orange Kryptonite's Gonna Turn Me Gay - http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jumpmen-podcast/id403075356
Topics covered: nut-kicking, Pay-for-Play demos, multi-colored Green Lanterns and orange Kryptonite, It's On Like Donkey Kong, Kinect, and the new Aquabats album