I think others have said what I thought.

While his reasoning about PacMan was valid, the early 1980s video gaming was a fad. PacMan represented that fad. Video gaming from 1985 to present is a cultural phenomenon. Mario represents that. So I would have had him at No. 1.

Also, Nancy Drew was a reach. While there have been computer games since the late 1990s, only a DS game in 2007 and a Wii game last year have reached video gaming.

Finally, I am not sure Duke Nukem belonged on the list. But I know Master Chief does -- and I am not even that big of a Halo fan.

Mike from Morgantown

Nancy Drew?

Nancy Drew wtf? July fools confirmed

I disagree with the list.

It's a good list if we're talking about influential games, but it's not a good list if we're talking about characters and his criteria (Influence the CHARACTERS, not the games, had on the industry). It seemed more like he was balancing between what the characters themselves have done, and what the games they were in have accomplished.

For example: You could have reskinned crash bandicoot as Mario in Super Mario 64 (obviously under a different title), and it still would have been an amazing game (assuming nothing else, including release date, was changed).

Why Mario deserves to be on the list is because he was the first poster-boy of the new era of gaming. That can be partly contributed to the awesomeness of the games, but it also has to do with his loveable nature.

Link should not be as high and I would argue that Gordon Freeman did more for the silent hero than Link ever has.

Sonic should be there because like he said, first true contender to Mario. But more importantly, he spawned a generation of pretenders that were animals (Spyro, Crash, Ratchet, Jak etc).

Duke Nukem was a great choice, many of his personality traits can still be found in video games today, though obviously a lot more toned down. Masterchief could have taken his spot (and I guess in this day an age, with Killzone 2, Gears etc being around, a 7ft space marine is more fitting)

Solid snake is a bit iffy, as I'm sure there was a video game character before him that created his character type.

Samus and Lara croft were good choices. Samus opened the door, and Lara has brought us many ass kicking females. Though I think Chun-Li deserved a mention for creating the ass kicking female character. I don't think Nancy drew deserved a place on the list. Carmen San diego is better than Nancy drew (and still not worthy of this list).

Good list, except of course for Nancy Drew (seriously?). I would have perhaps switched 1 and 2- Mario is undoubtedly more influential than any other character, even Pac-Man. The odd thing is that I didn't even think of Pac-Man until I saw he had been chosen.

My list:

1) Mario
2) Pac-Man
3) Sonic
4) Link
5) Solid Snake
6) Lara Croft
7) Gordon Freeman
8) Crash Bandicoot (yes, I think he deserves to be on the list)
9) Cloud
10) Master Chief

Yeah I would not put Master Chief in aswell or atleast not change it with Duke Nukem.

I find this list really great for being from someone on the internet I am gonna check his other top tens.

Very nice list. I think looking back in a few years, the Mii character will deserve a place in the list too.

Games' mechanics isn't what we're talking about. Master Chief is not influential, and the most common characterization for main characters in shooters are have alot of similarities to Duke Nukem.

Solid Snake should'nt even be in the list because I can't see where he was influential. Nancy Drew is far more influential than Solid Snake.

I like the fact that this guy doesn't speak but uses text in his top-tens. Most people have annoying voices and/or end up copying Yahtzee or the AVGN or do a Geoff Keiley. Please, keep it simple

This list is full of Nintendo, so it can't be wrong...

xD