And do games developers like Endless Forest?

With the rise of internet-delivered and advertised material (including games), it's easier for developers to take risks and to get their accoplishments (that's definately not spelt right...) recognised. Even better, they can get instand honest feedback from not just developers but users. If you introduced a new feature or game we, the users, didn't like we'd tell you about it.

Not that we've had that situation yet

Just briefly, I think you have a fair point, but I feel that you are too
deeply entrenched in your position for it to be helpful at this time. I work
with game developers day in day out: they do not think innovation is a dime
a dozen, many do not like working on the same boring projects - but
publishers decide what gets paid and what does not. Blaming the developers
is harsh - do you have any idea how many interesting and innovative projects
we have consulted on that fell by the wayside because the publishers shot
them down? More than four times the number that have gone ahead. It's a
harsh world out there for innovators.

And many people at GDC looked at Cloud with total confusion, like they
couldn't understand what the point is. Perhaps you should see this as
encouraging.

I am committed to praising any and all attempts at innovation and
redirection, even when they are flawed. I freely admit Cloud has problems,
but still, they set out with a new idea (what can we do with clouds?) and I
want to encourage that.

I want an art house games community as much as you, but I fear your
viewpoint goes too far and in effect makes the art community seem hostile
and unwelcoming. "We don't like your kind around here..." It comes across
somewhat as if you are criticising Cloud because it doesn't do what you
would do if it was your project, and that seems mean spirited, especially
given that these are students who are just coming into the industry. I
appreciate that isn't the case - but how do you think your comments would
make the team who made this project feel? If artists like you don't support
them, they will end up listening to other people and making games the way
everyone else does. You could be as much a part of the problem as the
developers if you aren't willing to hold out an olive branch to people who
want to lean towards art... Let's encourage even the tiniest steps towards
artistic games - because if we don't, what hope is there?

Anyway, you have to listen to your heart, but if we do not encourage people
who are trying I don't see how we will ever escape the gulag of violent
games we are currently trapped within.