Wow, that was a long description. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to post as such compared to yours and yet here I am, typing. I think that you have already answered your own question, maybe you want someone to clarify or uphold your belief? Well, here I am. I don’t know what to say yet, but let me be spontaneous.

I had [have rather...as I still play most of them] some games with 2d like Melty Blood, Arcana Heart, Metal Slug, Street Fighter, Sonic and like what you have mentioned, Rumble Fish [which has nothing to do with fishes at all!]. For their graphics and appearance likewise, I’d look at it but only secondly to its plot or storyline. The plot is more important, and the playability! Let’s say Metal Slug for example, despite its 2d-ness, people liked it for its game style and infinite ammo. It will be a classic, an epic. Times are moving fast, I’m not a fortune teller so I would not be able to tell whether the people in our society will forget about these things. Maybe yes, maybe no. I for one will not, I bet on it.

So yes, it’s past millennium, it’s 2008, and some people are greedy or are in need of money. I guess that is the reason why companies try to get in with the modern world and follow its pleas of new things and much more “pleasant” outcomes. Despite of how much people liked their 2d, they would still have to earn money and continue forth. Try asking some eleven year olds or somehow any much younger ones, they probably wouldn’t know what or who Sonic is! [for an example only].

Either way, 2d may never be forgotten. It may have a comeback or clash in combination with 3d [like what you said] but it could also perish…and we may never see it again, but I doubt it.

We’ll see it again. I’m hopeful of seeing much of it again in the future. ;D