Question of the Day, May 25, 2010

[Ibanez887]

With the amount of difficulty it took me to completely beat Super Mario World 3, beating every level, I will never refer to the Mario franchise as a "kids game". Its really kid friendly though

 

[Macgyvercas]

I'm going to interpret the question as "Is Mario a game exclusively for children" and the answer to that is no.

And for the record, I have decided to propose a motion where we make Miyamoto into a deity.

 

[Random Argument Man]

People tends to confuse light tone with kiddie games.I'm not the only one with that way of thinking.

 

[Proteus214]

Kids may play them, but the level of difficulty on a lot of Mario games is not always "kid friendly."

 

[_Janny_]

It's a game about a plumber jumping around, and there's little to no story involved. I'd say it's both childish and for children. Well, anyone can play it, but I'd say it's mostly for kids.

 

[DaxStrife]

As long as you don't explore the whole "midget Italian plumber who eats mushrooms" thing, Mario's basically an all-ages game figure. He's colorful, non-threatening (unless you're a turtle) and the gameplay is basic enough that a five-year-old can pick up on it.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Yes, it is a children's game. It's got a low age rating and the vast majority of it -- if not all of it -- is aimed at kids. However, that doesn't mean that adults can't play it and like playing it. It's like Pokémon in that sense, where people can pick it up and have fun playing it regardless of their age.

Pixar makes movies that can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. They still make movies for children.

I was going to make reference to Up, but you kind of beat me to it.

Speaking of which, I feel like re-watching Up now.

 

[CaptainCrunch]

The way I see it, it's a children's game that's fun for adults as well.

Kinda like how some cartoons are made for children but are just as much fun for adults.

So yeah, I guess I agree with Shiggy in that it's a game "for children", but it's not "childish".

This.

Mario games have gameplay that appeal to both children and adults, but the kawaii nature of the squat Italian plumber and his comrades is clearly designed to appeal to a younger audience.

 

[joshthor]

The way I see it, it's a children's game that's fun for adults as well.

Kinda like how some cartoons are made for children but are just as much fun for adults.

So yeah, I guess I agree with Shiggy in that it's a game "for children", but it's not "childish".

thats like... the exact opposite of what Shigeru Miyamoto is saying.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Depends on how to take the meaning of the question. Its a game that is for children to play, but also everyone else. It wasn't made specifically for children, and it isn't a game like Manhunt that would not be in any way made for children.

 

[Jared]

I certainly dont think it is...some of the puzzles and platforms are fiendishly hard!

 

[War Penguin]

If it is a children's game, then call me a child.

OT: No, I think it's universal. I know many kids and adults who enjoy Mario.

 

[JEBWrench]

It's a game for everyone. This everyone includes children. Ergo, children's game.

 

[Voration]

Its for adults and children, it counts as a difficult game for kids but for adults its just the experience that keeps them playing. Mario games aren't difficult today when compared to the games made and released years ago.

 

[wooty]

Hell no, anyone who ever played Super Mario Bros 3 will agree, that shiy was hard and would probably go over most kids heads. I know it went over mine at the time

 

[TheBadGamer]

One word: NO!

 

[Marter]

No. The actual core platforming elements of many of the Mario games are actually fairly difficult for a child.

Plus, I know adults who play and enjoy them.

 

[Artemus_Cain]

Definatly not the Paper Mario series.

 

[I Resurection I]

I think it was designed with children in mind but playable by all ages. So no it's not only a child's game

 

[Lord Honk]

I remember my mom telling me that when i was 7 (that's when i got my n64 with super mario 64), she woke up in the middle of the night to find my father sitting in front of the TV playing the game in the "Lethal Lava Land" level, turning to her, and saying "I'm in hell!"

I can't get over how funny that is in retrospect, but for the time (and for me even now) seeing that hellish environment with volcanoes, lava, and horned bowling balls, all in 3D, was amazing, and in no way exclusively made for kids.

Yes, mario might cater to younger audiences, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun with it, right?