Poll: That old question Fantasy or Sci fi

[Jamash]

I like them both, especially at the same time like Warhammer 40K (e.g. The Iron Snakes, Space Marines who hunt giant sea monsters and have fought massive melee battles against Orks using just a Lance and Shield), but if I had to choose one it would be Sci-Fi because Sci-Fi doesn't necessarily have to exclude Fantasy, but Fantasy, due to it's primitive time settings, largely excludes advanced Sci-Fi technology.

 

[Reginald]

Nope everyone will prefer one option when confronted between two choices always*. And if you like them both there will be examples that stand out for you, the option with the more examples that stand out for you will be your favourite.

*unless it is two negative options like eat this sick or I will kill your dog.

When it comes to eating sick or having my dog killed, I'd eat the sick, every time. You don't have an infallible understanding of the minds of all men and women on this earth, and as such, you can't use that understanding to support any ridiculous hypothesis that might flutter into your imagination.

 

[Phasmal]

Poll needs a `Love them both` option.
I love them both, but I voted for fantasy, I'm an elves-and-wizards-and-magic girl at heart.
I love me some hacky slashy swordy fantasy.

Of course, well done sci-fi is always apprieciated too, but I'm not too into pewpew space laser battles.

 

[verdant monkai]

Nope everyone will prefer one option when confronted between two choices always*. And if you like them both there will be examples that stand out for you, the option with the more examples that stand out for you will be your favourite.

*unless it is two negative options like eat this sick or I will kill your dog.

When it comes to eating sick or having my dog killed, I'd eat the sick, every time. You don't have an infallible understanding of the minds of all men and women on this earth, and as such, you can't use that understanding to support any ridiculous hypothesis that might flutter into your imagination.

Yeah all right bad example but it is true that when presented with two choices like Fantasy or Sci fi. The two have so much content one of the two will appeal more to the chooser, due to the persons experience of the two.
We can argue this all day but to be honest I dont give a shit what your opinion is unless you are willing to tell me which you prefer. If you believe you have reached an equilibrium with regards to the two. Then I am not interested in the slightest I want to know which is more popular. Not if you like them both the same.

 

[Klumpfot]

Sci-fi tends to tickle my brain slime in a more insalubrious way than fantasy does, so it wins. On a related note, could someone recommend me a book, game or movie that shies away from the "standard fantasy setting"?

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

People don't seem to understand the difference between fantasy and sci-fi.

It's not "one has magic" and "one has spaceships," it's about what's theoretically possible. Sci-fi is supposed to be something plausible that humans can aspire to, and fantasy is just letting your imagination go wild. There are varying degrees of plausibility in both, of course. But that's the basic distinction. (Also, usually there's a mix of both in everything.)

Star Wars, for example, is very definitely fantasy. The Dragonriders of Pern series, on the other hand, is sci-fi.

For the poll I'd have to say fantasy, just because you can do so much more with it. I tend to prefer more plausible fantasy that's set in detailed worlds that don't require too much suspension of disbelief (The Golden Compass, The Old Kingdom trilogy, that kind of thing), but that doesn't mean I don't like the crazy dreamlike stuff too.

My favorite kind of sci-fi is the so-called "planetary romance" subgenre, which has nothing to do with romantic stories, it just means it that focuses on one or more planets and the people who live on them, rather than on technology and space travel. It also happens to have more fantasy than usual mixed in. (Examples: Dune, Pern, even ElfQuest.)

 

[Muspelheim]

I actually do like them both about equally. Even more on the occasions they're combined.

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/245/452/3e9.jpg

Seriously, they are two loose examples of settings. That's all there is to it. Fantasy or sci-fi isn't good by default, it's what you do with them that really counts.

 

[verdant monkai]

Due to the amount of people getting upset with me because there was no "I like them both" option. So I though well why not, I wanted to know which is more popular and it looks like it is sci fi, so mission accomplished.

Feel free to put no thought or time into your post and say both, because you have played Chrono Trigger and Dragon age etc. and enjoyed some of a Star Wars film one time.
And as for you militant agnostics who really do like them both exactly the same with absolutely no preference between the two......enjoy.

 

[verdant monkai]

I actually do like them both about equally. Even more on the occasions they're combined.

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/245/452/3e9.jpg

Seriously, they are two loose examples of settings. That's all there is to it. Fantasy or sci-fi isn't good by default, it's what you do with them that really counts.

Lol I imagine myself as the guy in the background getting stressed and you as the goose. The pool is the thread this really is quite brilliant well done.

 

[Muspelheim]

Lol I imagine myself as the guy in the background getting stressed and you as the goose. The pool is the thread this really is quite brilliant well done.

Aye, I love that pic. <3

The reason I don't really like one over another is that I only see them as settings, and I think it's more up to the individual story. If something is set in a fantasy kingdom or aboard a space station doesn't really matter, as long as the story is well-done and engaging.

 

[verdant monkai]

Seriously, they can both be awesome. I love the setting's of Starwars, Mass Effect AND the Lord of the Rings, The Witcher etc.

And ofcourse those that combine the two like Warhammer 40000 and Hellgate: London. (say what you will about the game but those knights looked freaking awesome)

Because that will defeat the point of my question. I need to know which you prefer. Everyone likes one more than the other, seriously I said why in my op.

I don't care if you think they are both good.

I want to know which you prefer.

How the fuck is that at all reasonable? You don't get to tell me that I don't like two things just as much. Because I do. It's not about the setting it's about the quality of the game. Yeah I think the Witcher is better than Mass Effect. But I don't think Fantasy is better than Sci-fi. I would be ok with you saying that if you had a credible reason but you just said: "I have not added a "I like them both" option to the poll because I want you to choose one or the other, but you can dislike both them of course. Whatever your choice please give a reason why." You DIDN'T say why. You tell people to give a reason why when you yourself don't even do so. I love fantasy, sci-fi and even both combined WHEN DONE WELL, otherwise I don't. There's nothing inherent in the two styles that draw me to it.

Looks like its the same response for you my passionate friend

Nope everyone will prefer one option when confronted between two choices always*. And if you like them both there will be examples that stand out for you, the option with the more examples that stand out for you will be your favourite.

*unless it is two negative options like eat this sick or I will kill your dog

What if just as much good examples in both settings stand out?

If you really cant be asked to think about which ones stick out as much for you, then pick the I love them both option. (made specially for you and some others)

 

[remnant_phoenix]

I like both, but in a subversive way.

I like fantasy a lot, and gun-to-my-head I'd probably choose fantasy over sci-fi, but the fantasy genre as it currently stands is mired in cliches and tropes because most fantasy creators can't get out of Tolkien's sandbox. While I like Dragon Age/Elder Scrolls (because they're just different enough to stand out and the characters and twists are interesting and memorable), most of my favorite fantasy settings are the ones that get away from the Tolkien/D&D take on the genre. I love steampunk fantasy, such as is seen in Final Fantasy VI, and cyberpunk fantasy such as is seen in Final Fantasy VII.

As far as sci-fi goes, again, I really like it, but I'm not really into the pristine, clean, "high science fiction" that we see in things like Star Trek and Mass Effect. I much prefer "future fantasy" like Star Wars or "space western" like Firefly and Cowboy Bebop.

In a nutshell, I really like both and I'm slightly more inclined towards fantasy, but I'm not keen on the stereotypes present in both, and the stereotypes are much stronger in fantasy than in sci-fi.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

I can read/watch/play just about anything, but usually I lean heavily towards High Fantasy/Medieval Fantasy. Fairies, Dragons, Toads, Dwarves, Gnomes, Orcs, Trolls, Giants, Wizards, Elves, no real 'technology' as we know it today in the modern world. No space travel, only certain 'guns', no lasers,... MAAAAGIC! You can understand that I had a huge metaphorical boner after the first time I read, 'The Hobbit'. I think the Mass Effect series was one of my only real 'Sci-Fi' space series that I enjoyed.

And the Husband leans heavily in the opposite direction with Sci-Fi. He'll play Sci-Fi Fantasy games, but mostly he prefers things like Eve Online. He's more of a fan of Star Trek than Star Wars, and I prefer Star Wars over Star Trek; here's why, 'The Force'. The concept of the Force is just too magicky for him. I'd try to explain it further, but I know I may not do it as well as he does. However, I think the only real 'Fantasy' games he seems to like to play a lot of are from the Elder Scrolls series. Everything else, he just can't seem to get through as well.

 

[verdant monkai]

I like both, but in a subversive way.

I like fantasy a lot, and gun-to-my-head I'd probably choose fantasy over sci-fi, but the fantasy genre as it currently stands is mired in cliches and tropes because most fantasy creators can't get out of Tolkien's sandbox. While I like Dragon Age/Elder Scrolls (because they're just different enough to stand out and the characters and twists are interesting and memorable), most of my favorite fantasy settings are the ones that get away from the Tolkien/D&D take on the genre. I love steampunk fantasy, such as is seen in Final Fantasy VI, and cyberpunk fantasy such as is seen in Final Fantasy VII.

As far as sci-fi goes, again, I really like it, but I'm not really into the pristine, clean, "high science fiction" that we see in things like Star Trek and Mass Effect. I much prefer "future fantasy" like Star Wars or "space western" like Firefly and Cowboy Bebop.

In a nutshell, I really like both and I'm slightly more inclined towards fantasy, but I'm not keen on the stereotypes present in both, and the stereotypes are much stronger in fantasy than in sci-fi.

Thank you so much, this view I can accept. At least you are honest, and say you do have a sort of preference. Instead of insisting that your enjoyment ratio is exactly the same for both 100% of the time.

 

[DJDarque]

While I am super picky with what I like and have a hard time finding stuff that fits in with my tastes I tend to prefer fantasy over sci fi. Unless it's Tolkien. In that case give me any other possible sci fi story to read.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I think I really prefer fantasy, but sci-fi is full of better ideas and more originality. Fantasy tends to rely a bit much on tropes from Tolkien, but I guess a lot of sci-fi these days is doing the same for either Star Wars or a Philip K Dick book.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

I like both, but in a subversive way.

I like fantasy a lot, and gun-to-my-head I'd probably choose fantasy over sci-fi, but the fantasy genre as it currently stands is mired in cliches and tropes because most fantasy creators can't get out of Tolkien's sandbox. While I like Dragon Age/Elder Scrolls (because they're just different enough to stand out and the characters and twists are interesting and memorable), most of my favorite fantasy settings are the ones that get away from the Tolkien/D&D take on the genre. I love steampunk fantasy, such as is seen in Final Fantasy VI, and cyberpunk fantasy such as is seen in Final Fantasy VII.

As far as sci-fi goes, again, I really like it, but I'm not really into the pristine, clean, "high science fiction" that we see in things like Star Trek and Mass Effect. I much prefer "future fantasy" like Star Wars or "space western" like Firefly and Cowboy Bebop.

In a nutshell, I really like both and I'm slightly more inclined towards fantasy, but I'm not keen on the stereotypes present in both, and the stereotypes are much stronger in fantasy than in sci-fi.

Thank you so much, this view I can accept. At least you are honest, and say you do have a sort of preference. Instead of insisting that your enjoyment ratio is exactly the same for both 100% of the time.

EDITED:

You're welcome, but I find it weird that you seem surprised.

Isn't the whole point of a discussion to flesh out views and opinions and explore them in a dynamic and social way? And isn't this is an off-topic discussion forum?

Or am I just being too idealistic?

*browses some other comments and threads* Oh right, I forgot I was on the internet.