“Hardcore Fans Spend More, So Why Is SCI Ignoring Them?”

 

Why Steel City Interactive Avoids Honest Fan Surveys

Introduction

Surveys are one of the most direct tools for developers to gather insight from their player base. In theory, they provide transparency, build trust, and give fans a voice. But in practice—especially in the case of Undisputed—Steel City Interactive (SCI) has every reason to avoid or tightly control them. The issue isn’t just resources, timing, or logistics. It’s about power, pressure from investors, and the risk of exposing truths SCI doesn’t want on record.

Hardcore Fans: The Lifeblood of the Game

If a legitimate, large-scale survey were conducted across platforms, it would likely confirm what many already know:

• Hardcore fans spend more money. They buy DLC, special editions, and keep investing long after casuals drift away.
• Hardcore fans stay longer. They create leagues, keep lobbies alive, and build a sense of community around the game.
• Hardcore fans generate hype. They stream, create videos, write blogs, and rally fanbases that casual players never could.

Investors and publishers would see those numbers and demand that SCI cater to them. Suddenly, authenticity and realism—the very things SCI has brushed off as “too niche”—would become financial imperatives.

Investor and Publisher Pressure

For SCI, that’s dangerous. A survey proving hardcore fans are the backbone of the market would force them into expensive, time-consuming pivots.

• Features like referees, clinching mechanics, stamina depth, and individualized boxer animations would no longer be optional “nice-to-haves.”
• Investors could pressure SCI to reallocate budgets, hire new staff, and rebuild systems they’ve already dismissed.
• Publishers would question SCI’s hybrid/arcade philosophy and demand greater alignment with what surveys prove fans actually want.

In short: a real survey would strip SCI of the ability to claim they’re building “what fans want.”

How SCI Could Steer a Survey

Even if SCI did release a survey, it’s easy to design one that produces the answers they want. Common tactics include:

1. Leading Questions

Framing choices to make realism seem undesirable.

• “Would you prefer faster-paced action or slower, more technical gameplay?” This implies “technical” equals boring.

2. False Binaries

Forcing players into narrow trade-offs.

• “Would you rather see more boxers added or referees implemented?” This erases the middle ground—fans who want both.

3. Overemphasis on Cosmetics

Highlighting monetizable extras instead of core systems.

• “Which alternate attire packs would you most like to see?” This pushes players to think about cosmetics, not gameplay.

4. Selective Sampling

Only distributing surveys on channels with a heavy casual base, avoiding hardcore communities on Discord or boxing forums.

5. Framing Authenticity as “Niche”

Using wording like:

• “Do you think features like referee stoppages and stamina-based clinching are necessary for your enjoyment?” This primes players to dismiss realism as fringe.

6. Withholding or Cherry-Picking Results

Even if authenticity wins, SCI could simply never publish the full data, highlighting stats that fit their narrative instead.

The Core Issue

A genuine, independently conducted survey would validate hardcore fans and force SCI to deliver the authenticity they’ve long resisted. But a steered or carefully framed survey would only serve as a PR shield. That’s why SCI leans toward silence: it’s easier to avoid accountability altogether than risk being forced into a corner by hard data.

Conclusion

SCI’s reluctance to run an honest fan survey isn’t about practicality—it’s about control. The moment data proves hardcore fans are the foundation of Undisputed’s future, SCI’s narrative collapses. Investors and publishers would demand systems be rebuilt, staff be added, and realism restored.

By avoiding surveys, SCI avoids exposure. But in doing so, they also risk alienating the very group capable of carrying their game for years to come. Because when the dust settles, casuals will move on, and only the hardcore will remain—if they haven’t already walked away.