Is that cow picture the cover of Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother?

Edit: No it's not. I thought I was onto something there.  :D

What I wanted to convey with my undoubtedly humorous use of "lolwut?" was that there's such a thing as interpretation. There's no way to make sure you'll get your "message" across to 100% of your audience anyway, and when you remove language from the equation, it adds an even greater deal of ambiguity, which I don't think is a bad thing at all.

If the game was designed clearly to convey the message of its premise, wouldn't we all get the same conclusion?

lolwut?

Actually, I think the medium evolves the fastest because of technology, and sometimes that does happen "overnight".  Think about every major console release ever, and how much that changed the face of gaming.  Or about the introduction of online multiplayer.  Or Wii/EyeToy/Natal.  Imagine when we have convincing, Star Trek/Neuromancer-esque virtual reality (which video games will largely be responsible for)...

It does take creative designers and artists to bring it to life and make it worthwhile, though.

Hm yeah but that has more to do with a certain technology becoming available rather than anyone making a creative breakthrough.

There are a select few games that were both pioneering and directly influential though. For instance, Super Mario Bros. pretty much set the template that (2D) platformers still more or less adhere to today.

I don't wanna sound overly defensive of Passage here, because I didn't think it was that great either, but I think what it did differently is how it treats storytelling. It tells an (albeit simple) story without any of the lengthy dialogue and painful exposition that has become so commonplace in today's mainstream games, but exclusively via "symbolic" gameplay mechanics and implication and, apparently even managed to some move some people that way, (maybe not me or you, but that's beside the the point).

It all feels to me that if there is to be an evolution of the medium, it will come through a freak accident/chance discovery, more than through thoughtful experimentation.

There's never one event that changes the face of an art form forever. It usually works via things that come out of a perceived "avantgarde" gradually seeping through into the mainstream. The avantgardists are usually traiblazers more than anything. They're the ones responsible for bringing new ideas onto the table.

What I'm trying to say is, games like Passage probably won't change gaming overnight, but hopefully the mainstream will find a way to adopt some of its ideas in the future.

I think the worst gamer stereotype that has some grounding in reality is the whole "no interests outside of gaming" thing. I know a few people who have trouble with normal, everyday conversations simply because gaming is the only thing they have anything to say about. I always feel a bit sad when I see that.

1. I'd like to say I play them because I like games in general, but I guess the fact that they're usually either free or cheap has something to do with it as well. Personally, the thing I like most about the indie "scene" as it currently is, is that there's so many worthwhile games coming out literally every week. If you're well informed about new releases, I guess you could play a different game every day and not spend any money.

2. I purchase an indie game just like I would a mainstream game. I don't really make the division.

3. Most "mainstream only" gamers I know simply have no clue indie games even exist. I have yet to meet someone (in "real life") who rejects indie games out of hand.

4. Sweaty, pale, fat, sociopathic basement-dwelling geeks who have no interests outside of gaming. Sad but true.

Little computer people is a fascinating game. So is MULE.

Now that's more like it! I LOL'd.  :D

This game is a Puzztroidvania.  :D

Also, I can only agree with what TheDustin says: If you have at least a little love for platformers (and you know you do!), do yourself a favor and play the beta.

I guess they were trying to capture a "lonely" atmosphere. Problem is, that doesn't work too well with glitched-up Super Mario Bros. graphics.  :D

Cory Arcangel is awesome, as is Paper Rad.
I've seen this movie before, but I think the pacing is a bit poor. There are fairly long stretches where nothing happens at all.

which reminds me that kraftwerk should be played more in clubs!

Kraftwerk should be played more everywhere!  :D
I live in Austria (which is right next to Germany of course) and it's depressing how relatively unknown Kraftwerk is around here (and in Germany too), compared to the commercial success they have in the UK and elsewhere. I guess it's because German-speaking people usually have horrible taste in music. Actually a friend of mine went on vacation in Spain and was surprised to see Kraftwerk videos on mainstream music TV.  :D

Looks like I was pretty lucky to get a 7 ("artgame room titles"). The weird thing is, I still couldn't make the first jump on some tries. 

Anyway, I guess we all agree that this is the greatest gaming prank ever! 
Also, if the intention was to "troll the trolls", cactus and Podunkian succeeded. Epically.

It’s not about normal games vs independent games. It’s about independent games vs artsy social experiences. This is not a game, really, or maybe you have to give your own definition of a videogame.

Some devs are still making good games, it’d be sad if those started to be suspected because of some guys. The next time I see a bunch of pixels I won’t know what to think of it. It may be a good, real game like Rockboshers, or just some lame prank like this one - how would we know?

And why wasn’t there any of such artsy pieces of crap 20 years ago? Because there was no internet place where people would have discussed them. Proof that there’s just zero value as a game.

  :D

Who cares about Duke Nukem Forever? I want MeriNoGeimu! NOW!!! 

I thought No More Heroes was a game that used the Wiimote rather well without making it the central focus of the gameplay. Doing the finishers by "slashing" with the 'mote added that little extra bit of flair.

Now, now...

'Course they are, I was just joking.  :D

Probably true, but the DS for instance doesn't have nearly as much problems with forced and unnecessary touchscreen use, these days at least.