[Non-Americans] Are the stereotypes true?

[barsoomcore]

Interestingly some of the most weird and innovative computer games came from France (Alone in the Dark for one), and it has a rep for producing weird films too. Perhaps France is just a naturally creative place?

Or just naturally weird?

I cannot imagine a "non-Americans" stereotype that provides any sort of usefulness. I mean what sorts of qualities do people who are not American share, other than, you know, being not American?

 

[Look_a_Unicorn]

I've only played with Aussies- the less comfortable they are with role-playing (lack of experience mostly) tend to focus more on the more easily understood rules side of things. But that's just Oz so that rules any direct observations re US vs Europe of mine null and void... however a sidenote that may contribute somewhat:

I recently read a short book (30 pages or so) called "A Xenophobe's Guide to Americans". Please note: Written by an American, and not anti-American at all! Observations ranged over the good, the bad, the ugly and the factual aspects of American culture. Generic, obviously.

That said, it was quite confident in pointing out that Americans are competitive. That winning means a lot- a quote being "It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you win" kinda thing.
To me it makes sense that if that's true, then although a (dare I say it) more mature group would consider "winning" to equal the group getting together and cooperatively having a great time, a less mature group (American or otherwise) would consider winning to be beating all the monsters, getting all the treasure, having the most power- at the other characters expense if need be.
The rules can QUANTIFY that version of winning- so putting it all together, I would not consider it unlikely that there would be a slightly greater percentage of American gamers who focus on the rules as it makes it easier for them to feel they have "won" the game.

The evidence I have to back this up? None- it's purely speculative.

 

[Piratecat]

. . .it sometimes seems as if Americans may be more keen on getting the precise legal way a rule works sorted out. . .

But Hypersmurf is from New Zealand!

 

[JDJarvis]

Stereotype not true. I wasn't even aware there was one. Go check out http://www.criticalmiss.com some time. Sure the postings are old now but they give you a pretty good idea of what some english gamers can be like.

I also met a fair number of foreign students during my schooling and they were just like american gamers. oooh creepy. What does the second Day of a Game Convention smell like in other countries anyway?

 

[Henrix]

I think there are different trends in different countries, but that doesn't mean that everyone does it one way or another, just that, perhaps, people look for different things in RPGs and that their expectations are formed by those around them.
(Wow, that was bland, wasn't it! Typical swedish nonconfrontational diplomacy. )


And it varies with the years, as well. These days I think you could organize a real dungeon crawl at a swedish con nearly without getting any snide comments!

But then, what do I know! I've almost exclusively played with other scandinavians.

 

[JPL]

The Dutch are like, 20 years ahead of us in RPGs. They are on the equivalent of D&D 6.0 right now. Roleplaying in the Netherlands is an experience a thousand times as powerful as the emotion you call "love."

 

[Plane Sailing]

But Hypersmurf is from New Zealand!

Gosh darn it! There goes my PhD thesis

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

The Dutch are like, 20 years ahead of us in RPGs. They are on the equivalent of D&D 6.0 right now.

So they only game in a computer-game-like system of pure miniatures, using stat blocks 2 pages in length?

 

[Mark]

I have heard, and I'm not trying to say that two posts out of all the posts here are indicative of non-American gamers as a whole, but I have heard that Europeans, specifically, are much more inclined to role-playing and creating flavor atmosphere in their games than American gamers.

I hear they are also much better in the sack than Americans.


They have told me so on more than one ocassion.


It must be true, I have no doubt.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I am not quite as well traveled as some on these boards but I did spend 5 years in Germany and Denmark - and - contray to the sterotype I spent as much time with locals as with GIs.

I think (duh) that there are subtle cultural differences - these range from dress and hobby to sport and employment BUT generally speaking they are minutia. The one "sterotype" that I do believe in is that in the USA, to our detriment and benefit, our language (multi-lingual) skills are inhumanly poor in comparison.

Interesting topic.