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OK, I think this may have been done before but I’ll do it now anyway.
Every console has a mascot, even the PSone has one, but I’ll come to that later. So what’s it all about, past present and future?
I’ll start where I know. As everyone knows, Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega’s mascot. Sonic, for the uninitiated, is a blue hedgehog who can run faster than the speed of sound. He has blue spikes and can cut through things with them. Pretty unfeasible, I’m sure you’ll agree. So, why was he so popular, even in the West? Suggestions? Maybe it was because he had an attitude, he was novel, or simply because the games were fantastic.
Then there’s also Mario, the fat little plumber (?) from Brooklyn who fell down a pipe one day into a fantasy world where he must rescue a princess. First off, why the hell was he a plumber? I don’t know, but then again, who does? So was HE so popular? Well, don’t think Mario or even Luigi rank high in the likeability stakes, so I think it was because of the great games Shigsy made featuring the two of the. Surely, Sonic is more likeable to us because he’s a very fleshed-out character, so much so there’s been a popular series of books and cartoons based on him. What Sonic does lack however is a film but that’s a different matter.
Next: Sony’s mascot. “Sony doesn’t have a mascot you monkey!” I hear you cry. Well, in the immortal words of the ship’s captain from Blackadder, “That’s where you’re wrong!” Sony’s mascot is a white hairless p***y (steady…) that goes by the name of Toro. Toro is big in Japan. When I say big, I mean huge. For those who don’t know, Toro debuted in Docodemo Isshou, which means “together anywhere”. The game was Pocket-Station compatible and Toro could be downloaded onto it and taken anywhere. He would interact with you and other pokepi (pocket people *ahem*), asking them questions and getting to know them. He is the ultimate virtual pet that is compatible with your PlayStation, mobile phone and microwave. Apart from appearing in hugely popular PSone games he also advertises the unfortunately named beverage Calpis.
So where is this furless cat in the West? Well, I just don’t know. Maybe he wasn’t popular here, because let’s face it he just reeks of Japan. So who is Sony’s Western mascot? Crash maybe? Well, not really because Sony doesn’t own Crash, Universal Interactive Studios do. So, not Crash, but Naughty Dog have something else coming. That “something else” is Jak and Daxter, starring in the upcoming game, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. I won’t go too far into who these people are but suffice to say they’re acceptable adventures who will appear in the aforementioned game, which is a 3D platformer that will be hugely successful.
As for Microsoft’s mascot, who knows? My money’s on Clippit but let’s all hope they don’t last long enough to have a mascot.
So what is the future of mascots? Well, I don’t know about what, I’m more worried about will. Let’s face it, each new Sonic/Mario/Crash game is a sequel to the last. Sure, the games companies make an impressive attempt to keep each one original but HOW MANY “It’s-a-me, Mario!” s can we stand? I think the console mascot is a dying breed. For example, Sonic had 3½ hugely successful outings on the MegaDrive, and Mario had, what, 4 (?) hugely successful outings on the SNES. But look at this. The N64 had only one decidedly token Mario game grace its shores, and the GameCube hasn’t even got one SLATED for it, just a Mario spin-off. The Dreamcast, too, had Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, which I’m told were pretty poor. Can these ageing ghosts survive in a world craving originality? Personally I doubt it. I reckon with every new console there will be a token mascot game, which won’t really do very well, only being bought my die-hard fans. So if the future of the mascot is so bleak, is there anything that can be done?
In my view, yes. Revolution is in the air. There’s mutiny in the ranks, it’s time for a change. Yes, change. I think Nintendo and Sega should create new, bigger and better mascots, ones that are appealing, starring in new and exciting genres with massive scope for further incarnations. Only that can save the dyeing breed.
Long live Sonic. Long live Mario. Vive la resistance.
Every console has a mascot, even the PSone has one, but I’ll come to that later. So what’s it all about, past present and future?
I’ll start where I know. As everyone knows, Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega’s mascot. Sonic, for the uninitiated, is a blue hedgehog who can run faster than the speed of sound. He has blue spikes and can cut through things with them. Pretty unfeasible, I’m sure you’ll agree. So, why was he so popular, even in the West? Suggestions? Maybe it was because he had an attitude, he was novel, or simply because the games were fantastic.
Then there’s also Mario, the fat little plumber (?) from Brooklyn who fell down a pipe one day into a fantasy world where he must rescue a princess. First off, why the hell was he a plumber? I don’t know, but then again, who does? So was HE so popular? Well, don’t think Mario or even Luigi rank high in the likeability stakes, so I think it was because of the great games Shigsy made featuring the two of the. Surely, Sonic is more likeable to us because he’s a very fleshed-out character, so much so there’s been a popular series of books and cartoons based on him. What Sonic does lack however is a film but that’s a different matter.
Next: Sony’s mascot. “Sony doesn’t have a mascot you monkey!” I hear you cry. Well, in the immortal words of the ship’s captain from Blackadder, “That’s where you’re wrong!” Sony’s mascot is a white hairless p***y (steady…) that goes by the name of Toro. Toro is big in Japan. When I say big, I mean huge. For those who don’t know, Toro debuted in Docodemo Isshou, which means “together anywhere”. The game was Pocket-Station compatible and Toro could be downloaded onto it and taken anywhere. He would interact with you and other pokepi (pocket people *ahem*), asking them questions and getting to know them. He is the ultimate virtual pet that is compatible with your PlayStation, mobile phone and microwave. Apart from appearing in hugely popular PSone games he also advertises the unfortunately named beverage Calpis.
So where is this furless cat in the West? Well, I just don’t know. Maybe he wasn’t popular here, because let’s face it he just reeks of Japan. So who is Sony’s Western mascot? Crash maybe? Well, not really because Sony doesn’t own Crash, Universal Interactive Studios do. So, not Crash, but Naughty Dog have something else coming. That “something else” is Jak and Daxter, starring in the upcoming game, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. I won’t go too far into who these people are but suffice to say they’re acceptable adventures who will appear in the aforementioned game, which is a 3D platformer that will be hugely successful.
As for Microsoft’s mascot, who knows? My money’s on Clippit but let’s all hope they don’t last long enough to have a mascot.
So what is the future of mascots? Well, I don’t know about what, I’m more worried about will. Let’s face it, each new Sonic/Mario/Crash game is a sequel to the last. Sure, the games companies make an impressive attempt to keep each one original but HOW MANY “It’s-a-me, Mario!” s can we stand? I think the console mascot is a dying breed. For example, Sonic had 3½ hugely successful outings on the MegaDrive, and Mario had, what, 4 (?) hugely successful outings on the SNES. But look at this. The N64 had only one decidedly token Mario game grace its shores, and the GameCube hasn’t even got one SLATED for it, just a Mario spin-off. The Dreamcast, too, had Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, which I’m told were pretty poor. Can these ageing ghosts survive in a world craving originality? Personally I doubt it. I reckon with every new console there will be a token mascot game, which won’t really do very well, only being bought my die-hard fans. So if the future of the mascot is so bleak, is there anything that can be done?
In my view, yes. Revolution is in the air. There’s mutiny in the ranks, it’s time for a change. Yes, change. I think Nintendo and Sega should create new, bigger and better mascots, ones that are appealing, starring in new and exciting genres with massive scope for further incarnations. Only that can save the dyeing breed.
Long live Sonic. Long live Mario. Vive la resistance.
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Turbo, who the hell told you that Sonic was rubbish on the DC, it's brill. It's easy but lasts a long time with all the characters, and then you've got your Chao's to look after, it is far from rubbish.
And you forgot games like, Sonic Shuffle, Mario Party and Mario Party 2.
I think Mario isc a great little mascot and so is Sonic, they were the two that really started this gaming lark getting so big.
Anyway, isn't that Abe Oddesy bloke (or something like that, might be called something diefferent?) the X-box's mascot, no, oh well!
:)
And you forgot games like, Sonic Shuffle, Mario Party and Mario Party 2.
I think Mario isc a great little mascot and so is Sonic, they were the two that really started this gaming lark getting so big.
Anyway, isn't that Abe Oddesy bloke (or something like that, might be called something diefferent?) the X-box's mascot, no, oh well!
:)
"Sony’s mascot is a white hairless p***y (steady…) that goes by the name of Toro"
God, how I laughed!
It's a shame that "Toro" isn't big here in the UK.
God, how I laughed!
It's a shame that "Toro" isn't big here in the UK.
He was saying hello!
RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Hey Ant!
Yes??
> Hey Ant!
Yes??
Lara Croft?
Hey Ant!
Cool, I always thought Crash Bandicoot was the closest Sony had to a mascot. Or Rayman (than god it's not him, though.)
Nice post Turbo.
Nice post Turbo.
turbonutter wrote:
> At least we agree on one thing.
Hehehe
> At least we agree on one thing.
Hehehe
At least we agree on one thing.
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