The ultimate mascot for video gaming
- Thread starter Mag1
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You can't pick a mascot just by who is recognisable and who looks 'cool'. A true mascot has to be likeable and representative of the product.
Gaming nowadays is taking on a more adult audience, and as such having a 'kiddy-kiddy' mascot doesn't suit very much.
For that reason, I submit both the Master Chief and Dante from Devil May Cry.
Gaming nowadays is taking on a more adult audience, and as such having a 'kiddy-kiddy' mascot doesn't suit very much.
For that reason, I submit both the Master Chief and Dante from Devil May Cry.
If I had to choose, I'd choose Lara Croft. Pre-American version that is. I hate to say it, but my country kind of messed her up. She's cold and less human in our version.
Are we choosing a mascot based upon the current market or are we asking based upon pre-existing "mascot" or otherwise iconic characters? If it's the latter, it's a very limited field, but if it is, you really can't beat Mario for sheer notoriety and longevity.
If we are talking about choosing a mascot from various characters that could represent gaming in general, then it becomes a bit more of a debate, since like someone said, Mario has kind of lost his relevance in the change in game content and the shift in audience.
I'd have to go with Solid Snake. The Metal Gear games are mixture of straight-up action fighting, strategy and thinking, and puzzle-solving, widely representative of games today. The deep (even if overly detailed) plot deepens the role that you enter into as Snake. He's a hero and a legend, if not a little damaged and imperfect, not unlike humans in general. Regardless of what you may think of Kojima's Metal Gear series, there's something to be said about the longevity of Solid Snake and the type of gameplay he represents, something definitely more mature than Mario could ever be, but still not associated with something socially controversial or objectified, like a Lara Croft or a Nico, or even Master Chief.
In my opinion, if you want a representative for games these days, it's Snake.
If we are talking about choosing a mascot from various characters that could represent gaming in general, then it becomes a bit more of a debate, since like someone said, Mario has kind of lost his relevance in the change in game content and the shift in audience.
I'd have to go with Solid Snake. The Metal Gear games are mixture of straight-up action fighting, strategy and thinking, and puzzle-solving, widely representative of games today. The deep (even if overly detailed) plot deepens the role that you enter into as Snake. He's a hero and a legend, if not a little damaged and imperfect, not unlike humans in general. Regardless of what you may think of Kojima's Metal Gear series, there's something to be said about the longevity of Solid Snake and the type of gameplay he represents, something definitely more mature than Mario could ever be, but still not associated with something socially controversial or objectified, like a Lara Croft or a Nico, or even Master Chief.
In my opinion, if you want a representative for games these days, it's Snake.
What are you asking exactly?
If you walked up to someone on the street, and asked, "Who do you think of when you hear the word "Video Games"?'
I think most people would say Mario.
If you walked up to someone on the street, and asked, "Who do you think of when you hear the word "Video Games"?'
I think most people would say Mario.
Pac-man, he's been waiting long enough, he deserves it. Actually, if that's the criteria, the Paddle from Pong is a better choice choice.
Kinda contradiction don't you think?L4Y Duke said:
jk But if you're going by representation, I think the Wii's bringing in more new gamers so logically isn't mario still a good fit? Plus Dante isn't particularly huge and his games haven't received as much popularity or rave reviews as Halo (much as it pains me to say it >.<) But there's still a big "kiddy" market, just look at the recent Lego games amongst others.
Ultimately however, you can't really have a universal games mascot, they're all too varied :/ it's like having a mascot for movies, it just doesn't work very well.
What is that happy face in that REALLY old game that just popped out and killed you when time was up?
Him, he was terrifying.
Him, he was terrifying.
I think Dual-Shock is probably the most recognised.fix-the-spade said:
As for characters, I'd still go with Mario. I mean, he eats mushrooms, grows bigger (on top of other power-ups, such as flowers and stars), and then coldly stomps on gombas. All to get his Princess(*****), who's always in another bloody castle, creating the never-ending cycle of murder and drugs that is Mario.
Nah. People in some parts of Asia have no idea who the Chief is, cause quite a few are biased against Western games, and don't play them. Everyone knows who Mario is, though.Indigo_Dingo said: