No More Game Console Mascots...

[Evastio]

Does anyone miss how most Game Consoles no longer have mascots? (like how the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, etc. had Mario and the Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, etc. had Sonic and how the Playstation had Crash Bandicoot)

I know the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii still have Mario, but the Playstation Portable, the Playstation 3, and the XBox 360 don't have any mascots. Well, unless you consider Master Chief XBox 360's mascot. But if he was, don't you think he'd be in more games like Mario is like Halo Kart, Halo Party, Super Halo Bros... okay, never mind. Maybe there is a reason why he isn't in many games.

[Flying Mullet]

Crash ruined the joy of a console mascot for me.

[Evastio]

But Crash was really awesome.

Well, if you're talking about how Naughty Dog gave Crash away to some other company then I don't blame you for thinking that.

[Psychotic]

I've always found Nintendo's obsession with stuffing Mario into every damn game they make to be stupid. It's not like he's even especially likeable.

Also I wouldn't say that Crash Bandicoot was the PlayStation's mascot. He was one of them, sure, but there was also Lara Croft, Solid Snake, Abe, Cloud, Spyro, Gex, etc. etc.

Xbox 360 doesn't need a mascot unlike Nintendo's consoles. Nintendo's games are usually light-hearted party games that you can pick up and play and do so with a bunch of friends round your house. The 360 (and the PS3, really) is more of a serious console with deeper and more challenging games. It just doesn't suit party games like kart racing - that wouldn't be anywhere near as fun if you played it against faceless internet strangers.

[Bolivar]

It just doesn't suit party games like kart racing - that wouldn't be anywhere near as fun if you played it against faceless internet strangers.

It's amazing how one sentence can have so much to say.

I don't know, I think Nintendo definately has Mario (and Link), while XBox has Master Chief, Sony doesn't really because Crash and Spyro and Snake were all competing with so many great games, there really isn't that ONE definitive mascot from a game that every Sony gamer has played, not to mention Final Fantasy always has new characters with every game.

[Dr. Acula]

I love Sonic. I really do. BEST. MASCOT. EVER.

I consider the Master Chief to be Xbox's mascot.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

The only real mascot left is Mario. Sonic isn't so much anymore since Sega's not making their own consoles, but he's still being milked for a profit on multi platform releases. I think Sony initially tried to do the mascot thing with Crash when they were first getting into the console business since the two other successful console-based companies, Nintendo and Sega, had them as well. That didn't work out and they moved away from that. Xbox, to my recollection, has never even bothered trying.

[Madame Adequate]

I don't see how the Chief isn't the Box's mascot. He's easily as iconic and recognizable as the traditional mascots were/are. The Halo games have been singularly important for the XBox, and central to the 360.

Sony never really had one, I agree with Paul. There were quite a few characters that were big enough deals. I would say that the mascot should have been Sir Daniel Fortesque.

[KentaRawr!]

Mario isn't really a mascot anymore. He just happens to be in a load of games.

[Roto13]

He's still a mascot, but not to as much of an extent. Nintendo is focusing more on the whole Wii "x" games. I guess maybe the Miis are the new Nintendo mascots. :P

[Alucard von Elru]

Fact: Klonoa SHOULD have been the Playstation mascot, damnit. At least, any time I think on the PS1 days, Klonoa is certainly the first thing that pops into my mind as such. Probably just me, though.

Sony actually had a lot of potential mascots, but they definitely don't seem to care to actually have a "serious" cast at one.

For my money, Ryu would be the Xbox mascot if it weren't for that weird little "Sigma on PS3" thing.

[Roto13]

I would think, in order to be a console's mascot, a character would have to be first party. That's why it's so tough to nail down a Sony mascot. They have, like... three first party franchises and one of them doesn't have any characters in it.

[Dreddz]

Most consoles still has their mascots, I think your only defining them as mascots if there deformed cartoony characters like Sonic and Mario. I honestly dont get why consoles have to have a mascot. There only there because there being forced down our throats by companies. Both Nintendo and Microsoft plaster Mario and Master Chief everywhere. Its not like anyone really cares.

Oh, and the only reason why people cant lay their finger on a mascot for Sony is because Sony seem to be the only company not trying to have a mascot. Which is good because there not trying to put focus on any one franchise and therefore give all there games enough exposure. If I had to lay one on them it would be Kratos, God of War is developed by Sony and its a pretty amazing series.

[Evastio]

I've always found Nintendo's obsession with stuffing Mario into every damn game they make to be stupid. It's not like he's even especially likeable.

Most consoles still has their mascots, I think your only defining them as mascots if there deformed cartoony characters like Sonic and Mario.

Sheesh, you guys sure are being quite harsh.

Sure, there's nothing wrong with hating character mascots like Sonic and Mario, but you don't have to go insulting them like that.

[Roto13]

Mario is plenty likable, as evidenced by his immense popularity.