Poll: Sci-fi or Fantasy?

[Da Orky Man]

In general, do you prefer sci-fi or fantasy books, games, movies, anything?
I know most of you will take the stance of "If it's good, I don't care which", so don't do that. I personally love playing Oblivion, yet my game collection is vastly more sci-fi. I find that there's simply more options for a future-based game, like space combat sims.
Though I do like sci-fi with a touch of the feel of fantasy, like the Warhammer 40k universe, where your best space-combat ships can be descibed as 10-millennia old space-bourne battle-cathedrals.

EDIT: And I also love the Discworld books. And by that, I mean I breathe them.

 

[Nicolairigel]

Hard decision, I think I like sci-fi more but I do enjoy a combo of both the most. But please, don't make it so combo is final fantasy, because I im not a ff fan.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

I'm a big fan of D&D, so fantasy generally gets my vote, but like everything, there's a lot if crap to wade through. Good sci-fi is pretty awesome too, but I like magic and such.

 

[Kiefer13]

I love both, but I definitely prefer sci-fi to fantasy.

Assuming both examples are of similar quality, anyway. I prefer excellent sci-fi to excellent fantasy every time, but I'll take good fantasy over merely average sci-fi.

 

[spartan231490]

Fantasy by leagues. I'm really not a fan of Sci-Fi, especially futuristic settings. I detest ship-based combat. I don't mind modern Sci-Fi though, in fact I'm a huge Star Gate fan, and I love halo. but ship-based combat i hate, and I can only tolerate gun based combat in FPS genre.

 

[Da Orky Man]

I enjoy both just as much. I will happily watch Star Trek or Stargate or read some Tolkien or Game of Thrones. Why be fussy when both can be as epic and awesome to enjoy?

Look at your game collection. Which genre is there more of?

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

Sci Fi. Because of Dune. Curse you Frank(and Brian) Herber!! It's like LotR in space, but with more detail. (I know it sounds impossible, but shame on you for doubting it)

 

[Gaiseric]

Movies: Sci-Fi
TV: Sci-Fi
Books: Both
Games: Both

 

[badgersprite]

Hard decision. I love both, but they're often executed in disappointing ways. I've seen plenty of fantasy or sci-fi that I got my hopes up about that just turned out to be stupid or an incomprehensible mess.

I think I prefer a combination. When it comes down to it lot of sci-fi has fantasy elements, or is just straight fantasy with sci-fi elements to begin with, with Star Wars being the most obvious example. Urban fantasy is also good.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Hard decision. I love both, but they're often executed in disappointing ways. I've seen plenty of fantasy or sci-fi that I got my hopes up about that just turned out to be stupid or an incomprehensible mess.

Yeah. I generally prefer Sci-Fi because it tends to suck a bit less and the writers have more room to breath in a way.
Most fantasy is a poorly executed Tolkein ripoff, Sci-Fi seems to be a slightly more well executed Star Wars/Star Trek ripoff.
Of course, I say mostly, and being said Tolkein or Star Wars ripoff is not necessarily a bad thing.

They both have vast amounts of potential though, maybe it'll be realised soon as people quit thinking every fantasy world needs to be full of Orcs as either 'the Scourge' or the proud warrior race, Dwarves as the stumpy hermit miners, Elves as the skinny pretty freaks, some 'Ancient Evil' and whatnot with Humans always as the Jack of all Trades race who are overall the least hated and most rational. Which makes no fucking sense.
Wish there was a fantasy setting, and maybe there is, where the roles are all mixed up. Orcs are the technologically advanced fast moving hunter types, Dwarves are the diplomats and merchants, Humans are the reclusive ones hiding in mountains and no longer have a +10 to diplomacy, and Elves are the proud kill everybody warrior race guys.

Well....it'd be varied at least.

 

[Lunar Templar]

both, but with leanings toward fantasy

 

[warthoggunner]

both

Examples:
Star Wars: Fantasy, but the tech is basically sci-fi

Dragon Crown War (Michael A. Stackpole): Fantasy with a little bit of modern times (black powder -> canons and primitive guns)

 

[ace_of_something]

I prefer scifi movies/tv shows etc. I much prefer fantasy games though.
I chose fantasy for my love of D&D.

 

[badgersprite]

Hard decision. I love both, but they're often executed in disappointing ways. I've seen plenty of fantasy or sci-fi that I got my hopes up about that just turned out to be stupid or an incomprehensible mess.

Yeah. I generally prefer Sci-Fi because it tends to suck a bit less and the writers have more room to breath in a way.
Most fantasy is a poorly executed Tolkein ripoff, Sci-Fi seems to be a slightly more well executed Star Wars/Star Trek ripoff.
Of course, I say mostly, and being said Tolkein or Star Wars ripoff is not necessarily a bad thing.

They both have vast amounts of potential though, maybe it'll be realised soon as people quit thinking every fantasy world needs to be full of Orcs as either 'the Scourge' or the proud warrior race, Dwarves as the stumpy hermit miners, Elves as the skinny pretty freaks, some 'Ancient Evil' and whatnot with Humans always as the Jack of all Trades race who are overall the least hated and most rational. Which makes no fucking sense.
Wish there was a fantasy setting, and maybe there is, where the roles are all mixed up. Orcs are the technologically advanced fast moving hunter types, Dwarves are the diplomats and merchants, Humans are the reclusive ones hiding in mountains and no longer have a +10 to diplomacy, and Elves are the proud kill everybody warrior race guys.

Well....it'd be varied at least.

Well, the reason for so much similarity in fantasy is because of their roots in human myths and folk tales. That's why they resonate. Making up too much stuff often leads to a lack of suspension of disbelief or too much confusion. We know what elves are, and orcs and goblins and banshees and vampires and werewolves. They weren't just invented by one dude; they're culturally and historically defined as having certain qualities, which can be partially changed or altered (for example, you can have short mischievous elves or you can go for the tall, spiritual, saintly elves). Changing them too much would be like a zombie showing up who can speak fluently, isn't dead, doesn't crave flesh and is entirely competent in their own faculties. A lot of people would say, "Why did you call them a zombie? That's not a zombie."

Anyway, that is why a lot of the non-Tolkienesque fantasy and more original premises are often set in a more modern world or in a partially sci-fi universe. You can invent something new, or a new take on an old thing without alienating people. It gives you an opportunity to do something different and create your own lore and invent your own races, or at the very least put a new spin on ancient mythical creatures.

 

[Testosticore]

Sci Fi. Because of Dune. Curse you Frank(and Brian) Herber!! It's like LotR in space, but with more detail. (I know it sounds impossible, but shame on you for doubting it)

I know this is going to sound silly, but I fucking hated Dune. It was a slow paced movie about space drugs and a floating fat man with alot of scenes completely DEVOID of any soundtrack whatso ever, especially the bits where it was desperately needed.
Haha, not that your wrong for liking it, brother, just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

Im still a massive fan of Sci Fi.
Mass Effect is awesome
Warhammer 40k is awesome
Star Wars WAS awesome
and Alien Kicked ass!

 

[Outcast107]

Both..but fuck final fantasy. Warhammer 40K all the way. Where its a true sci-fi fantasy. Space ships, super soldiers, orks, elfs, and demonic beings.

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

I know this is going to sound silly, but I fucking hated Dune. It was a slow paced movie about space drugs and a floating fat man with alot of scenes completely DEVOID of any soundtrack whatso ever, especially the bits where it was desperately needed.
Haha, not that your wrong for liking it, brother, just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

Im still a massive fan of Sci Fi.
Mass Effect is awesome
Warhammer 40k is awesome
Star Wars WAS awesome
and Alien Kicked ass!

What do you mean movie? That abominable thing that they put in the theaters that killed the truly epic saga that is the 20 or so books?

I'm talking about the books of course.

 

[DEAD34345]

I went with Sci-Fi, only because it seems to have much more variety than Fantasy, which is somewhat ironic*.

They both have vast amounts of potential though, maybe it'll be realised soon as people quit thinking every fantasy world needs to be full of Orcs as either 'the Scourge' or the proud warrior race, Dwarves as the stumpy hermit miners, Elves as the skinny pretty freaks, some 'Ancient Evil' and whatnot with Humans always as the Jack of all Trades race who are overall the least hated and most rational. Which makes no fucking sense.
Wish there was a fantasy setting, and maybe there is, where the roles are all mixed up. Orcs are the technologically advanced fast moving hunter types, Dwarves are the diplomats and merchants, Humans are the reclusive ones hiding in mountains and no longer have a +10 to diplomacy, and Elves are the proud kill everybody warrior race guys.

Well....it'd be varied at least.

It wouldn't be varied at all, because those "Elves" would actually just be Orcs, except everyone would call them Elves. The Dwarves... well... actually Dwarves usually are the merchant race so they would still just be Dwarves. The "Orcs" would really be Elves, except everyone would call them Orcs, and the humans would just be mountainous-nomad-humans, yet another thing ripped straight out of Lord Of The Rings. Mixing up the roles would result in the same thing, except with the appearance and names randomly swapped, which would only serve to be confusing.

What I would like to see in a fantasy setting is completely original races that are nothing to do with Tolkien at all.

How about a race of technologically gifted but hideously ugly and mutated giants?

How about a race of sentient fungus creatures who share a hive-mind and seek only to spread across the world and cover it in spores?

How about... a race of ethereal and ghost-like sexual deviants?

The point in a fantasy world is that it is new, different, and fantastical. So why do we always end up with the same things? I love The Lord of The Rings, the books and the films, but there's only so many Middle-Earth rip-offs I can take before getting sick of them.

[sub]*I'm aware this may not be the correct usage of "Ironic", but I don't care. You know what I mean anyway.[/sub]