Video Games: Mario & Pokemon, why the success?

DripDrip

Mario, first appearing in 1981 in Donkey Kong, and then later getting his own series of video games in 1985, and 32 years later he is the biggest selling video game franchise ever with over 400 Million sales for the total franchise (including other media ventures)

Pokemon, the pop culture phenomenon that took over the world in 1996 with the release of Red & Green in Japan, saving the slumping sales of the original Game Boy. 17 years later, Pokemon is the second-biggest video game franchise in the world, with over 200 million sales.

So why have these two Nintendo-owned video games become the faces of gaming themselves? What is the reason for their success? Will they ever be taken down and will another video game franchise take the top two spots?

Each franchise has for the most part kept the same formula for their core video games, Mario has stuck to platforming, and Pokemon to its collect 8 gym badges, defeat the evil team, and become the champion.

Sorbet

Pokémon feels fresh with every new generation, because of the new region and new 100+ Pokémon it gets. When you liked the precedor, why not the new one?

At this point, Mario could be considered as the Britney Spears/Lady Gaga of gaming, whenever his name is attached to it, it sells.

+ they both cater to ''casual gamers'', the biggest group of game buyers. It's easy to pick them up and put down again, they're always fun and good to play with friends and online too

HausOfGerard

They're fun and easy

Brite Lites ☆

Mario because he saved the videogame industry.
Pokemon is very addictive.

Quote:

Originally posted by Sorbet

At this point, Mario is considered the Beatles/MJ(?) of gaming, whenever his name is attached to it, it sells.

Fixed that for you

Tylerbv

Quote:

Pokemon, the pop culture phenomenon that took over the world in 1996 with the release of Red & Green in Japan

Interesting.

VPM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sorbet

Pokémon feels fresh with every new generation, because of the new region and new 100+ Pokémon it gets. When you liked the precedor, why not the new one?

At this point, Mario could be considered as the Britney Spears/Lady Gaga of gaming, whenever his name is attached to it, it sells.

+ they both cater to ''casual gamers'', the biggest group of game buyers. It's easy to pick them up and put down again, they're always fun and good to play with friends and online too

Nintendo's domination

I will always love you, Pokemon.

Robert

That Nintendo reign just won't let up.

They've both expanded a lot and have become household names. The game makers know how to keep things fresh and both games have a devoted fanbase.

Ties

Mario is clear. Super Mario Bros. changed the landscape of games during the era, and should be heralded as the Citizen Kane of video games. Many elements of its gameplay are derived today, and its style was mimicked by several other developers. Mario went on to innovate and change the gaming environment with Super Mario 64. The influence in this title is clear, with its open-world platforming and game design being used as inspiration for an innumerable amount of games following its release.

Pokemon began the social-gaming boom, and in many ways share the same impact as the Mario franchise. Pokemon, upon its release in 1996, encouraged those players to trade and meet up with other players to share tips and Pokemon. The very concept of online gaming is encouraging players to interact, and it can be argued that Pokemon popularized this idea with its release. It's also a trendsetter in that it made an RPG franchise accessible to those of all ages, and it redefined the formula from Dungeons and Dragons esque design to a more streamlined approach. A clear indicator of its influence can be seen in Digimon, which was released three years after Pokemon Red and Blue.

Aqim

They are original!