Because they aren’t Marvel.
If i find something fun to play Im gonna play it. I don’t care if its popular or not
I can’t believe this was even asked…
besides for fun. i like to be able to talk to other fg enthusiasts about all the different games ive played and experienced.
Because I like what I like, duh.
Because they’re fun…
Seriously, are you like one of those guys that get up and think “Man, I gotta’ think of a good post to put up in the the forum! What hasn’t been done to death? Which game is better? Nah, that’s definitely been done. Maybe post your fighting game collection? Nah. Or maybe complain about recent Capcom games and make it seem like I’m talking about recent fighters in general but I’m really only talking about Capcom games? Nah, that’ll be the 3rd one this weak. Hey! How about asking why people play old fighters that don’t have scenes, I’m sure that hasn’t been asked before and my lack of searching for similar threads on SRK and Google confirms this!”
Becuz I have fun playin sfxt VF, 3s etc. 
FUN FUN FUN FUN
Competition isnt going to make a lot of people enjoy something enough to play that instead of something they enjoy a lot more. You can probably think of tons of examples of sports and other activities in which you could “compete” that you may kinda like but would rather spend your time doing other stuff. And if I enjoy something more and it isnt heavily flawed in most people’s minds, it isn’t that hard to find people to play it in a large city.
also, i generally like the people who play games i like more. i feel like there’s some social tendencies in each scene. plus, sometimes large scenes get very cliquish.
getting out and making/gathering a scene of people to play games you love is pretty rewarding, even when you stress about the ups and downs of the scene.
Why do you listen to non-Justin Bieber music?
Heh, did you just compare the popular games to Bieber? ><
damn, i wanted to make the bieber joke 
although, gotta admit only know of B by reputation, I’ve somehow managed to never hear one of his songs.
Realistically, what fraction of the people playing the popular games become “well known”?
Well that’s not a good comparison because the Ramones were definitely not trying to be like other bands and that other bands being ‘better’ is much more subjective than whether the mechanics of a video game are sound or not, though that’s just me being nitpicky.
Anyway, I don’t think the OP intended to troll. I think he’s a newer player who just wanted to know an answer, and an excellent one was given to him in the first reply.
Older and lesser known fighting games tend to have a lot of love and caring put into them.
I’ll give you a prime example.
There hasn’t been a game since that has grabbed my attention harder than TMNT: Tournament Fighters for SNES. My parents got me that game when it released in 1993 because I was (and still am) a die-hard TMNT fan. This game not only plays a significant part of my childhood, but it also marks the beginning of an intense passion for fighting games that has remained burning to this very day. I became so addicted to playing against other people that I would often beg anyone to play. I seriously think that it is solely responsible for getting me into ST, Alpha, MvC2, and all of my other favorite fighting games throughout the years.
I still play it at least once every few days.
Shoutouts to the amazing people on this forum that share the same passion as me for this game.
because justdefending is more fun than wake up jab…
The chasing competition thing is an interesting side discussion though.
Having your focus be on playing against a multitude of different people is just as valid a reason to choose a game as “I just like this one” is… although really everybody but the very most stubborn of us are doing a constant balancing match between ‘having matches’ and ‘but this is my favorite game’.
The nature of the culture is big too (as mightfo mentioned). I can honestly think of games I won’t touch because I just don’t like some of the people I’d have to interact with, and there are other games I’m more interested in than I should be because I like the people.
heh why’d you put ‘OYAJI!’ on each side?
Proud Dan main since SFA2. I can’t help but use it every chance I get…even if it doesn’t exactly make sense =D
Much like “Fat bitches need love too” Less popular games need love too.
I still have love for games like Bloody Roar, Battle Arena Toshinden, X-men Mutant Academy…The list goes on forever.
Good, Bad, doesn’t matter, the bottom line is I love fighting games.