I like thinking about games. I spent part of my life trying to make them for money. I am also aware of the legions and legions of horrible games out on Best Buy shelves right now. Right this very moment. But what makes them bad?
In this creative exercise, let's all post what we think would be the worst idea for a plausible video game. Something that you might possibly see on store shelves. It can be a combination of genres, but please flesh it out a little more than just saying "Mario + HALO". I'll start.
A new Kirby game. In the town of Dreamville, the central hub town for Dreamland, the Princess Sleepyton has been kidnapped! (Note: The princess is a human because, let's face it, no one wants to see a female Kirby. That would ruin the mythos.) So Kirby, with few leads to go off of, has to talk to people in the town and accept quests in exchange for Dream Dollars. The quests take his to one of six magical parts of Dreamland, but to access all of any part he'll have to spend his Dream Dollars on items. These items may be in the form of abilities that Kirby can inhale over and over again, and let him do stuff like pass through grates or resist heat.
Better yet, Kirby no longer gains abilities from eating enemies, but each enemy eaten adds to a gauge specific for that enemy. When that gauge fills, the enemy's ability becomes available for purchase. Also, there's an EXP bar and a health meter. Maybe an ability meter, too.
And...go!