I'm going to do my first solo entry this weekend. I'm not very fond of the theme, so I'm going to try and slant things towards a Doom tribute, it being 20 years and all.
Yes, but I'm not fond of any of the popular themes in the final round. Same thing happened last time, which is why I did a Snowden game. We shouldn't let the theme get in the way :)
I find the theme the best part. What I really enjoy in LD's is the first 3/4 hours where the theme discusses the theme and the games gradually emerges.
I can make any game I what anytime, but the theme give you focus and forces you to think in something you otherwise wouldn't.
Why not just do your own independent hackathon not associated with this then? As far as I'm concerned, the theme is one of the most important parts to this. It means that you can't just sit down and think through a program or an idea before the hackathon starts.
My super-proud previous team entries are:
Mini31: Afraid of the Dark http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/minild-31/?action=preview&uid... (2D platformer using 3D art)
LD23: The Small World of Professor Strange http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23/?action=preview... (a graphical text adventure with Eclipse IDE mode)
LD24: Cage Flight http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-24/?action=preview... (multiplayer space sim)
LD25: The Crown Jewels Job http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-25/?action=preview... (2D platformer, kid safe)
Mini40: Mutually Assured Destruction http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/minild-40/?action=preview&uid... (nice globe map)
LD27: NSA's Where's Snowden? http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-27/?action=preview... (SQL hacking game)