What would video games be like if Mario and Sonic were never invented?

[Armonigann]

Just curious as to what you think video games would be like yesterday and today w/out the two notorious mascots.

[jaybird3rd]

Someone else would have invented other mascots. They would have been different, to be sure, but the idea was probably inevitable as video games became more mainstream. We could just as easily be talking about Crash Bandicoot rather than Sonic, for example.

[TheGameCollector]

Here's the answer to one of them

[raskar42]

maze games and space shooters forever.

[roland p]

I think there are lots of cool games that aren't 'mario-based'. So if you don't care about mario, nothing will change for you.

[high voltage]

Pitfall! popularized the run 'n' jump genre. and in the first scrolling platform and ladders game the game character was a car, so Mario nor Sonic wouldn't be of any importance.

Edited October 13, 2011 by high voltage

[MagitekAngel]

We'd probably simply have a different uncomfortable stereotype and a different anthropomorphic animal with 'tude.

[Rex Dart]

Alex Kidd would reign supreme.

 

It would be a dark age.

[roland p]

Alex Kidd would reign supreme.

 

It would be a dark age.

 

Wasn't Alex Kidd made to compete with Mario?

[AlvinKarpis]

maze games and space shooters forever.

 

 

[+Cafeman]

Wow, talk about your Butterfly Effect. If you really did eliminate Mario and Sonic,it would have significantly changed Nintendo and Sega's output. By saying "mario", I assume that Donkey Kong also must be eliminated? Maybe we'd be playing the Atari Jaguar 360 ?

[Brian O]

I think Nintendo would have chosen a different mascot:

 

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I would be happier if POKEMON and FINAL FANTASY were never created to be honest!

[Pixelboy]

I think Nintendo would have chosen a different mascot:

 

And his brother Leonard (Nemoy).

[Cynicaster]

Scrapyard Dog would have been a seminal title!

 

Seriously though, I think that the side-scrolling type of game was a natural progression for gaming at the time--the logical next step over and above the "single screen" type games of the golden era. I know Super Mario wasn't the first, but it was the first to really nail the formula down into something that had industry-changing mass appeal. If Nintendo didn't do it with Mario, somebody else would have done it with something else.

[sheath]

I pretty much imagine a haven of games like Shinobi, Ninja Spirit, Bubble Bobble and other Arcade titles filling the gap of mascot platformers handily. I would much prefer an alternate history where unique gameplay styles sold systems, rather than Mickey Mouse replacement characters. Growing up on Arcade games, I imagined a future of ever progressing gameplay styles in every genre. I guess it was good for my bank accounts that never happened.

[Tr3vor]

Asteroids 12: return of space rock!!!

[Armonigann]

I think Nintendo would have chosen a different mascot:

 

 

:rolling:

[fdurso224]

Hi guys,

 

 

I use to think about that question growing up! Maybe Pac-Man would have been the poster boy of video game mascots! Who knows!

 

Anthony....

[raskar42]

all mascots would be fast food characters.

 

smash bros would have chester cheetah, the kool aide man, the noid vs and cool spot and M.C. kids