Firstly, not all of those game stayed in Japan.

Secondly, you can't throw region in here, if your beef is with genre. If the games are made, they count.

Third, it's because you aren't doing the research that your beef seems ill-informed. You do the research, and you see Mario is not a lone case. The reason he's the most prolific is that he's the most successful.

And you still haven't answered my question. Do you think other developers would do the same if they had as consistent success with their characters in various genres? 

Mario is not the most whored out Franchise. There have been more FF's and Megaman games then there have been REAL mario games(not just one that they stuck him in to sell, Party, SSB, Sports...)

Mario is the most whored out Charater

but for good reason, as has been covered in this thread (and best said by Erik Aston)

Famine... Mario Pinball is a GB Advance game. If it was a DS game, the whole premise of this thread would be wrong! (Since it was a flop)

 i know!

Its no-holds-barred when it comes to Nintendo.

LOL

1.) I never said all those games stayed in Japan, but a few did.

2.) Would the various Mario spin-offs have been successful if they only released in Japan? Capcom x Namco didn't really have impressive sales, nor did those Chocobo games (Aside from the first Chocobo Dungeon game). Had most of those Mario games not come stateside, worldwide, then I probably wouldn't even be commenting on Mario in the first place. 

3.) Even with characters appearing in different genres, Mario still takes the cake! Here's a list for Mario, and the second closest competitor, Sonic, without counting platform:

Mario:

• RPG
• Fighting
• Sports (Racing, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Olympics)
• Party (Dance, Pinball, Various)
• Puzzle

Sonic:

• Sports (Racing, Olympics)
• Party (Pinball, Various)
• Fighting
• Other [Appeared with various other Sega characters in an Eye Toy Game]

Let's look at the names you provided:

Mega Man:

• Action/Platformer
• RPG
• Sports
• Fighting

Chocobo:

• RPG
• Simulation
• Strategy
• Sports (Racing, Baseball)

Even if you were not to count the NES, the total of Mario games trumps everyone, especially Mega Man and Sonic!

And yes, Sonic and Mega Man are good examples of developers putting them in many games, and I do apologize for being ignorant in a few posts and not mentioning characters such as Mega Man and Sonic, especially when I even mentioned Sonic in an earlier post. They aren't as successful, but the developers are putting them out there.

12 Mario games in one year. That's not even something Sonic and Mega Man can claim, can they? And that was my case with Mario in the first place until you came along.

@Erik:

Just trying to show the various games that have Mario in it. Doesn't apply to your main point in the thread, so no worries.

12 Mario games this generation... Not this year...

I don't think anyone is arguing that other franchises have covered more genres or more total games, either.

Sorry, 6 games this year.  Even in half, I doubt there were that many Sonic or Mega Man games in one year.

@Kasz:

The Cd-i and various learning games on the PC shouldn't count, but there was a painting game on the SNES, as well as those Game & Watch Gallery games on the Gameboy and GBA which would fall into "Others."

"Would the various Mario spin-offs have been successful if they only released in Japan? Capcom x Namco didn't really have impressive sales, nor did those Chocobo games (Aside from the first Chocobo Dungeon game). Had most of those Mario games not come stateside, worldwide, then I probably wouldn't even be commenting on Mario in the first place."

Now it's not just multiple genres, but those released here?

Your complaints aren't valid if you keep changing the rules.

And you STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION.