History RealityIsUnrealistic / VideoGames

* In ''[[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney]]'' the first victim is killed with a glass bottle to the forehead, leading to people to question why it didn't shatter, leaving it to be presented in court intact (made worse by the fact that the series is based on finding such contradictions, but asking this in game isn't an option and a previous game in the series featured a bottle that broke when someone was hit non lethally.). Glass is not as fragile as depicted in Hollywood, and the process used to make the bottle (of which there are several) and the quality and amount of material used are a factor. In fact, the non-lethal broken bottle from the previous game was likely a cheaper product, and was non-lethal ''because'' it broke, which absorbed a significant amount of the energy involved, while the unbroken bottle would have transfer more energy into the skull, thus causing more damage.

** The entire series full into this, for most people. The Japanese legal system is represented in game in an exaggerated and outright over the top fashion but is ''is'' represented nonetheless. Ask the average player of the games and they'll tell you that the legal system of the AceAttorney world is so unrealistically absurd that it borderlines over the top. But in reality, the only thing that's not true to real life, is the contents of the cases themselves and how fast-paced and twisty the trials are. The laws, trial procedures, treatment of the defense, and "guilty until proven innocent" motto are all in fact true to the Japanese Bench System, which the games are based on.

** The act of calling a parrot to the stand in the first game seems ridiculous, for good reason, but in actuality, such a thing ''has'' happened in real life trials before. The absurd part comes from the fact that they actually make the parrot 'TESTIFY''.
* On the forums of the ''America's Army'' game, a game created by the U.S. Army, people often complain that certain aspects about the game are less realistic than other games. The actual case is inevitably that ''America's Army'' is the first game to get that particular aspect right and the people aren't used to that. Common examples of what uninformed posters complain about are what weapons the Army uses (specifically the lack of [[GoodGunsBadGuns expected]] [[RareGuns weapons]]), the slow speed of the reloading animations, the [[HeroicRROD dramatic stun effects]] of flashbangs, the [[ReliablyUnreliableGuns frequency of weapon jams]], the slow movement and gameplay speed, the lack of some [[GunsAkimbo ridiculous practices]], and other things commonly misrepresented by other games. You know a media-caused misconception is ingrained firmly when [[KnowNothingKnowItAll people think they understand something about combat better than the actual Army]]. The more frequent than expected weapons jams in America's Army's current weapon of choice are frustrating professionals in [[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-usas-m4-carbine-controversy-03289/ real life as well]].

* In ''DeadIsland'', the Australian character Purna is voiced by an Australian actress, Peta Johnson. Despite this, one of the most frequent criticisms of Johnson's performance is that her accent sounds fake.
* Most gamers playing ''TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' don't know that the design of the goofy-looking [[http://www.zeldawiki.org/Loftwing Loftwings]] the citizens of Skyloft ride on are based on real (though smaller but still quite large) birds called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoebill Shoebill storks]], native to Sudan.
* Some younger ''GuitarHero'' fans thought [[Music/GunsNRoses Slash]] was a fictional person created just for the game. [[http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/slash-looks-back-at-working-with-activision-on-guitar-hero/]]
* Racing games with licenced cars very often feature stereotypical handling and performance. Whenever a Porsche shows up in a racing game you can bet it will oversteer and be hard to control, even though you are driving a modern Porsche with four wheel drive and 45-55 weight balance and not a '76 Turbo. The Boxster and Cayman will be very light and have a low top speed because they kind of look like something Lotus would make, even though the only reason the real life Cayman does not outperform the equivalent 911 is because its [[ExecutiveMeddling drivetrain was intentionally downgraded]] and a tuned Cayman should blow the doors off a comparable 911. Lotus itself always ends up providing the slowest car with the best acceleration and handling, even if said car is the Esprit V8 which is pretty much a mid engined muscle car in real life. The perennial Aston Martin in ''NeedForSpeed'' always handles like a boat, even the DBR9 version which is a race spec build and should handle like any other GT1 formula sportscar. Same goes for the BMW M3R and for the same reason. The Nissan GTR is often represented as a drift car with a low top speed, probably because it looks like an upgraded Skyline. And whenever you see a modern four door car in the lineup, usually the Audi RS4 or a Maserati, it will have the handling and ramming power of a semi.

* Some felt that Cole Phelps of LANoire being charged for adultery as a crime was over the top, when in reality, adultery was indeed a crime in 1940's America.
* Anivia in ''LeagueOfLegends'' and Articuno of ''{{Pokemon}}'' are in fact based off of the Simurgh, Persian bird of mythology. Yes, the cyrophoenix and an ice/flying bird are based off of that. Some people actually didn't believe that such a creature would come from Persian mythology of all places - mostly because when they think of Persia (or rather, Iran) people typically don't think of Iran's snow-covered mountains, they think of a country that's perpetually hot all year round. (Not unfairly, mind you.)

* GrandTheftAutoV averts many common video game tropes and expectations.
** Falling in water won't damage you: Averted Falling into water from great heights is damaging.
** Tires deflate after they are shot: Averted partially. Most video games have sparks fly out as the tire disappears after it's shot. In This game the tire will leave skid marks until ultimately falling off leaving just the rim.
** Propane tanks explode when shooting them: Averted partially. When shot the tank will start expelling flame and gas out the hole. Shoot in enough times and it will explode.

* GrandTheftAutoV averts many common video game tropes and expectations.
** Falling in water won't damage you: Averted Falling into water from great heights is damaging.
** Tires deflate after they are shot: Averted partially. Most video games have sparks fly out as the tire disappears after it's shot. In This game the tire will leave skid marks until ultimately falling off leaving just the rim.
** Propane tanks explode when shooting them: Averted partially. When shot the tank will start expelling flame and gas out the hole. Shoot in enough times and it will explode.

** On that note, in the first of the Ace Attorney games, the Steel Samurai case is though by many people as being completely ridiculous and impossible to do in real life... In actual fact, WordOfGod has said that this case was based on a similar case that happened at a Japanese filming studio in which the actor who portrayed the villain on a show was killed by the actor who played the hero on said show. In the actual real life event, the case linked back to an accident from the past involving an impaling just like in the game and also a grade schooler did testify under the impression that the murder he saw was a staged fight. As well as this the real life victim did steal the hero costume to kill someone who he wanted to get revenge on. Believe or not, it's true...

** Propane tanks explode when shooting them: Averted partially. When shot the tank will start expelling flame ad gas out the whole. Shoot in enough times and it will explode.

** Grenades were invented in China while Europe was in the Dark Ages and saw action in Europe before the American Resolution, making them OlderThanPrint. It is rare that a game set in those times which even acknowledges the existence of these weapons, TotalWarShogun2 and MountAndBlade being exceptions.

** Course, there could be [[UncannyValley another reason]] they made the infected the way they did...

* As video games strive to become more realistic, the colors have become darker, mostly [[RealIsBrown greys and browns]]. Particularly First Person Shooters. Take a look outside and tell me how much brown and grey you actually see. In their defense, you probably aren't looking out your window at the kind of [[AfterTheEnd blasted hellscape]] most shooters are set in. And though grey and brown are the colours of aging stone, ''abandoned'' cities would very quickly turn green as the truly inexorable inhuman destroyers, plants, swarm in. This is partly due to genuine limitations in graphics technology which are only just being overcome. In real life, brightly colored surfaces affect the color of reflected light, an effect known as Radiosity. [[http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/PhilippeRinguetteAngrignon/20090606/1708/Why_quotNextGen_Gamesquot_Went_Gray_Brown_And_Grey.php See this discussion.]]

* Some criticisms of ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' towards the [[LizardFolk Argonians]] was that they walk on plantigrade feet (human feet). In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''', they walked on digitigrade legs, and others claimed this was more realistic. Funny thing... in RealLife, Reptiles are plantigrade, so technically, the ''Morrowind'' argonians were the ''most'' unrealistic. Now, as for the Khajiits, based off of felines who ''don't'' walk on plantigrade feet...

* In ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', when [[BigBadAssWolf Amaterasu]] uses [[UrineTrouble Golden Fury]], she hikes her leg up in a way that most people associate with male dogs. This confuses some people. In real life, whether a wolf hikes its leg or not is dependent on the wolf's position in the pack hierarchy, not its gender. Alpha wolves raise their leg when marking/urinating and subservient wolves squat down to urinate. Some female dogs hike their leg, too.

* To make the skin textures for the [[ZombieApocalypse Infected]] in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', the Creator/{{Valve|Software}} team compiled a book of gruesome skin disorders. Then they decided it was just so disgusting and over-the-top that they never looked at it again, and used things like fibreglass and cardboard instead.

** Pretty much since the invention of grenades, military instructors have drilled recruits to hold the grenade with the thumb of the throwing hand over the "spoon" (detonator lever), preventing the lever from releasing until the grenade is thrown and allowing pin reinsertion if the combat situation changes. In photo or video footage, this makes the action of the lever non-obvious, leading to the misconception that pulling the pin makes the grenade go boom. "Cooking" grenades has also for a long time been discouraged, promoting instead alternative practices of throwing in a higher arc or "banking" off of a hard object for a longer delay.

** Similarly, Leiliana from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' gets flak because her Orlesian accent sounds fake (Orlais transparently being Dragon Age's version of France). Her voice actress is, of course, French. Marjolanne, another character with an Orlesian accent, actually is voiced by KathSoucie who is ''not'' French.

* Any game that has a ripple effect when the player is underwater, such as ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. (It bears noting that Valve's other, more "realistic" games do not use this effect, so this is likely an aspect of the game's stylized look.) Likewise the ripples when viewing the ocean through windows in ''Series/BioShock''. In real life, water only distorts its contents when it's viewed from open air, through an uneven surface.

** This is invoked in one of the self-kill messages in ''VideoGame/Quake'': If you blow yourself up with a grenade launcher, it will say "Player tried to put the pin back in".

*** Though this leads to an inversion, where both real-world and video-game snipers tend to prefer bolt-action rifles over semi-automatic ones, just for different reasons - in the real world, bolt-action weapons are typically more accurate at range, but in games where sniper rifles are pinpoint accurate so long as their user is looking through the scope, they instead usually [[ArbitraryGunPower deal more damage per bullet]].

** The "Glass Bottle" trope was actually tested on ''MythBusters''.

* On the forums of the ''America's Army'' game, a game created by the U.S. Army, people often complain that certain aspects about the game are less realistic than other games. The actual case is inevitably that ''America's Army'' is the first game to get that particular aspect right and the people aren't used to that. Common examples of what uninformed posters complain about are what weapons the Army uses (specifically the lack of [[GoodGunsBadGuns expected]] [[RareGuns weapons]]), the slow speed of the reloading animations, the [[HeroicRROD dramatic stun effects]] of flashbangs, the frequency of weapon jams, the slow movement and gameplay speed, the lack of some [[GunsAkimbo ridiculous practices]], and other things commonly misrepresented by other games. You know a media-caused misconception is ingrained firmly when people [[KnowNothingKnowItAll think they understand]] something about combat better than the actual Army. The more frequent than expected weapons jams in America's Army's current weapon of choice are frustrating professionals in [[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-usas-m4-carbine-controversy-03289/ real life as well]].

** Later ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games are hit with a form of this as well. Basically, reloading belt-fed machine guns in these games take the pattern of first pulling back the gun's charging handle, then replacing the ammo box as normal. Since this is the exact opposite pattern from every other type of gun in the game, a lot of people seem to get the idea that the machine guns in these games are reloaded "incorrectly", and competing developers go out of their way to meet those expectations. In reality, every belt-fed gun in ''Call of Duty'' [[BottomlessMagazines that actually requires reloading]] is an open-bolt design - it would be physically ''impossible'' to insert the first round of a new belt if the bolt remained closed.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' pulls an interesting version of this - only Spartans can go GunsAkimbo. Lampshaded by a [[SpaceMarine marine]]:

** Fittingly, bitter TheyChangedItNowItSucks Halo 1 pistol fanboys complained that the [=SMGs=] in question shouldn't be able to force the Chief's aim up the way it does. (They neglected to consider that the Halo 1 Magnum had an even bigger kick per-bullet.[[note]]This is because the M6 pistol series uses larger, more powerful bullets than the SMG. Despite the recoil being much more violent, it is somehow able to remain held on target by Spartans and Elites; then again, the M6 is semi-auto, while the SMG is spitting out 15 bullets per second[[/note]].)

* In a humorous example in the second ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' game, a huge Luigi fan asks Mario to introduce her to her idol. In order to complete this quest, you must wear the L badge, which dresses Mario in Luigi's garb. When you speak to her, she's estatic, until the ''real'' Luigi shows... and is immediately chastised by the girl for being an imposter.

** Similarly, Leiliana from ''DragonAge'' gets flak because her Orlesian accent sounds fake (Orlais transparently being Dragon Age's version of France). Her voice actress is, of course, French. Marjolanne, another character with an Orlesian accent, actually is voiced by KathSoucie who is ''not'' French.

* On the forums of the ''America's Army'' game, a game created by the U.S. Army, people often complain that certain aspects about the game are less realistic than other games. The actual case is inevitably that ''America's Army'' is the first game to get that particular aspect right and the people aren't used to that. Common examples of what uninformed posters complain about are what weapons the Army uses (specifically the lack of [[GoodGunsBadGuns expected weapons]]), the slow speed of the reloading animations, the [[HeroicRROD dramatic stun effects]] of flashbangs, the frequency of weapon jams, the slow movement and gameplay speed, the lack of some [[GunsAkimbo ridiculous practices]], and other things commonly misrepresented by other games. You know a media-caused misconception is ingrained firmly when people [[KnowNothingKnowItAll think they understand]] something about combat better than the actual Army. The more frequent than expected weapons jams in America's Army's current weapon of choice are frustrating professionals in [[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-usas-m4-carbine-controversy-03289/ real life as well]].

*** Today, there are still two remaining issues with the M16 series. One, the army still uses the original Direct Impingement system that can be replaced with a $60 drop in piston available on the open market. Two, the M16 is a well made gun. Lower tolerances and minimized head space makes for a quality arm, but also for a less dirt-tolerant one. Anyone doubting the M16's durability in regards to physical pounding should see what happens when you run one over with a tank, then do the same to an AK-47. The AK's sheet steel construction folds like a deck of cards. But the M16's gets cracked plastic and a bent barrel, easy fixes.
** Later ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games are hit with a form of this as well. Basically, reloading belt-fed machine guns in these games take the pattern of first pulling back the gun's handle, then replacing the ammo box as normal. Since this is the exact opposite of every other gun in the game (replace the magazine first, pull the handle back if the previous one was emptied), a lot of people seem to get the idea that the machine guns in these games are reloaded "incorrectly". In reality, every belt-fed gun in these games is an open-bolt design - it would be physically ''impossible'' to insert the first round of a new belt if the bolt remained closed.

* Anivia in ''LeagueOfLegends'' and Articuno of ''{{Pokemon}}'' are in fact based off of the Simurgh, Persian bird of mythology. Yes, the cyrophoenix and an ice/flying bird are based off of that. Some people actually didn't believe that such a creature would come from Persian mythology of all places - mostly because when they think of Persia (or rather, Iran) people typically don't think of Iran's snow-covered mountains, they think of a country that's perpetually hot all year round. (Not unfairly, mind you.)

* To make the skin textures for the [[ZombieApocalypse Infected]] in ''Left4Dead'', the {{Valve}} team compiled a book of gruesome skin disorders. Then they decided it was just so disgusting and over-the-top that they never looked at it again, and used things like fibreglass and cardboard instead.

* Anivia in ''LeagueOfLegends'' and Articuno of ''{{Pokemon}}'' are in fact based off of the Simurgh, Persian bird of mythology. Yes, the cyrophoenix and an ice/flying bird are based off of that. Some people actually didn't believe that such a creature would come from Persian mythology - mostly because when they think of Persia (or rather, Iran) people typically don't think of something that might inspire a snow creature...they think of, well, the middle east.

* On most hand grenades, pulling the pin is not what makes them go boom; the pin is just a final safety catch for the lever, which when released sets off the time-delayed detonator. Also, trying to pull the pin with your teeth is usually a good way to break a tooth. You cannot put the pin back in a grenade (or put in a replacement) if the lever (the part the pin was holding in the first place) has already been released. Even if you try to replace the handle, the fuse has started. If the fuse hasn't started, if the lever hasn’t moved, you might be able to make the grenade 'safe' again by putting the pin back. But don't risk your life on it.
** Notable in First Person Shooters where holding a grenade too long will result in the player blowing themselves up or the grenade exploding as soon as it leaves the player's hand. Apparently, FPS heroes don't know how to handle grenades properly. May be justified in that in FPS games, the hero uses an unsafe (but sometimes effective) practice of "cooking" the grenade. (This is explicitly how grenades work in ''{{Killzone}} 2''. There's even a series of lights that tells you how long before you overcook, so to speak.)
** In some games with an older theme, it's done with dynamite. The hero lights the fuse and then you hold it to time the throw and explosion. Hold it too long and it goes kablooey in your hand. In real life, dynamite explodes as soon as it is lit, which is why contractors use blasting caps, a detonator, and plenty of space to set it off.
*** Actually the slow burning fuse is a real thing, on the end of the fuse is a powder charge that acts as a primitive blasting cap. This is the old fashioned way to detonate high explosives, making that depiction pretty realistic, at least in the sense that it could be done, most people would presumably not be stupid enough to try it, especially with something as notoriously fickle as dynamite.

*** One game that averts the grenade blowing up in your hands once you pull the pin is Far Cry 3. When your character pulls the pin, he allows the spoon to fly off at the same time. Of course, you still need to gain the ability to 'cook' (Hold the grenade as the fuse burns) before it actually does anything, but it's a nice touch.
*** AmericasArmy 3 requires you to push a separate button to release the spoon and start cooking the grenade. Unless you do that, you can hold the grenade with the pin out as long as you want.

* Related to the above; in most FPS games, headshots are instant kill. They may not entirely be instant (as shown below) but because of this, a lot of snipers aim for the head specifically. In Real life, most snipers don't actually aim ''for'' the head for the fact that it's an even ''harder'' target to hit in real life than it is in games. Most actually aim for the chest or the neck as to get the heart or the jugular, or even inflict enough damage they can't fight back. Not that headshots ''can't'' be done with a sniper rifle, just that they're AwesomeButImpractical. (Especially if it's in a battlefield. If someone's holding still long enough for you to get a clear shot at their head, they're not ''just'' a sitting duck for ''snipers''...)

** {{Lampshaded}} in the ''{{Uncharted}}'' series, which has a "Next-Gen Filter" that turns everything brown/grey. The game is normally much more colorful than the typical First Person Shooter.

** On the subject of the M16, most people would express absolute disbelief at any report or video that the M4/M16 can indeed take quite a bit of abuse like sand and dust due to the ingrained belief that the tiniest bit of debris will jam it. It ''was'' less reliable compared to AK-47 -- but what isn't? The infamy is inherited from the early versions: due to machinations with the [[ObviousBeta hasty release]] and logistics they failed soldiers who weren't taught or equipped to properly maintain them. The manufacturer worked out kinks, but the reputation remains soiled. Hence the "GoodGunsBadGuns" ProductPlacement campaign.

** Fittingly, bitter TheyChangedItNowItSucks Halo 1 pistol fanboys complained that the [=SMGs=] in question shouldn't be able to force the Chief's aim up the way it does. (They neglected to consider that the Halo 1 Magnum had an even bigger kick per-bullet.[[note]]This is because the M6 pistol series uses larger, more powerful bullets than the SMG. Despite the recoil being much more violent, it is somehow able to remain held on target by Spartans and Elites[[/note]].)

* The Blood Elf male models in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' are perhaps the most realistically proportioned models in the entire game. Almost everyone's thoughts on the model for the Blood Elf Males? That they look very scrawny. (Females are obviously intended to be this way, they look like [[{{Survivor}} Courtney Yates during China]].) Well of course humans are gonna look ultra-thin when you put them next to the bulky Orcs and Draenei and the chunky Tauren...

*** One game that averts the greande blowing up in your hands once you pull the pin is Far Cry 3. When your character pulls the pin, he allows the spoon to fly off at the same time. Of course, you still need to gain the ability to 'cook' (Hold the grenade as the fuse burns) before it actually does anything, but it's a nice touch.