Lets say you're a Bon Jovi fan (I am btw, but in case you aren't, just substitute your favorite singer, musician, movie star, etc to make sense of this story) and he is going to have a concert a few miles away from your house. Lets say the scheduled date is November 3, and it was scheduled months in advance. The front row seat only costs 60 dollars, and you are assured of that seat no matter if you pay in advance or buy it on the day itself. Great deal right? Amazing. I would give anything to see Bon Jovi live.

But then the concert is delayed because he was sick or something and that he's still coming to that same place, maybe a week or a month later. You still get the same front row seat for the same price. Still a great deal? You bet. As  a fan, a few weeks is nothing to me. I gotta understand the guy's stressed out, he has been going on tours for most of his life.

What is a real fan? Someone who sticks with the thing/person/event they like no matter how many times it's delayed, moved, canceled, or pushed back.

Honestly, if it were a "rock concert" or something of the sort that real world people fawn about, people wouldn't be making a big deal about the delay. But just because Gran Turismo 5 is a game, and is delayed a few weeks to a month, people are suddenly saying all over the Internet that they are "cancelling preorders" and "going to buy NFS instead", while claiming they are "lifelong GT FANS" in the same sentence?

Maybe people are only saying this stuff just to get some attention, rant, let off steam, etc., and they aren't really planning on canceling. But in case you are really not buying it just because of a short delay:

Shame on you (if you're one of them). You're not a real fan. You're one of those people who jump on bandwagons.

Just don't say you're a fan. That's what irks me. Because I'm a real fan. The car in my garage is a testament to how real I am (it's a Skyline). You're the kind of gamer that makes me look bad. Don't buy the game. Seriously. Your 60 bucks won't be missed. In fact, I'd be willing to pay 60 bucks to Yamauchi-san for every copy he misses from the bandwagon jumping phony posers.

End of rant. If I offended anyone, I apologize.

(just in case you're curious, I'm actually glad it got delayed. The delay shows who the real fans are and those who are just posers. The less "pissed off wannabe fans" buying the game, the less idiots online.. but then, I'd love to smoke these guys too..)

Edit: about being a fan,

Game developers, artists, singers, actors, etc. spend so much time and hard work to try to please people with their craft, in order to create fans out of us. This rant isn't just about GT. It's about all those people who claim to be fans and then suddenly disappear after a few minor troubles. You may think that I gotta set my priorities or something, and that's fine. But in my view, being a fan is a special thing. It's a sign of appreciation to those countless hours spent by whoever you're a fan of. I hate it when all that effort is spit on by lousy so-called "fans" who can't show any respect.

I'm not a fan of Gran Turisimo though I am going to get Gran Turisimo 5.  Does this one delay bug me?  No I'd rather have a good game than a bad game. 

I think a lot of PS3 """"Fans""""" here cling onto GT5 and have no intentions of buying it

Your post reeks of arrogance, and you don't seem to acknowledge the fact people are genuinely annoyed by the delays.

yeah, i know that. i don't mind them actually. at least they don't do anything to tarnish the image of real fans.  they're like... harmless barnacles attaching themselves to a whale.

it's the ones who claim they're "fans" and then "cancel preorder" after a few weeks delay who make me sick. they're like... girls who pretend to like you in order to get to your other friend.

arrogance = yes. i apologize but that was my exact intention.

everyone is annoyed by the delay. but does a "real fan" cancel his order just because of a delay? will he not go to the concert anymore just because it was delayed?

the answer is, sure he's annoyed, sure he's gonna cancel his order, and that's fine.. i just don't want him to call himself a "real fan". i'm personally offended when i see all that in the same sentence.

Then you need to get your priorities straight.

I'm certainly not a huge fan.  I like GT but I'm not mad about it.  I'll probably get GT5 but I don't have it pre-ordered or anything like that and I doubt I'll get it at launch either.

dtewi is so awesome, and correct.

But I have been waiting for the concert since 2006.