Why do people care about immersion so much?

You're post shows quite a few signs of trolling including: answering your own question, lack of empathy, short-sightedness and an offensive tone. So that's why I decided not to answer your 'question' while I at first intended to do so. As you were.

This is the internet, and a gaming forum on the internet. Hence tems like "immersion" mean different things to different people. So.. your topic is guaranteed to go sideways over use of terms at some point here (which may or may not be your motive) ... ....and from a certain perspective........ playing a game just to gain relaxation and respite from real life does = immersion of a form.

But the reality is.... the use of the term "immersion" is most often played in the forum by someone who is upset about the game and chooses to attack the game on the grounds that something (be it a passing mouse on the other side of the world, or their Mom kicking them in the backside, OR something actually game related) will break their immersion in the game. Most often.. it is simply used as a method to project ones anger/frustration about something game related. It's not a very honest form of expression IMO.. but people are free to express themselves anyway they choose.

HUH???

While people find immersive might differ but what immersion is has always been the same

Websters Dictionary has 3 definitions and the 2nd one is what applies to gaming

b : absorbing involvement <immersion in politics>

I gotta say it takes a real negative person to try and take something as open ended as immersion and try to classify it as "method to project ones anger/frustration about something game related"

Don't know what forums you read but I see the term immersion most used in reference to not removing something because it would break immersion, regarding gaming.

Mass Effect 2 came under huge criticism (rightfully) for breaking immersion when they removed gear crafting and building and replaced it with a much more linear and less involved tech terminal (I forget exactly how it worked now but the original game concept was scrapped). So in ME2 the term immersion was used to define a removal of game play that built connection with character. It was very specific.

In ME2 the adding of ammo also didn't go over well but no one talked immersion on that front because it wasn't a immersion issue, it was simply a game mechanic. Despite people being angered / frustrated over something game related.

Immersion is ALWAYS "Absorbing involvement" as Websters defined.
Regarding games it could be environment, character, clothing, housing, story line. Numerous different areas of numerous different interest to gamers but ALL come down to items that make them feel apart of the setting immersion.

It most definitely is NOT just a negative term used to define ones anger/frustration over something game related.

Your definition over simplifies the term and honestly diminishes it into something negative when Immersion is anything BUT a negative term or concept! Immersion in regards to gaming ADDS (is a positive) to the over all product.

Pretty much this. "immersion" gets tossed around, many times times as scapegoat for when someone feels slighted.

Someone tell me this is a troll thread, please tell me that. I mean, come on, no immersion? Seriously? So it's no skin off your backs when they add helmets with Mickey Mouse ears? Hell, this game copy/pasted everything possible from WoW so why not add new companions, one troll and one elf sounds good to me.

It makes my eye roll enough wondering what speeder my companion is on when I'm on mine, and sith do not use blue lightsabers but to bash people wanting better immersion? Can any of you imagine what stupid things they can do if not at all trying to appease immersionhalics? Don't forget Disney owns the IP and we all know EA don't give a bantha paddy about anything as long it might make a buck.

If you don't want immersion, why bother with a Star Wars game? Immersion is it's best selling point.

No immersion indeed, pfft, troll thread its gotta be. Great maker, get these people out of the gene pool PLEASE!

People care about immersion for the same reason that movies and tv shows rarely break the 4th wall. The minute they do, you are distanced from the story 'world.' and are reminded of your spectator status. The characters no longer matter as much nor does the story. People who don't care about immersion also tend to be the people who don't care about the story content and are just in the game to socialize/fight. That's fine. It's a big tent. What's not fine is going out of one's way to spoil immersion for those who do care about it just for the lolz.

you've obviously immersed yourself to much in forum fights

Immersion as inmmersed into the atmosphere of the game, quality of enhancing ones gameplay.

Yep.... I see alot of this in the RP vs the people who log into RP servers to disrupt everyone for fun. The so called 12 year old mentality players....

We care about Immersion because it's the same as a Crackhead cares about crack.