Is Mario Number 1?

Mario? I don't know. I mean, without wanting to sound like a bastard, I've always hated that mustacheoed tub's voice - 'lets-a go'. Let's a go away.

IMHO, Link is much more admirable in his quest, his goals etc. Actually, I suppose they're both often enough after the same sort of thing - a weeman. But Link is the strong, silent type.. *sigh*

If you're going to look at the history of consoles then Mario is certainly a defining icon. I just wouldn't place him over say, Solid Snake in terms of the worth of icon status. Solid Snake is a no nonsense killer/womaniser. I think most men can relate at least in part to these disimilar drives, whereas what - unless you're a bit of a looney- chasing mushrooms and stomping on peoples heads is clearly discerned as anti-social behaviour. Well, the latter anywho.

An icon surely should pose some sort of appropriate behavioural pattern for those who recognise its significance? Trying to think of one in the computer game spectrum that does is difficult. MAybe then, for significance and status in the gaming world one doesn't need a high horse? What does everyone else think?

I'm at a loss. I'd go with Link myself, over Crash or Lara or Fatio. Gordan Freeman maybe?

He defines an era, hes not All-Time...

I've been thinking about this more than I do about most polls. I never had a NES or SNES (C64/Amiga instead) so I don't have that deep childhood connection with Mario that a lot of people do. That leads me to believe that he isn't the no.1 gaming icon of all time.

On the other hand, who is?

There are barely any characters from the pre-Nintendo days that have any resonance these days. Sure, Mario's an old giffer in the twilight of his years, but where's the young turk who will supplant him? If Mario's the Connery, who's the Craig?

Lara would be my first choice, but really, she's too young and has the whole Angel of Darkness incident to atone for. Who's left? Sonic? Crash? 47? Duke? Master Chief? None of them have the history, gravitas or recognisability that Mario has in spades.

Like it or lump it, we don't have an icon of gaming with the stature to replace a fat Italian plumber and that's a pity because it means he's gonna be trotted out again and again to put the Nintendo finishing touch on otherwise character defining games.

Just think what Nintendo could have done with Mario Kart and Mario Strikers Charged Football if they had used them to launch new characters. A Speed Racer or Soccer Kid character of their own? Give Mario a guest appearance if you want, but do somebody new for once.

So I have come to the conclusion that Mario isn't the Connery, he's the Mickey Mouse. He's the shorthand label for Nintendo and, by extension, gaming in the same way Mickey is shorthand for Disney and animation.

He is the no.1 gaming icon, I cast my vote with a heavy heart, but can do nothing else.

Much like you I was a C64 kid, never got an Amiga though. I did have a SNES for a while.

To my way of thinking Mario defines the NES era. Super Mario World (my favorite, actually) and Super Mario 64 (not so much) being the only two significant "Mario" games outside of that. (I'm not saying Super Mario Kart, or any of the other games with Mario in the title aren't significant, I am saying that they aren't really "Mario" games. They are games in which Mario makes an incidental appearance. Super Smash Brothers is more "Mario" than any of them, and I don't count that either.)

Do we really have to crown a Number One All-Time VideoGaming Icon? If we must, then I suppose it would have to go to Mario, but only based on 1.the, at this point distant, past, and 2.he won't go away. I just see him as being too firmly rooted in the past to adequately represent gaming in the present and future. Yes, I know he has a new game out, and you know what, it just might be worthy of a spot on the list after SM64.

Also, we don't want the fat bastard to get overworked, now do we? I mean, he already is the Nintendo Icon. If we crown him #1ATVGI does that mean that Nintendo is the #1 Gaming Company? Once again, I think that falls back to the whole era thing. He really only gets the whole thing by default, due to the lack of ANY other claimant. I'd have to favor the alternative of not naming one at all.

Sony never really had an Icon, did they? The very PS console itself was the Icon. I think I might actually favor the original PS console as the Ultimate Gaming Icon over Mario. At least for the present.

Such a videogaming meme this one... try these on for size

1) The Number 1 Hollywood Icon?

2) The Number 1 Rock music Icon?

3) The Number 1 books Icon?

4) The Number 1 sports Icon?

5) The Number 1 icon icon?

get over it... move on... otherwse videogames are alwys going to be stuck in a binary (actauly, whats the maths were you only us 1's?) cage

My case is resting before it goes out and has a beer and a plate of cod and chips..

nursey

I'd have to go with the L shaped tetris block

PACMAN all the way

i agree pac man is the all time game

Uhm, okaaaay? (Queer...)
Well, of course Mario is no.1 of all times!
He's a real gentleman, and has raised me and my whole generation, wanting to become nice tax-paying citizens.

Marilyn Monroe.


David Bowie.


The Bible.


Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali.


The "folder" from Macintosh System 7.

Probably Mario.

It really has to come down to recognisability outside gaming, and the only contenders would be the afore-mentioned Pac-Man or Sonic.

Pac-Man's probably been out of it too long as far as noteworthy games go, and he's not really a character - or at least the version everyone recognises him isn't.

Sonic... could trump Mario. But I don't know if that's just my roots as a SEGA owner speaking. I don't reckon he carries as much weight as he did when he had a platform holder behind him, though.

I reckon in a few more years Lara could do it, but she's a bit too young and sprightly at the moment.

So... yeah. Mario gets my vote. Not because I want him to be gaming's number one icon, just because I think he is.

A fat plumber? That's really the best we have? Bah!

Pac-Ma... what? You said... what?

"He's not really a char..." I am choking here; choking out loud.

You are on such a first official warning for your Pac-Man's been out too long and he isn't a chara... no, I can't say it.

Young people... bastards, I call 'em!

Cheers all

Tim