How about making the games you want to play, your pretty much guaranteed that at least someone will like it.
Screw conformity, screw formulaic design, the context of your presence suggests that's not what you want any way.
thomasmahler, you said games are not entirely regarded as an art form yet, but it is none the less, and as an artist, you should ask yourself "who do I create art for". When you who that is then you will know who you want to make games for.