I agree with the fact that it is an excellent game, and I am also glad to meet another avid book reader.

I myself prefer fantasy books over sci-fi but I read just about anything, probably my favorite sci-fi author is Orson Scott Card, and he also writes fantasy.

As another example of the difference between sci-fi and fantasy, I have several freinds who wouldn't touch fantasy with a 8 foot long pole, but they love science fiction. So while they may appear similar to some people there is definately something different about them, aye?

For those of you who argue that sci-fi is a subgroup of fantasy, and while I know many dictionaries classify it as such, sci-fi is truely a subgroup of fiction not fantasy. Now it can sometimes be in subgroups of fantasy(due to content) but not all science fiction are.

Also I believe what the original post was asking was really this, ( Is Xenogears a fantasy plot or more of a realistic fiction plot). Fiction by comparison of definitions is the same thing as fantasy for the most part. Therefor realistic fiction could be read as realistic fantasy thus making me feel that Xenogears falls more in that realistic fantasy or science fantasy subgroup then anywhere else.

As for the it doesn't matter point... well technically I guess it doesn't but many of us nitty-pickers love to take things apart(boy o boy is that ever true for me) so we like these discussions.