Super Mario Theorist - Road to Acceptance!

[Le Mario Bro]

Replace Super Mario Land for SMBDeluxe and Legend of Zelda for Bomberman, and you got the story of my life.

[ddshoeshowz]

What I'm confused about is the fact that, although Mario does well in marketability, the fanbase does not translate online.

[1up]

@dd
You know what I think the reason for that is, actually? I think it's because the majority of the Mario fanbase are unified and agree with one another. I hate to word it like this, but it seems that most popular forums are created based on the high probability that its members will argue about its content.

Just take a look at most Sonic forums. His fanbase is a divided and incomprehensible mess. This is due to the fluctuating quality of his games. This sparks arguments (and/or discussion) all the time, allowing the forums to be well-populated and constantly active.

Another example would be Transformers (a fanbase and forum that I actively partake in, specifically "tfw2005.com"). It has tons of series and continuities to compare and contrast. This causes debates among the community about which aspects are better than others. (Another reason why tfw2005.com is the most popular Transformers forum (which it is) is because it doubles as a news site, quickly delivering Transformers news before most other sources.)

But, when you look at the Mario fanbase, we're as mellow and accepting as ever. I think this is because we have a vague continuity and timeline, and because we've always been given consistently good Mario games. There's really nothing to argue about. This is why, in my opinion, there really aren't any big-name Mario forums.

[cheat-master30]

Dec 3, 2010 12:18:45 GMT -5 1up said:

@dd
You know what I think the reason for that is, actually? I think it's because the majority of the Mario fanbase are unified and agree with one another. I hate to word it like this, but it seems that most popular forums are created based on the high probability that its members will argue about its content.

Just take a look at most Sonic forums. His fanbase is a divided and incomprehensible mess. This is due to the fluctuating quality of his games. This sparks arguments (and/or discussion) all the time, allowing the forums to be well-populated and constantly active.

Another example would be Transformers (a fanbase and forum that I actively partake in, specifically "tfw2005.com"). It has tons of series and continuities to compare and contrast. This causes debates among the coomunity about which aspects are better than others. (Another reason why tfw2005.com is the most popular Transformers forum (which it is) is because it doubles as a news site, quickly delivering Transformers news before most other sources.)

But, when you look at the Mario fanbase, we're as mellow and accepting as ever. I think this is because we have a vague continuity and timeline, and because we've always been given consistently good Mario games. There's really nothing to argue about. This is why, in my opinion, there really aren't any big-name Mario forums.

That's an interesting point. So basically, the lack of bad games and problems means the Mario fandom is kinda quiet/dull compared to that of other series?

Then ago, maybe it's because bar these exceptions (warning, NSFW), we don't really have many morons in the Mario fandom. Or any crazy people to keep it interesting:

encyclopediadramatica.com/Waluigis-girl

encyclopediadramatica.com/345rv5

encyclopediadramatica.com/SigurdHosenfeld

encyclopediadramatica.com/Gallantmon8

(yay, we're one step above the ten million crazies apparently found in the Sonic fandom!)

But that is a point. Most of the Mario fandom bar maybe the above linked people tend to be kinda sane and content with the series to much of a degree. So discussion will kinda tend to be people politely stating their opinion and the topic dying down ten posts later.

I still think the vague timeline and lack of canon though kinda acts as almost poison to scarily obsessed nerds. You know, the kind of people who spend hours arguing over TV shows and other series must see the lack of coherency and the light hearted tone and think the series has nothing to discuss, or that it's too 'mainstream'.

[Koopalmier]

Some pages, wich contain pornography of some sort (it IS Encylopedia Dramatica), has been linked on this forum.
I'll bring the champagne after I've done washing my bloody nose and having some evil laughs from reading these articles.

I entirely agree with you. Mario fans are too normal. It's not fun. That's why this forum is great.

[1up]

Dec 3, 2010 12:34:31 GMT -5 cheat-master30 said:

I still think the vague timeline and lack of canon though kinda acts as almost poison to scarily obsessed nerds. You know, the kind of people who spend hours arguing over TV shows and other series must see the lack of coherency and the light hearted tone and think the series has nothing to discuss, or that it's too 'mainstream'.

Maybe if Mario was just conceived recently, that would be the case. But the Mario series has been around since the early '80s. People know what to expect from him. He's the most popular video game character of all-time. I'm at least 90% sure that his fanbase is far larger than Sonic's, Halo's, or even Zelda's.

Being 'mainstream' was never really an issue. He has a place in millions of peoples' hearts around the world.

[cheat-master30]

Dec 3, 2010 13:14:52 GMT -5 1up said:

Dec 3, 2010 12:34:31 GMT -5 cheat-master30 said:

I still think the vague timeline and lack of canon though kinda acts as almost poison to scarily obsessed nerds. You know, the kind of people who spend hours arguing over TV shows and other series must see the lack of coherency and the light hearted tone and think the series has nothing to discuss, or that it's too 'mainstream'.

Maybe if Mario was just conceived recently, that would be the case. But the Mario series has been around since the early '80s. People know what to expect from him. He's the most popular video game character of all-time. I'm at least 90% sure that his fanbase is far larger than Sonic's, Halo's, or even Zelda's.

Being 'mainstream' was never really an issue. He has a place in millions of peoples' hearts around the world.

The mainstream thing isn't an issue, but it does affect the fandom. Note how while there aren't a lot of forums dedicated to Mario as a series, there are hundreds of thousands, even millions of DeviantArt profiles, blog entries, random articles, news articles and forum discussions of the series. So as a result, Mario has less of a certain 'core' fandom which sticks together, and more of an audience in millions of people who are somewhat casual internet wise.

His fanbase is large, but it's spread quite far apart, which is probably a bit of a good thing as far as fan sanity goes. Sure, we don't have huge Mario specific forums and sites, but we also don't have as many crazy people who believe Mario characters are real on the astral plain or draw Mario character recolours/edits in crayon at the age of about 28. It stops lunatics giving the series a bad name.

[1up]

@cheat-master30
Hmmm. *strokes beard thoughtfully* Several good points, in a row.

[ddshoeshowz]

Dec 3, 2010 12:18:45 GMT -5 1up said:

@dd
You know what I think the reason for that is, actually? I think it's because the majority of the Mario fanbase are unified and agree with one another. I hate to word it like this, but it seems that most popular forums are created based on the high probability that its members will argue about its content.

Just take a look at most Sonic forums. His fanbase is a divided and incomprehensible mess. This is due to the fluctuating quality of his games. This sparks arguments (and/or discussion) all the time, allowing the forums to be well-populated and constantly active.

Another example would be Transformers (a fanbase and forum that I actively partake in, specifically "tfw2005.com"). It has tons of series and continuities to compare and contrast. This causes debates among the community about which aspects are better than others. (Another reason why tfw2005.com is the most popular Transformers forum (which it is) is because it doubles as a news site, quickly delivering Transformers news before most other sources.)

But, when you look at the Mario fanbase, we're as mellow and accepting as ever. I think this is because we have a vague continuity and timeline, and because we've always been given consistently good Mario games. There's really nothing to argue about. This is why, in my opinion, there really aren't any big-name Mario forums.

Hmm, that's an interesting theory. But I wonder why we don't see more fanart and celebration of the fandom!

I do have to admit, however, that there is a pretty robust fanfiction.net community and a Mario RP DeviantArt group (none of which I take a part of).

Maybe if Mario was just conceived recently, that would be the case. But the Mario series has been around since the early '80s. People know what to expect from him. He's the most popular video game character of all-time. I'm at least 90% sure that his fanbase is far larger than Sonic's, Halo's, or even Zelda's.

Maybe its the lack of a "cool" factor? Believe me, Mario kicks buttox, but he doesn't have that grungy, "bad-assery" feel that the other series go for.

I do know that a lot of gamers are attracted to the Mario series because they're nearly guaranteed good game play. And I think this is where the big distinction comes through. That is, people go for the gameplay and not the story.

As aforementioned, however, the distinction comes in the Mario RPG games (Paper Mario, Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi). I've noticed that, at least with these games, there is a larger traditional fanbase (fanart/writings/etc.)

Maybe Nintendo could take the franchise in that direction and perhaps find success? I don't know!

His fanbase is large, but it's spread quite far apart, which is probably a bit of a good thing as far as fan sanity goes. Sure, we don't have huge Mario specific forums and sites, but we also don't have as many crazy people who believe Mario characters are real on the astral plain or draw Mario character recolours/edits in crayon at the age of about 28. It stops lunatics giving the series a bad name.

Very, very true. Although, I wish that people would obsess like this over good franchises rather than repeatedly failing ones *cough*Sonic*cough*.

Also, I see in your signature that you are the writer for Waluigious, and I just wanted to commend you on constantly providing insightful commentary not only to this post, or forum, but in the Mario fandom at large.

Hmmm. *strokes beard thoughtfully* Several good points, in a row.

Agreed. *strokes naked chin thoughtfully*

Did you grow your beard out for no shave November?

[1up]

Dec 3, 2010 15:35:27 GMT -5 ddshoeshowz said:

Agreed. *strokes naked chin thoughtfully*

Is it bad that I did a double-take when I first read this, before I actually got it...? >_>

[Le Mario Bro]

Get your head out of the gutters, 1-up.

[cheat-master30]

Maybe its the lack of a "cool" factor? Believe me, Mario kicks buttox, but he doesn't have that grungy, "bad-assery" feel that the other series go for.

However, this does have a downside. It's likely why many social outcasts tend to be Sonic fans, because the series has the exact kind of atmosphere which makes them think of how they wish they could be, and the exact kind of characters they can identify with. TLDR: Geeks and loners tend to identify with overly moody, negative characters with a somewhat kid friendly definition of 'cool' and hence the Sonic fandom tends to draw people who aren't quite there sanity wise.

Like Chris Chan. Still, the Mario series having more fans online would be good, the big problem is getting more of the current fans to join communities and post online.

The 'identifiability' part might also be why Luigi has more fans than Mario online, because Luigi is the closest character in the series bar the villains to the personality of many 'geeks' or nerds in general. The ensemble darkhorse Just Bugs Me page at TV Tropes might sum up most of the love towards him quite well:

when you watched a TV series or a movie, who are you more likely to relate to - the The Hero who has dozens of best friends and becomes friends with his enemies, or the guy who's happy to just keep to himself and mind his own business?

Maybe it's because most online community fandom members are kinda... the quiet, somewhat not particularly social kind of people that makes them tend to me more attracted to fandoms other than Mario? That and maybe it's because Mario heavily has Black and White morality, it's very much idealised as far as morality goes with a strict hero and villain dynamic, hence might be a bit offputting to somewhat negative and overly cynical 'geeks' and teens in general.

I do know that a lot of gamers are attracted to the Mario series because they're nearly guaranteed good game play. And I think this is where the big distinction comes through. That is, people go for the gameplay and not the story.

True, kinda like myself to much of a degree.

Very, very true. Although, I wish that people would obsess like this over good franchises rather than repeatedly failing ones *cough*Sonic*cough*.

Not sure what to say, other than maybe we wouldn't want said people to be Mario fans. Some of these people would just kill the reputation of the fandom. Do we want to be as infamous as Sonic's fandom, or maybe the Fallout fandom?

Also, I see in your signature that you are the writer for Waluigious, and I just wanted to commend you on constantly providing insightful commentary not only to this post, or forum, but in the Mario fandom at large.

Thank you. Glad someone appreciates my articles/posts, although Artemendo is still the main writer at Waluigious.

My advice to anyone, especially after seeing Artemendo's recent comment over there is to reply to the unpopular articles, because it'd definitely cheer up the staff somewhat.

[Le Mario Bro]

Dec 3, 2010 21:27:19 GMT -5 cheat-master30 said:

Not sure what to say, other than maybe we wouldn't want said people to be Mario fans. Some of these people would just kill the reputation of the fandom. Do we want to be as infamous as Sonic's fandom, or maybe the Fallout fandom?

Further Proof: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fErn-W0e4NA

[SMBBQ]

@cheat-master30: You really do bring up good points, but I'd argue against this;

"Maybe it's because most online community fandom members are kinda... the quiet, somewhat not particularly social kind of people that makes them tend to me more attracted to fandoms other than Mario? That and maybe it's because Mario heavily has Black and White morality, it's very much idealised as far as morality goes with a strict hero and villain dynamic, hence might be a bit offputting to somewhat negative and overly cynical 'geeks' and teens in general."

That's kinda faulty, as I'm really non-social IRL, yet the Mario series draws me in more than any other. Of course, that's just me.

EDIT: While we're linking/referencing Encyclopedia Dramatica articles, I'd just like to point out one that you'll all like. He used to frequent DK Vine, but now he's infamous all over the net. He took being a DK fan too far...

Losttrap: encyclopediadramatica.com/Losttrap

[ddshoeshowz]

However, this does have a downside. It's likely why many social outcasts tend to be Sonic fans, because the series has the exact kind of atmosphere which makes them think of how they wish they could be, and the exact kind of characters they can identify with. TLDR: Geeks and loners tend to identify with overly moody, negative characters with a somewhat kid friendly definition of 'cool' and hence the Sonic fandom tends to draw people who aren't quite there sanity wise.

Like Chris Chan. Still, the Mario series having more fans online would be good, the big problem is getting more of the current fans to join communities and post online.

The 'identifiability' part might also be why Luigi has more fans than Mario online, because Luigi is the closest character in the series bar the villains to the personality of many 'geeks' or nerds in general. The ensemble darkhorse Just Bugs Me page at TV Tropes might sum up most of the love towards him quite well:

I don't have much more to add to this than, I COMPLETELY AGREE! This is the most thought out and best conclusion on the matter I could think of.