Where is the cute?

Nearly all US games, especially RPGs, have to look serious and drab, while asian games and RPGs can be serious but still be bright and cute at the same time.  Let's say you were an American developer, and someone asked you to make a turn based military simulation, with each unit given an abstract representation of its strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, terrain considerations, ammunition and supplies, and computer driven opponents.

From a US perspective, I'd expect relatively "normal" military graphics that strive for realism and believability, with an overall serious military tone.  I would not expect it to be cute or even childish, considering this is a war simulation.  But that's exactly what Advance Wars is. 

Asia sees everything through a Pokemon colored lense, and in some ways it helps increase the demographic of kids, teens, adults, and old people by all being able to appreciate something without being turned off by its seriousness or boring atmosphere.  Compare Morrowind, Baldur's Gate, Dungeon Siege, or D&D in general to almost any Japanese RPG.  Compare Phantasy Star Online or FFXI to Everquest and DaoC.  The US has to be "serious to be credible" while the Japanese can be "attractive while serious."

Why does the us have such a hard time making things cute?  Is it some kind of machismo that says "I can't look like a wimp or a pussy or someone will think I'm gay."  Something that says "I need to take this seriously, so I can't have excess fun with the graphics."  Even fantasy art like Michael Whelan has a serious tone, yet most of Japan can think in terms of cuteness, quantifiable cuteness that is carefully balanced. 

I've heard its cultural, but I'm beginning to believe it's physiological genetics. 

2get

Now that that's out of the way, I think it's just the Japanese being... well, the Japanese.

I too, often wonder why everything from American looks ugly as fuck.

>>2
It extends beyong the Japanese though.  Chinese and Korean games carry this feel as well.

"I'm beginning to believe it's physiological genetics."
>>1
Congrats, that's the stupidest thing I've heard all week.

Nah that makes perfect sense

It's all because american artists stay away from video games.

>"I can't look like a wimp or a pussy or someone will think I'm gay."

that's basically the driving motivation behind the US games market, and it's not physiological for us, so it's uh, probably not for them either.

>>3
lol. but their tanks are cool.

NOTHING MAKES SENSE ANYMORE! *runs away screaming... straight into a wall*

You have to look for the sense, but it is there. Rly.