Although the maxim 'they don't make games like they used to' has some relevance, one simple fact is that we don't play games like we used to. This is further compounded by our nostalgic cravings - they might have sparked the retro revolution, but do little to help us decide what we actually want to play a decade down the line.

It's enjoyment on an almost subliminal level, simply because we've been playing for so long. We're no longer playing games, but immersing ourselves in interactive entertainment. Different labels for the same pastime? Hardly. We're mature gamers buying products written by mature developers who grew up alongside us - a far cry indeed from our 'spotty teenagers in bedrooms' roots.

Adults tend to play games in a wholly different way and for completely different reasons than teenagers, hence the ongoing demand for more serious, 'adult' titles. Kids play because they are kids. Adults play because they are kids at heart. And why not? Adults are creating these games for themselves, regardless of the fact that kids might be able to play and enjoy them too.

It's the same thing as a grown-up enjoying an episode of the Animaniacs more than a child ever could, simply because, in essence, it's created for the older generation. The Simpsons is the first cartoon ever to be aimed at an adult market and its phenomenal success speaks for itself. South Park enjoys cult status across the land, having bridged the both the child/adult and student/worker divide.