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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - How has Mario remained popular, when other Cartoon Videogame characters have failed or declined in popularity?


I don't like the 2D Mario games, maybe because I didn't grow up with them? As a kid I grew up with Pokémon, but I also remember I had a lot of fun with 2 Mario games on the gameboy. In one of them you had to collect 6 coins and then battle Wario to get your castle back. Can't remember the other one anymore, but I think it was one of the first Mario games, but remade for the gameboy.

In fact, I still find it weird to this day to accept Bowser as Mario's main rival. For me it always will be Wario. :p

But now I don't really like 2D games anymore.



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Dr.Henry_Killinger said:
Clyde32 said:
Dr.Henry_Killinger said:
Mario as a character has zero personality.
Go ahead, try to describe his character without referencing:
*his job, clothes, heritage/race
*the various settings of the games he's been in
*any of the other character's in the Mario Universe
*any other characters in general

Mario is happy. He knows when it is time to get to work, and he knows when it is time to relax. He isn't very perceptive, but he really loves his brother, even if there is some competition in there. 

How do you know he is happy?

Are you sure he loves his brother?

How do you know that Mario isn't just a pawn in Princess' Peach continued world domination.

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW?!

And this, IMO, is a master stroke on Nintendo's part. They have deliberately made Mario a blank canvas, so he can have the widest appeal possible. His personality can be whatever we want it to be.



celador said:
Consistent quality

More like consistent releases. Over 90% or Nintendo games are Mario based. This means he is oversaturated and people have less choices so he stays in the spotlight. It has nothing to do with quality or popularity. Those other characters declined once new games were created by their developers.



celador said:
Consistent quality


You nailed it.



JazzB1987 said:
spurgeonryan said:
garretslarrity said:
Haven't you realized by now that Nintendo games are laced with cocaine to make you addicted?


Really?

 

@ Fusioncode

 

But why is it that these other developers seem incapable of keeping a steady line of quality coming? Is it that hard?


Other companies are ruled by idiotic shareholders and greedy bosses.  Nintendo doesnt give a damn about what their shareholders want (go mobile!!!!!) and actually has some ethics.

Also not overly complicated game mechanics. Its a hardcore game thats also casual (casual does NOT mean easy it means accessible) and therefore has mass appeal. Others only focus on kids etc.

Ironic since Nintendo is a "kids" company as none of their games are mature outside of Metroid. I have not played Mario since I was about 11-12 years old because I out grew it. Bought Galaxy for a family member's Wii and just could not get into it.Mainly because of the motion control which is a gimmick.



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finalrpgfantasy said:
Maybe because Mario games are bundled a lot and Nintendo releases dozens of Mario games every year.


Dozens every year?  Really?



Hedra42 said:
Dr.Henry_Killinger said:

Dr.Henry_Killinger said:
Mario as a character has zero personality.
Go ahead, try to describe his character without referencing:
*his job, clothes, heritage/race
*the various settings of the games he's been in
*any of the other character's in the Mario Universe
*any other characters in general

 

How do you know he is happy?

Are you sure he loves his brother?

How do you know that Mario isn't just a pawn in Princess' Peach continued world domination.

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW?!

And this, IMO, is a master stroke on Nintendo's part. They have deliberately made Mario a blank canvas, so he can have the widest appeal possible. His personality can be whatever we want it to be.

That was what I was suggesting. They also made it so that the sub characters around him are so intresting that Mario's universal everyman appeal draws us in and his friends/enemies keep us intrested.

#PrincessPeach

#Rosalina

#Daisy

#Goombella

#Goombario

#Bowser

#Luigi

#Yoshi

#Yoshi

#Toad



In this day and age, with the Internet, ignorance is a choice! And they're still choosing Ignorance! - Dr. Filthy Frank

GoldenGamer said:
JazzB1987 said:
spurgeonryan said:
garretslarrity said:
Haven't you realized by now that Nintendo games are laced with cocaine to make you addicted?


Really?

 

@ Fusioncode

 

But why is it that these other developers seem incapable of keeping a steady line of quality coming? Is it that hard?


Other companies are ruled by idiotic shareholders and greedy bosses.  Nintendo doesnt give a damn about what their shareholders want (go mobile!!!!!) and actually has some ethics.

Also not overly complicated game mechanics. Its a hardcore game thats also casual (casual does NOT mean easy it means accessible) and therefore has mass appeal. Others only focus on kids etc.

Ironic since Nintendo is a "kids" company as none of their games are mature outside of Metroid. I have not played Mario since I was about 11-12 years old because I out grew it. Bought Galaxy for a family member's Wii and just could not get into it.Mainly because of the motion control which is a gimmick.

How very 'adult' of you.  I've played enough online matches of CoD to tell you where the 'kids' are playing (metally and physically).  At some point you'll be mature enough to appreciate a quality game, movie, book, etc. regardless of whether it seems 'childish'. 

 

I do agree that Nintendo markets their games to families, which means they need to be kid friendly.



Well one thing that has helped him is that his games have been consistently good long enough that his name has successfully become a brand, and in turn has turned him into one of the most iconic video game characters.



marley said:
finalrpgfantasy said:
Maybe because Mario games are bundled a lot and Nintendo releases dozens of Mario games every year.


Dozens every year?  Really?

It was a hyeperbole........................................