I thought about this while writing the “review” of Rag Doll Kung Fu.

We often discuss “skill” in games. The players seem to want it despite we have often pointed out how this also brings problems.

But *why* do the players actually want games with skill? Well, it can be to impose their own unique qualities and personality in the game and remove some importance from the actual mechanics like the levels and the treadmills rewarding just those with the most time available.

But isn’t this hinting something else? Maybe it’s just that we are starting to refuse codified patterns (in particular with the mmorpgs, where you can play for years) and want to set our own. The possibility space.

The sandbox.

Maybe we are slowly getting to that point. Maybe it’s not just about the perceived fair (skill) and unfair (time invested, RMTs) competition. Maybe it’s because games requiring “skill” are simply more fun.