system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do some games make you press X (or whatever button) to start a game when I just started it? Why wont the game take me to the main menu automatically?
gpt
This prevents a static image from remaining on the TV. If you don't press "start" or "x" the game will usually present a trailer or gameplay footage. While this may not be as important on new TVs, older TV and Arcade games could have a static image burned into the screen if it remained for too long. 

I assume it's mostly outdated at this point but it continues on as tradition.