Mario = Global Symbol Of Japan, Rio Olympics End With Warp Zone

Robert_Downey_Jr.

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Robert_Downey_Jr. on 26 August 2016

Soundwave said:

Robert_Downey_Jr. said:

gaming deserves to be represented by more than just mario. If we keep this mentality we'll only have Star Wars, Mario, and Mickey Mouse. Gotta go with more than just the MOST popular thing all the time

It's the OLYMPICS. "Joe Average" watching in Brazil, Germany, Australia, South Africa, isn't going to know some random game character ... it had to be Mario.

Mario was not representing gaming either, he was representing Japan, which is a far bigger deal.

a big group of gaming characters, a big group of historical characters, and a big group of film makers would be great. Represent the biggest Japan things

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Kai_Mao on 27 August 2016

Robert_Downey_Jr. said:

Soundwave said:

It's the OLYMPICS. "Joe Average" watching in Brazil, Germany, Australia, South Africa, isn't going to know some random game character ... it had to be Mario.

Mario was not representing gaming either, he was representing Japan, which is a far bigger deal.

a big group of gaming characters, a big group of historical characters, and a big group of film makers would be great. Represent the biggest Japan things

Mario does represent Japan and is one of the biggest icons not just in gaming and in Japan, but in pop culture around the world as well. People who may not have played games know some of the images and sounds from Mario because Mario was, and still is, everywhere. If you wanna include gaming characters, you can have Pikachu, Jibanyan (debatedly due to recent success), Mega Man, Sonic, Donkey Kong, and Pac-Man join in. But for the most part, Mario is an enduring universal icon from Japan. Why do you think people within the audience reacted positively the way they did or why news channels were focusing on the Mario section of the hand-off? He's recognizable by pretty much anyone, especially those into gaming and pop culture.

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Soundwave on 27 August 2016

Post-1980, how many fictional pop-culture properties are even as well known as Mario globally?

Uh .... Harry Potter ... yeah ok, he was part of the London 2012 opening ceremony.

E.T. .... ehhhh, I guess? 80s kids know him, but today's generation probably not so much.

Woody/Buzz from Toy Story ... ok, maybe Simba from The Lion King.

Mario is in pretty rarified air, there are not very many character properties that are in that "Mickey Mouse" club of international appeal.

If anything maybe some gaming fans here take Mario for granted a bit, a character like Mario happens maybe once every 50 years.

Mario is the biggest iconic pop culture character Japan has ever created, I don't even think it's all that close. Nintendo's own Pikachu might be no.2. Nintendo is the Disney of Japan, lets face it.