LogFAQs > #890856344

Entity13 posted...

Or have opinions that don't match up with the norms. That happens too, you know.

Valid point. Need for uniqueness is a thing too.
However, in the case of categorizing video game into genres, setting a norm is very useful.
The system of platformer, beat-em-up and shoot-em-up is a bit arbitrary, but people know what someone is talking about.
Like an example given in this topic; one can argue that any game where you play as a character is an rpg. This might be true, but it defeats the purpose, and isn't useful in categorizing.
If someone at home puts his copy of smash bros on the shelf with party games, that's fine. It'd even makes sense if that is what he plays when friends are over.
But in a shop or list, people will look in the fighting games section. Otherwise people'll have a hard time finding it. I see no reason not to stick to the definition (also a norm) of fighting games.