About this whole thing with "milking" with Mario. Happy Squrriel gave some good reasons why Mario is used in so many games. It's the familiarity and it does cut expenses. Also Stof gave good reason why Mario Party is "Mario Party" instead of completely new franchise. A variety of characters with personality is something you get when you have been developing videogames for 3 decades and creating many new franchises, although Nintendos most popular franchise is only a spinoff.
I would like add one reason why Mario is so popular, Mario games live up to expectations and they don't repeate themselves (aside from Mario Party, but considering the gameplay in Mario Party, there's only a little room for changes), and offer something new in every new game, while the "normal" way of doing sequels is just making new levels and possibly even new story to othewise the same old game.
Ei Kiinasti.
Eikä Japanisti.
Vaan pannaan jalalla koreasti.
Nintendo games sell only on Nintendo system.
