I like the idea of the game as it is, but if I were in charge, there would be more pre-existing characters from the 90's.  It would make it seem like a nostalgia trip (like the Smash Bros. games), rather than a generic platformer with Spyro's name slapped on it.

One word: Money. They have to make a certain amount of cash for a video game to be considered "worth making." A nostalgia trip works for Nintendo because it's so succesful, but Spyro's fanbase isn't so large, so Activision has to market Skylanders to little kids who've probably never heard of Spyro before. Spyro Smash Bros. is still a nice idea in theory, though...

Also it's worth mentioning that I heard somewhere from a link on this forum that a Dark Spyro toy comes with the 3DS version, so maybe we WILL get some old characters.

If this is a natural change for the series, then rosie o donald should be miss october this year.

Skylanders better be the last game of its kind. It practically makes fun of
Spyro. No one is allowed to make fun of Spyro like that ...

Also bear in mind that in order to get 100%, we know'd you'd have to have at least 8 toys (one of each element). And given this game is marketed at children, I doubt the game makers are expecting many people to bother doing that, so my money's on very little to no 100% completion extras. The element-only paths will likely be there for XP and extra weapons, not a "Gotta Catch Em All" like the originals.

Those games are free-roamers, though. Skylanders looks linear (judgeing by the trailer, at least). But yes, those are some good games. Maybe Skylanders will have some elements from them?

Maybe. The beach-like level reminds me of some of the first levels of Jak & Daxter TPL and also AHT's Dragonfly Falls.
And I'm wondering if the treasure would count towards 100% completion or just act as currency like in AHT?

In the first Jak & Daxter, it was both and it was super annoying as I cannot find the last Precoursor Orbs 

You can say that for anything though. If a kid is stupid enough to lose all three toys and the portal then what’s stopping him from losing the discs for all his other games?

Point taken. Although these toys are a bit small, so they'd be easier to lose than, say, the Wii Remote.

Those games are free-roamers, though. Skylanders looks linear (judgeing by the trailer, at least). But yes, those are some good games. Maybe Skylanders will have some elements from them?

It sounds to me like this game will be a kind of mix between the old Crash Bandicoot games and Super Mario Galaxy (as in, linear instead of free-roaming, plus the whole "toy" thing).

Spash, I believe that the game will be a mix of the first Jak & Daxter game and A Hero's Tail. Both games which are awesome. 

I hope there is underwater exploration! You get Gill Grunt in the starter pack anyway.

It would have to be optional, though, because there's a chance you could lose the water toy, or just want to play the whole thing as Spyro or something. (Although Spyro COULD swim underwater in the originals...)

Come to think of it, if some kid were to lose all three of the game's toys, or the Portal, they'd be out of luck...

The only thing I'm worried about this game though that Activision might force Toys for Bob to rush it and we might end up with a 2nd ETD. At least it will have an awesome soundtrack like always...

I think if the game was crap, it wouldn't be getting all these hype-generating interviews and the risky new toy mechanic. If Activision was trying to throw some crap together they'd just make one quick trailer and few weeks before the game comes out and not even bother with this "toy" thing.

As for Spyro's redisign, obviously it's to appeal to new fans instead of Classic or Legend fans. I mean, the target audience probably's never heard of Spyro, and hey, at least his controls are stated to be the same as the classic.

As for the swimming, I'm predicting there won't be any underwater swimming- that would be unfair, what with forcing us to use a water type to get to it and all. Or if there is an undewater part, it'll be behind one of those "element gates" I believe the interview mentioned.

It sounds to me like this game will be a kind of mix between the old Crash Bandicoot games and Super Mario Galaxy (as in, linear instead of free-roaming, plus the whole "toy" thing).

Those fans failed to know that Insomniac never owned the rights to Spyro in the first place.

Yeah, I know. The only thing I'm worried about this game though that Activision might force Toys for Bob to rush it and we might end up with a 2nd ETD. At least it will have an awesome soundtrack like always...