Real World Terrain Antipattern

Problem: We want to increase realism / immersion.

Solution: Create terrain that is just like the real world. We can do this with public domain satellite data, for example, or we could use reference material to model duplicates.

Consequences: We end up with a game that is just as boring as the real world. Warren Spector speaks to this in the "HOW FUN IS THE REAL WORLD, REALLY?" section of the Deus Ex Post-Mortem: http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20001206/spector_02.htm (free registration required)

Up until now inadequate technology has been keeping us from making the mistake of trying to use real world locations in our games, but technology is reaching the point where this is seeming like a good idea to more and more people.

CategoryAntiPattern?