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Xbox Fans and the Obssession with Realism

Recently I commented on Xboxyde on a worrying trend in the Xbox Community. Blimblim recently gave these comments for a Rumble Roses XX trailer:

"Konami released yet another Rumble Roses XX trailer. As always it moves very well until they show some actual gameplay. Someone should really tell the developers that this game should not use the moon's gravity."

And this is what I said:

It is disheartening that the only standard that some xbox fans seem to have is realism. If a game isn't realistic, it sucks. That seems to be the only motivating factor for most xbox fans to like or hate a game, and that's so unfortunate. It's a fighting game, there are bound to be some things that won't be 'like real life'. Xbox fans complain that developers aren't making innovative games for the system, when actually developers have tried to make those kinds of games for the platform, but the fans themselves don't support the more creative titles (Jet Set Radio, Panzer Dragoon Orta etc) simply because they aren't realistic enough, or they aren't based in reality. That's why developers like Sega are releasing their top titles on the Playstation instead of the xbox :( Because the fans have spoken with their purchases. Notice how Sega's recent game for the xbox, Full Auto, has a more realistic edge (though with an obviously arcadey premise and physics), and is clearly made based on the perception of what xbox fans like...it has to have cars and guns. Because Sega knows that anything else won't sell on the platform. They're instead offering their other franchises like Sonic and Virtua Fighter on the Playstation.

All I'm saying is that the above comment just reinforces the idea in most xbox gamers' minds that "if it isn't realistic---it probably sucks". The PS2 and the PS3 enjoys a much larger library of games simply because their fans are more open to various types of titles. If xbox fans want the platform to go beyond its current 'ultra-hardcore' fanbase, it will have to offer titles other than military simulators.

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