I think Mario's success is an amazing back bone for Nintendo. But I feel Mario is becoming to important to Nintendo's success. The idea that new hardware has to have a Mario launch title to be successful is absurd. It hurts Nintendo's ability to release new IP and third parties abilities to sell software.
Nintendo needs steady Mario releases to survive but at the same time they need to be spaced out. A Mario game should never be present within Tue first six months of Jew hardware in my opinion. Mario games should also be launched in seasons when sales suffer. Release Mario during an off season and sell new IP and other games during the good seasons to give them a fighting chance.
I do not think Mario was in any way responsible for 3DS bad start. Nintendo has a dozen powerful IP that could have easily turned 3DS around. 3DS did poorly because Nintendo over estimated its third party support and the sales capabilities of Nintendogs.
The answer to Nintendo's longtime problems will be to wean themselves off of reliance on Mario. Nintendo needs to create another Mario or Pokemon level franchise and they can't achieve that if Mario remains present all year round every year.
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
