Yesterday, Super Tuesday was just a little bit more super, with the release of a PSP game called Downstream Panic. I know this because I read a press release, not because I actually care (see here for details).

It was the phrase “tactical-action-puzzler” that jumped off the page, and had me tactically puzzled. Did Atari go ahead and create a new genre without consulting us?

No. No they didn’t. They attempted to, but ended up just stringing together a bunch of niche words together and calling a day. But we can do that too!

Come play the new action-shooter-teamwork-gambler Unreal Tournament 3.  Or how about the fighting-action-shooter-platformer-thumb hurter Super Smash Bros. Brawl? Perhaps you’ve never heard of the sports-sports-sports-arm flail-sports genre that Wii Sports has to offer?

Atari, next time you decide to use genres as buzzwords…don’t. Just hit an advertising executive in the face with a thesaurus, and listen to what babble comes out. Much more effective.

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