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Think of a mushroom... It's a fungus. Doesn't look too nice. Not very appealing - only weird people eat them, compulsively.
Think of a hedgehog.... Boring, slow, spiky, not very cool. Kind of cute - In a way.
Now think of a Mario mushroom... The key to big-ness. Very useful. Boosts in Mario Kart.
Now think of Sonic... VERY cool hedgehog. Damn fast. Attitude perceived as 'cool'.
But why does gaming change these things, and how does it get away with it?
If Mario wasn't around now, and you told someone you were thinking of making a game where you played as a plumber, and you had to save a princess from a not-too-smart monster, what do you think they'd say...? bearing in mind games like Final Fantasy 10, MGS2 and GT3 and around us...
I think they'd probably fall about in hysterics.
So, why, especially in the past, did gaming transform these 'uncool' things and turn them into these much-loved gaming icons? I can't see how myself... Nintendo could just as easily have made a cool super-guy type character.
Maybe it was the challenge involved... they could have placed a bet to see where Mario and Sonic were in 20 years time.
You have to admit, Mario doesn't have all the best qualities of a gaming icon... sure he's funny, and Nintendo can make him out to be whatever they want, but if you compare him to say Sonic or Conker, he's not quite as 'cool'. I mean, I prefer Mario games to most others and I can't wait for Mario Sunshine, but...if you were to take Conker, Mario and Sonic without them being know to gamers, I'd say Mario would place third with Sonic taking first place.
It isn't just characters... the flying boats (Airships) in Skies of Arcadia (Amazing Game!) and the Walking/Jumping Mushrooms in Starfox Adventures. Little imaginative 'plays' that both amuse and confuse.
Still.... I guess the abnormal world that is gaming is what's so attractive about it... After all, most games are completely fiction and only sports games and some FPS's are from 'our world'...
I just think it’s amazing how gaming seems to have the power to change anything and make it something else… we can be so sure that something could never be used in a game… but the next thing you know some weird game has come out of Japan with dancing swords and singing potatoes… maybe: D!!?
Just a Thought.....
Game
Think of a hedgehog.... Boring, slow, spiky, not very cool. Kind of cute - In a way.
Now think of a Mario mushroom... The key to big-ness. Very useful. Boosts in Mario Kart.
Now think of Sonic... VERY cool hedgehog. Damn fast. Attitude perceived as 'cool'.
But why does gaming change these things, and how does it get away with it?
If Mario wasn't around now, and you told someone you were thinking of making a game where you played as a plumber, and you had to save a princess from a not-too-smart monster, what do you think they'd say...? bearing in mind games like Final Fantasy 10, MGS2 and GT3 and around us...
I think they'd probably fall about in hysterics.
So, why, especially in the past, did gaming transform these 'uncool' things and turn them into these much-loved gaming icons? I can't see how myself... Nintendo could just as easily have made a cool super-guy type character.
Maybe it was the challenge involved... they could have placed a bet to see where Mario and Sonic were in 20 years time.
You have to admit, Mario doesn't have all the best qualities of a gaming icon... sure he's funny, and Nintendo can make him out to be whatever they want, but if you compare him to say Sonic or Conker, he's not quite as 'cool'. I mean, I prefer Mario games to most others and I can't wait for Mario Sunshine, but...if you were to take Conker, Mario and Sonic without them being know to gamers, I'd say Mario would place third with Sonic taking first place.
It isn't just characters... the flying boats (Airships) in Skies of Arcadia (Amazing Game!) and the Walking/Jumping Mushrooms in Starfox Adventures. Little imaginative 'plays' that both amuse and confuse.
Still.... I guess the abnormal world that is gaming is what's so attractive about it... After all, most games are completely fiction and only sports games and some FPS's are from 'our world'...
I just think it’s amazing how gaming seems to have the power to change anything and make it something else… we can be so sure that something could never be used in a game… but the next thing you know some weird game has come out of Japan with dancing swords and singing potatoes… maybe: D!!?
Just a Thought.....
Game
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Think of a mushroom... It's a fungus. Doesn't look too nice. Not very appealing - only weird people eat them, compulsively.
Think of a hedgehog.... Boring, slow, spiky, not very cool. Kind of cute - In a way.
Now think of a Mario mushroom... The key to big-ness. Very useful. Boosts in Mario Kart.
Now think of Sonic... VERY cool hedgehog. Damn fast. Attitude perceived as 'cool'.
But why does gaming change these things, and how does it get away with it?
If Mario wasn't around now, and you told someone you were thinking of making a game where you played as a plumber, and you had to save a princess from a not-too-smart monster, what do you think they'd say...? bearing in mind games like Final Fantasy 10, MGS2 and GT3 and around us...
I think they'd probably fall about in hysterics.
So, why, especially in the past, did gaming transform these 'uncool' things and turn them into these much-loved gaming icons? I can't see how myself... Nintendo could just as easily have made a cool super-guy type character.
Maybe it was the challenge involved... they could have placed a bet to see where Mario and Sonic were in 20 years time.
You have to admit, Mario doesn't have all the best qualities of a gaming icon... sure he's funny, and Nintendo can make him out to be whatever they want, but if you compare him to say Sonic or Conker, he's not quite as 'cool'. I mean, I prefer Mario games to most others and I can't wait for Mario Sunshine, but...if you were to take Conker, Mario and Sonic without them being know to gamers, I'd say Mario would place third with Sonic taking first place.
It isn't just characters... the flying boats (Airships) in Skies of Arcadia (Amazing Game!) and the Walking/Jumping Mushrooms in Starfox Adventures. Little imaginative 'plays' that both amuse and confuse.
Still.... I guess the abnormal world that is gaming is what's so attractive about it... After all, most games are completely fiction and only sports games and some FPS's are from 'our world'...
I just think it’s amazing how gaming seems to have the power to change anything and make it something else… we can be so sure that something could never be used in a game… but the next thing you know some weird game has come out of Japan with dancing swords and singing potatoes… maybe: D!!?
Just a Thought.....
Game
Think of a hedgehog.... Boring, slow, spiky, not very cool. Kind of cute - In a way.
Now think of a Mario mushroom... The key to big-ness. Very useful. Boosts in Mario Kart.
Now think of Sonic... VERY cool hedgehog. Damn fast. Attitude perceived as 'cool'.
But why does gaming change these things, and how does it get away with it?
If Mario wasn't around now, and you told someone you were thinking of making a game where you played as a plumber, and you had to save a princess from a not-too-smart monster, what do you think they'd say...? bearing in mind games like Final Fantasy 10, MGS2 and GT3 and around us...
I think they'd probably fall about in hysterics.
So, why, especially in the past, did gaming transform these 'uncool' things and turn them into these much-loved gaming icons? I can't see how myself... Nintendo could just as easily have made a cool super-guy type character.
Maybe it was the challenge involved... they could have placed a bet to see where Mario and Sonic were in 20 years time.
You have to admit, Mario doesn't have all the best qualities of a gaming icon... sure he's funny, and Nintendo can make him out to be whatever they want, but if you compare him to say Sonic or Conker, he's not quite as 'cool'. I mean, I prefer Mario games to most others and I can't wait for Mario Sunshine, but...if you were to take Conker, Mario and Sonic without them being know to gamers, I'd say Mario would place third with Sonic taking first place.
It isn't just characters... the flying boats (Airships) in Skies of Arcadia (Amazing Game!) and the Walking/Jumping Mushrooms in Starfox Adventures. Little imaginative 'plays' that both amuse and confuse.
Still.... I guess the abnormal world that is gaming is what's so attractive about it... After all, most games are completely fiction and only sports games and some FPS's are from 'our world'...
I just think it’s amazing how gaming seems to have the power to change anything and make it something else… we can be so sure that something could never be used in a game… but the next thing you know some weird game has come out of Japan with dancing swords and singing potatoes… maybe: D!!?
Just a Thought.....
Game