Theory

[icycalm]

Any sequel that does not increase the complexity of the original is not worthy of the name. At the very least, complexity should be kept at the same level, and perhaps reshaped. Reshaped -- but not reduced.

Are we clear on this?

(Note for asses: a game doesn't have to be shallow to be enjoyed on a shallow level. See, for example, every sport ever. Even a 10-year-old can enjoy basketball -- as long as he plays with other 10-year-olds, and doesn't have the audacity to walk into an NBA court (not that he would be ALLOWED onto an NBA court, but you get my point).)

To sum up:

-Developers who reduce complexity are either not smart enough to figure out how to increase it, or simply couldn't care less and are in it for the money.

-Players who demand reduced complexity are either too dumb to realize that a complex game can also be played and enjoyed at a superficial level, or simply want to reduce the depth in order to master it more easily and win more often.

[icycalm]

Note that, in the two cases explained above, that of the developers and the players who create or demand reduced complexity, the part before the comma is due to stupidity, the part after to cunning.