GameFAQs Contests
Contest Stats and Discussion - Part 314
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| LeonhartForever | Posted 7/14/2006 6:19:43 PM | message detail |
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2. Yay for having every Nintendo character in the game AND in the pic! Once again, I think there's a bit more to it than that. Having a lot of Final Fantasy characters in it isn't going to give Kingdom Hearts instant success. Oh, it certainly helps, but it's still got a way to go in that regard. --- SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Roxas, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden |
| KamikazePotato | Posted 7/14/2006 6:22:18 PM | message detail |
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You still haven't said why said mentality won't hurt any of the series in the contest. --- Angsty_Lou: Everything has a sexual connotation if you just look long and hard enough. Theo72: U SED LONG AND HARD LOL |
| LeonhartForever | Posted 7/14/2006 6:24:26 PM | message detail |
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I'm not saying it doesn't hurt because we've seen that mentality even
from some fans (Halo fans in the Castlevania match, for example), but I
think the lack of diversity that results from being a small series hurts more than just being a two-game series. There's a subtle difference there. --- SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Roxas, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 6:30:06 PM | message detail |
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Why I will lose faith in Sonic if Mega Man loses this match. 1.) I'm thinking Mega Man's games are probably on par with Sonic's, and at the worst slightly weaker. This is due to Sonic being consistently weaker than Mega Man (though admittedly more or less dead-even as of last year). Both share their names with the names of their games, Sonic is actually *in* all of his games while Classic Mega Man is only in so many (X being in the X series, and so forth), making it far more likely that the difference in their strength stems from the popularity of their games. As for those that say Mega Man will only mean the 'Classic' series to the voters, and that having the X series earlier will entrench this in the voters' minds...are you trying to tell me that the character Mega Man gets none of his contest strength from the X series, and that if X were in the contest that he would become magically weaker? That's wrong, you're wrong, go away. 2.) As far as I'm concerned, SSB > Mario Kart. No I don't have any real motivation for reasoning for this outside of common sense, you can toss all the "old-school" cred Mario Kart has and the number of games at me until the cows come home. People simply care more about SSB, and I'd be willing to stake a ton on that. --- Commit it to memory. |
| steve illumina | Posted 7/14/2006 6:35:45 PM | message detail |
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2 1/2 hours til the last great Round 1 Match begins...wow! The only match where I love both series equally...a shame one of these has to lose when junk like Pokemon is in the Sweet 16... Meanwhile FF is amazing eh? Making Diablo look like the "Its so 5 yrs ago" game it really is! --- Steve Illumina: Sage of Board 8, Hated by Fanbabies, Loved by the Masses. Score: 13-0. Next Win: Mega Man! |
| THEJackSparrow | Posted 7/14/2006 6:37:18 PM | message detail |
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People simply care more about SSB, and I'd be willing to stake a ton on that. And how I wish that were not so. --- "...And then they made me their chief." - Captain Jack Sparrow |
| Slowflake | Posted 7/14/2006 6:51:15 PM | message detail |
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IIRC Slowflake didn't reject any brackets this time. This time? More like ever. And you know, I would've accepted a bracket with Diablo over FF if the rest didn't look like a blatant joke. Just look at all the **** I let through last summer. Conker over Megaman? Check. Big Boss over Auron? Check. KoaC taking his four-pack? Check. KoaC taking his DIVISION? Check. Sora, Dante and Conker in the Final 4? Check. Snake winning the main bracket? Check. --- Mario's not fun btw and only sells on nostalgia. I mean, you're just walking from one side of a level to the other at a tenth of Sonic's speed... -vego |
| Tatsumaki Senpuu | Posted 7/14/2006 6:58:00 PM | message detail |
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Snake winning the main bracket? Check. He was a couple of years too early it seems! --- "Building the future and keeping the past alive are one in the same thing." -- Solid Snake |
| Slowflake | Posted 7/14/2006 7:00:47 PM | message detail |
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That's not my point. Even this year some really dumb picks got through. Suikoden for instance. I'm tired of constantly telling people to look at the whole picture instead of just individual picks. And I have Asperger's, for crissakes, I'm not supposed to be good at looking at the whole picture. --- Mario's not fun btw and only sells on nostalgia. I mean, you're just walking from one side of a level to the other at a tenth of Sonic's speed... -vego |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 7:25:00 PM | message detail |
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Pic is up! Well not really, but I hope it is soon. --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:32:24 PM | message detail |
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Ultima Division: Round 1 - Match 14 – (4)Mega Man vs. (5)Mario Kart Moltar’s Analysis Mega Man No, not the X series. This is the Classic Mega Man series. This is the Mega Man that we always see in match pics. There’s a Mega Man 8, and also a bunch of spin-off series and whatnot keeping the Blue Bomber alive. Mario Kart The Mario Kart series is one of my favorite Mario spin-off series. Mario Kart DS was recent released, joining the ranks of the other popular Mario Kart games such as 64 and Super Circuit. MATCH OF ROUND 1 RIGHT HERE FOLKS!! Alright, when I first saw this match in the bracket, I didn’t think much of it. Mega Man wins, move on to the next match. However, once I saw people confused over this match, I decided to take a second look. I then saw what was so hard about this match, and that I couldn’t just count out the Mario Kart franchise because, well, it’s huge. Mario Kart has had a presence on pretty much all of Nintendo’s big consoles. They also sell very well and are looked at as fun games. Mario Kart 64, Double Dash, and even the handheld ones like Super Circuit and DS are hits. Behind the SSB series, Mario Kart could be the next strongest Mario spin-off. Also like SSB, most Mario fans like the series. You’d be hard-pressed to find a group of people that like the Mario series, but hate Mario Kart (lol Ulti), so definitely expect it to show some strength. Then on the other hand, there’s Mega Man. Now, if you ask most people who picked Mega Man why they did, they’ll either respond with something like, “Well, Mega Man does well in the Contests, and he has to draw his strength from somewhere, right?” or “If all the Mega Man fans, X included, vote for the Classic series, it’s sure to win.” There’s something wrong with that though. Since Mega Man X is it’s own entry, would fans be picky enough to vote for the X series, but not the Classic? Or perhaps vote the X series over Mario Kart, but Mario Kart over the Classic series. However, since the Contest has started, a better argument could be built for Mega Man. We saw with Castlevania that a series that is older and has spanned on several consoles fares better over a new, very popular series. Of course, Mario Kart is no Halo, but the Mega Man series is older and has more games to draw its strength from. What I’m saying is, Mario Kart is strong, and Mega Man is most likely going to need the backing of the whole Mega Man franchise to win. Will he get all that backing? My bracket says yes, but I’m not sure myself. This is the one match where I’m not confident in either side, but I’m going to stick with my guns and say Mega Man will win in a close one. Moltar’s Bracket Says: Mega Man will win. Moltar’s Prediction is: Mega Man: 51% - Mario Kart: 49% Ulti’s Analysis I fear this match for two reasons. One, this "Mario Kart is a side series" BS is nonsense. Mario Kart has a very real chance at winning this thing. But on the other end, a killing by Mega Man may mean that Sonic is due to destroy Smash Brothers. This is one of those "tread lightly" deals, and this match has me torn on Sonic/Smash more than Sonic/Smash itself does. At any rate... I'm sure other Crew members have eons of text and stats about why they think their pick will win, but I'm taking the much simpler route. The name "Mega Man" is going to encompass every single one of Mega Man's games with voters. No one is going to go "Zomg MMX is in the contest this isn't a part of teh Mega Man lolzorz". Mario Kart is going to be damn strong, but I think Mega Man will be stronger. If Mega Man can avoid potential Nintendo SFF, it should win this. It might even win it easily. Prediction: MM with 56.25% |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:32:43 PM | message detail |
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Soul’s Analysis Here we go. The big round 1 match. Hell, probably the biggest match in the contest. Mega Man is legendary, no doubt about that. I believe the character has appeared in more games then anyone else. He has a huge repetoire of games at his disposal, along with many different features and weapons. He is also part of the noble nine, which means that the character is very strong. We've never seen any Mega Man game in any contest, and that's mostly because the fanbase can't decide which one to rally for. Mario Kart is different. It is Mario's third biggest series (after the platformer and SSB). It also has had no representation in the games contest, although many predict that any of the MK games could be pretty strong. So basically, this looks like a very good match, but Mega Man should win it. Well, I don't believe that. Sure, it is going to be a good match. Maybe even great. But the fact is, I think that Mario Kart is going to kick Mega Man's butt. Mega Man will definitely be strong. Some people will think that this encompasses every Mega Man game out, so it will garner all those votes. But really, when it comes down to it, MM will only be as strong as it's top games. MM2, MM3, MM4 (I never played a MM game, so just going by popular consensus), MMX2, MMX4 and whatever else is popular. The reason why MK will win though is because almost every MK game is as popular as those MM games, and some are even more popular. MK64 would be able to defeat every MM game there, in my opinion. Mario Kart also has the added benifit of being more consistent and more current. Yes, I know that MMrandomletter(s) are still coming out every two/three weeks, but they're barely talked about at all. Mega Man's strength comes from the SNES and NES, and perhaps the PS. Mario Kart could syphon a lot of those SNES votes because of the SNES MK game. It also has very popular games on N64, Gamecube and the DS. I could go into game sales and what not, but there is no need. Mario Kart is still being talked about to this day. It's still very popular amongst voters, and therefore that's why I believe it's going to win. My prediction: Mario Kart wins with 50.57% of the vote. Leon’s Analysis Here it is, perhaps the most debated and split match of the entire contest. Upon my first glance at the bracket, Mega Man seemed like the obvious choice, but after having some time to think about it, this one became deceptively tricky. Some people were quick to dismiss Mario Kart because it was just a “side series,” but it’s just as much of a side series as Super Smash Brothers is, and I doubt many people on this board would consider taking Mega Man over that series. And perhaps it wasn’t so much that Mario Kart is a side series as it was facing the series of a Noble Niner, the Mega Man Classic. However, there are a few things to consider: 1. The Classic Mega Man series has been defunct for years (since 1997, to be exact) and has since moved on to other series. Perhaps the release of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection has helped to counteract this, but maybe not. 2. While Mega Man has had his fair share of releases—an understatement, to be sure—most of them haven’t had stellar sales numbers. While sales numbers aren’t indicative of strength, as we have well established in the past, this is something to consider when compared to the massive success EVERY Mario Kart has enjoyed. |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:33:25 PM | message detail |
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3. No Mega Man game appeared in the Games Contest and no Mega Man game
appeared on the GameFAQs Top 100 List. This is a tentative point, but
at least something worth mentioning. The fanbase split could account
for the absence in each case, as well as no Mega Man game on the
drop-down list for the Top 100 List. I really wonder why there wasn’t
at least ONE on the list. That doesn’t make any sense. 4. There is the possibility that Mega Man Classic isn’t even the favorite variation of the series. There is a semi-recent poll (compared to OTHER favorites polls anyway) which shows Mega Man X as the favorite version. This also brings into question one other thing: While Mega Man as a character is of Noble Nine quality, just how much of that is the result of the Classic series? It’s tough to argue that ALL of it comes from that, even if all we ever see is Blue Bomber in match pictures. There is also the slight possibility (which seems to be what a lot of Mega Man supporters are banking on) that the voters will pool together every series under one label, even if it’s only supposed to be Classic. I think that’s basically what it has to rely on to win this match. While we have yet to see anything Mario Kart in a contest, it’s really hard to deny that the series will have a measure of strength. The sales numbers speak for themselves. It’s probably the most popular “side series” ever in that regard, to the point where it’s hard just to consider it a side series. Mario Kart 64 was one of the top selling games period for the Nintendo 64. It’s a game that just about everybody can enjoy (well, except for Ulti), even people who aren’t regular gamers. It’s a game you can just pick up and have fun with, no matter who’s playing. However, the one question I have about Mario Kart is this: While it is a universally liked series, how many have it as a “favorite?” I know I do, but anecdotal evidence isn’t exactly the best to go by. It seems to be more of a casual enjoyment kind of thing, but I don’t really know. I really wanted to be stubborn and stick with my Mega Man pick in my bracket, but the more I’ve thought about it, the more things seem to be in Mario Kart’s favor. I think this match could swing either way, however. It’s not an easy call. Leonhart’s Prediction: Mario Kart with 51.04% HM’s Analysis Ah, yes, we finally get to what is arguably the biggest match of the first round. Like many other hotly debated matches, Mega Man/Mario Kart falls under the “one point” deal in that you only have to worry about losing one point here – the next opponent is the contest winner so this is understandable. Regardless, it does not stop people from bickering and arguing like it were the entire division resting on this match – and it would be much cooler if that were the case (I’m always up for the Blue Bomber winning divisions). Even with all the debate, however, it would seem that most of the board members are siding with Capcom’s number one franchise, at least according to the BOP, which has a 77 – 36 split. As for myself, I’m clearly one who resides in the Mega Man Camp. It’s a familiar camp that I have grown used to over the years, so let’s get to explaining by the Blue Bomber and co. will be blasting Mario Kart right out of the contest. |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:34:09 PM | message detail |
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I think – more than any other franchise – that Mega Man truly benefits
from being put under one singular title to vote for. The biggest snub
from the Spring 2004 Contest was undoubtedly a Mega Man game; it was
downright shocking to see not one Mega Man game present with so many
titles that he has under his belt…but that’s just the problem. There
are so many Mega Man games and a large number of them are so good that
it is hard for people to decide upon a singular game to push into a
contest environment. It is quite true that this particular “Mega Man”
does not encompass the entire series; rather, it just focuses on the
original part of the franchise (Mega Man 1 – 8), not the X series or
Battle Network series or the Zero series. However, it is well known
that the classic Mega Man series is the second most popular series of
the entire group. Mario Kart … well, what can be said? It perhaps the most successful spin-off series of all-time from any company and any series; all of the games in the series go on to sell over a million copies in America. Mario Kart is easily accessible to a wide range of people and has no restrictions on who can enjoy it. There is no pure simulation (Gran Turismo) nor purposely trying to crash and cause destruction (Burnout); instead, it focuses on the standard “race around the track” with a hint of chaos from the various items like shells, lightning bolts, and so forth. It is certainly not going to be a weak franchise, especially on a site that has such a favor toward Nintendo products, but it still isn’t necessarily going to be a powerhouse … What truly makes this match hard is that we have no previous data on Mario Kart or Mega Man – character contests not included. There are no polls that are dedicated to either series in such a manner that shows that people prefer one over the other or that one is a clear favorite for this match. Some people believe that Mario Kart is more more now than any Mega Man title, and there is some truth to this. Mega Man as sad as it is, is no longer the gaming powerhouse nor retains the quality that the franchise once had. But, the fact that the series isn’t as good as it used to be shouldn’t stop it from performing like the beast it has always been. I don’t think ‘What have you done for me recently?’ is going to apply here very much. These are both old school franchises that have become so well established that how they are recently should not affect them negatively. After all, this is a match with a series that has most of its roots on the NES. It remains arguable as to whether or not Mega Man Classic is the strongest of the Mega Man series, but a poll taken not too long shows that Mega Man X is the more preferred series, though MMC is not far behind. http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=1834 Some people may not agree, but I really don’t think people are necessarily going to be voting with only one series in mind. If someone is voting for “Mega Man X,” they may just include the X games since those will initially pop into their head. But are they going to neglect the rest of the franchise? I don’t think so. I think you are going to have a number of people voting based on their liking of Mega Man as a whole, especially in this match. As of now, we have no indication that CJayC is going to bother clarifying whether or not it’ll have “(Classic)” or “(Original)” beside it. We have seen him do it in that poll, but it isn’t specified in the bracket. If it isn’t that may even further reinforce the idea of Mega Man being voted on by those who like all the games, as opposed to just the original. Even if it is, I can’t imagine people only voting based on the liking of the original games. You have to think that people are going to vote with more games in mind than that. People are not going to ignore “Final Fantasy Tactics” just because it didn’t make it; they’ll likely just vote for it as if it were apart of “Final Fantasy.” |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:34:37 PM | message detail |
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Furthermore, I think Mega Man does have to get his
popularity from somewhere. A case can be made that people would like a
character like Sonic based upon his character personality and attitude,
but the same case cannot be made for Rock, who is has no stand out
personality or attitude that makes him likable apart from his games.
He, more than anything else, encompasses the entire series into one.
When you see Mega Man performing in the contest, you’re seeing the
series at its best, at least I think so. While the original Mega Man
may not be that strong, it doesn’t need to be in order to
overcome Mario Kart. Mario Kart is undoubtedly popular, but I have my
doubts on how much people care for the series to the point of
having it as a favorite. We all enjoy Mario Kart, but I have trouble
believing that it is held in high regard with people. It’s a fun series
and not much else; it’s not exactly “favorite” material. If asked the question, “Would you take an original Mega Man game over a Mario Kart game?” To that, I would answer “Yes.” I believe Mega Man 2, or Mega Man 3, would be able to contend well with whatever Mario Kart game you want to throw out there. It may not win, but the match should be given just as much attention as this match is being given. Mega Man is a huge favorite amongst gamers; this should really be no surprise. Some might think it’s crazy to think a Mega Man game could match any Mario Kart game, but I have no clue why one would feel that way. Just because a series is large in quantity does not mean it lacks quality or attention. Mega Man was an NES icon right up there with Mario. Both were rulers of the roost back in the day, and both were insanely popular. Initially, only a few people played Mega Man, but word of mouth caught on and you have most of the most popular and classic gaming character/franchises in the game industry today. Is Mario Kart a weak slouch? No, not at all. This match should be close because Mario Kart does carry plenty of strength with its name. It is a fun little series that remains exceptionally popular to this day, but while we all enjoy Mario Kart games, I have a hard time believing that many people look at it as a “favorite.” I think Mega Man is definitely going to take this one, and I have never thought otherwise. The series is classic, the series has plenty of entries, and it is the source of the Blue Bomber’s popularity. You can expect Mega Man to perform well in this match and bow out respectively to Final Fantasy in the following round. Aitch Emm’s Bracket Says : Mega Man will win. Aitch Emm’s Prediction : Mega Man 53% -- Mario Kart 47% Aitch Emm’s Vote : Mega Man. Yoblazer’s Analysis After two big upsets, it's almost difficult to believe that this was easily the most debated match of the contest. Brackets will be broken. Gurus will be eliminated. People will be a-whinin'. All because of one humble little first round match. From what we've seen so far, it is clear that people are favoring the old and established over the youthful and unproven. Most would argue that because of this, things are looking pretty good for Mega Man. I'd agree, but let's delve into this one a little further. |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:35:10 PM | message detail |
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So far, which series have been the most disappointing? Up until this
point (about five hours into Sonic/Devil May Cry), I think the answer
is clear. Halo. Grand Theft Auto. Devil May Cry. What is the grand
consensus as to why they've all really stunk it up? Simply put, it's
because they lack credibility and age. They're up-and-comers. They're
new, untested, and have not had the time and exposure necessary to
really build that emotional connection with the voter. Sure, they're
popular now, but were they popular then? GTA wasn't. Halo and Devil May
Cry sure weren't. Mario Kart was. I've heard some recent talk that
Mario Kart will suffer the same fate as those disappointing series, and
I must wonder why. The series began in 1992. It's been around longer
than Pokemon and almost as long as Sonic. Pardon the terrible pun, but
Mario Kart has gone around the track a few times. Wait... it was a
brilliant pun! Analysis over! My prediction: Mario Kart def. Mega Man (75-25) Alright, maybe a bit more. To deny the claim that Mario Kart has garnered quite the fanbase over the years is very bold, to say the very least. The series has had a multi-million selling title on every major Nintendo system (console and handheld, mind you) since the Super Nintendo. Do you know how many other series have done that? Mario, Zelda, and nothing else. Nice company. Actually, Zelda doesn't have that million-seller on the DS just yet. Hmm... looks like it's just Mario and Mario Kart. Once again, nice company. Sales and fanbase potential is all well and good, but how has the series fared on GameFAQs? Unfortunately, Mario Kart has never had any true contest representation. There are no exclusive Mario Kart characters, and none of its games made it into the Spring 2004 bracket. Of course, we can use other pieces of evidence to help us along. Super Mario Kart, the lone Mario Kart game on the Top 100 drop down list, ranked in as GameFAQs' 61st favorite game. Not great, but not bad; at least it made the list, after all. Also, Mario Kart DS had a very impressive showing in the 2005 GOTY polls, edging out God of War and proving to be this site's second favorite game of the year. No other handheld title had ever done so well in our annual polls. To me, that was a central bit of evidence: if a handheld Mario Kart title could beat something as critically acclaimed as God of War, just what could the console games do? It intrigued me, and I decided to take the risk. I think that's enough talk about Mario Kart, however, because everyone here should know that this match rests with Mega Man's potential. After Pokemon and Kirby, it's apparent that voting trends in this contest are much different than in any character contest, so the whole "People will see Mega Man and vote for it even if they only like the character" argument is pretty much trashed. However, if people perceive Mega Man to be not just the classic NES games, but all of the newer titles, spin-offs, and the legend that they embody, then Mario Kart is in some serious trouble. If people see Mega Man and think "Mega Man X" or "Mega Man Battle Network" or "Mega Man Zero" or hell, "Mega Man Soccer," then Mario Kart is in some serious trouble. However, if people view "Mega Man" as just the classic games, that is, six NES titles and one SNES title, then Mario Kart has some room to breathe. Do I think that that will happen? Honestly, I wouldn't bet on it. For all my debating and account betting, I still think (as I have since the start) Mega Man is the favorite. However, we've already seen the second and third most debated matches of this opening round go to the underdogs. May as well make it three for three. =) |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:35:43 PM | message detail |
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Mega Man + HOLY **** THOUSANDS OF GAMES (potentially) + Age + Credibility up the wazoo - No SotN or WoW to anchor it - His classic games alone may not do the trick Mario Kart + Several high selling, popular (potentially) games + Age + More credibility than people are giving it credit for + Established a genre - Very little contest/poll history - Spinoff status just might hurt it - SSB might have stolen some of its thunder My prediction: Mario Kart def. Mega Man (53-47) Mnm’s Analysis Battle Music: Mega Man 2 Boss Theme Finally! The match of the first round! Okay, when you first look at this match and see Mega Man vs. Mario Kart, you’d probably think that Mega Man would easily take a Mario side series. Think again. I guess people automatically think that since Mega Man is such a popular character that his game series must also be popular. Nope. I’ll repeat. Games are on a totally different spectrum than characters. Mega Man games are nowhere near being as close to the top games as Mega Man is close to the top characters. That’s one thing that you must think about before you really consider this match. I’ll break down Mega Man and point out a few things that will probably hold it back in this match. First, there’s the presence of Mega Man X in this contest. There is a split in the Mega Man fanbase, and as polls have shown, Mega Man X is the favorite Mega Man series on this site. Zero’s contest strength is evidence of that. People may assume that fans of the Mega Man X series would also vote for Mega Man. That is definitely not true. Maybe against fodder that nobody cares about, but definitely not against a series as popular as Mario Kart. The Mega Man X series has definitely gathered its own separate fanbase. As I stated before, Mega Man X was the SNES Mega Man game. Sure a couple more classic Mega Man released, but by that time, Mega Man X had already established itself as the alpha male in the Mega Man series. Most fans Mega Man gained since the SNES days are probably X fans. So with the X series present in the contest, voters most likely will not see Mega Man as an embodiment of the entire series. If Mega Man had its match first, then maybe you might get some people that think that, but with Mega Man X having an early match and already being established as a separate series in this contest, that won’t happen. It’s not like voters vote blindly each and every day. There’s a reason why contest vote totals are always much higher than normal polls. Voters are aware that there is a contest going on, and many follow along what’s happening. They will know that Mega Man is a separate entity in this contest. Ceej will probably make it apparent in the match, maybe labeling it Mega Man (classic), and giving it a match pic with Mega Man, Dr. Wily, and some Robot Masters to let voters know they are voting on the classic series. And when it comes to the classic series, what games are really popular? MM2, MM3, and… what? Sure, the games as a whole make the series pretty popular… but I don’t think that matters when it’s facing Mario Kart. “But Mario Kart is just a side series!” No, Mario Kart is the granddaddy of Mario side series. Hell, Mario Kart has been around longer than half the series in this contest. It has done plenty to establish itself as a popular brand of gaming over the course of its 14 years. It has sold millions across multiple Nintendo systems. When you look at sales on every system that has Mario Kart, you usually see Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda, and then everything else. Yes, Mario Kart games sell more than even Zelda games. Mario Kart: Double Dash would probably be the highest selling game ON the Gamecube had SSBM not gotten such a head start on it. Mario Kart definitely has a very large fanbase to draw from. |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:36:19 PM | message detail |
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But I won’t simply use sales as my argument on why I think Mario Kart
takes this. Let’s talk about its popularity. Mario Kart’s general
popularity among gamers is uncanny. Anybody
can pick it up and have fun with it. Casuals, hardcore gamers, kids,
girlfriends… the series appeals to almost everybody. It doesn’t have
one single defining game like SSBM that is a huge favorite, but it
definitely has widespread popularity. Even then, I still say that Mario
Kart 64 would have done some heavy damage in the games contest.
Plus, we’ve also seen how popular Mario Kart DS is among gamers on this
site. Being a handheld game, runner-up to RE4 for game of the year is
actually pretty impressive. I personally think Mario Kart DS
reestablished the popularity of the series. Had MKDS not been released,
I would have thought harder about this match. But yeah, I acknowledge that Mega Man is a popular character on this site. But like Kirby, I think his popularity is due to being a face of the video game industry for so long. I don’t think his games are really that popular, especially if you’re talking about only the classic series. And even then, it’s not fair to use the strength of Mega Man the character because there is no one character that defines the Mario Kart series. I also reiterate that being a side series will mean little in this match. Remember, this is a site that had Final Fantasy Tactics nearly take down Metal Gear Solid, and that has SSBM as one of the most popular games on the site overall. Even Super Mario RPG ended up being pretty strong, and I definitely think Mario Kart is more popular over all than SMRPG. I wouldn’t take any Mega Man game over SMRPG. Bracket: Mario Kart Vote: Mario Kart Prediction: Mario Kart with 55% HaRRich’s Analysis Predicted winner: Mario Kart Top 100 List comparison: ---MM - N/A (had no games on the drop-down list) ---SMK - #61 Best Game Ever x-stat comparison: ---MM - N/A (no rep) ---MK - N/A (no rep) I fear this match. I loathe this match. I host the board where this match was first discussed -- long before the bracket was released. Thanks for checking out the RAP board, CJay. =P Ah, if only he really did check out the board...but, anyway, yes, this match gives me the heeby-jeebies. What I'm going to do for this match is simply give the pros and cons of picking each series because there's a great case for each. You already know I picked Mario Kart, so, here goes..... MEGA MAN: + Its name could easily be taken as being the entire Mega Man series. + Mega Man is a Noble Niner who has made the Final Four three times, everytime with classic MM pictures. + Mega Man has to get his strength from somewhere. - Its picture may make people realize it's just the original games. - MMX's presence in the bracket may make some voters aware it's not the entire MM series on the line. - Link has SFF'd Mega Man hard before, and Mario arguably SFF'd Zero. - We have never seen a Mega Man game in a bracket or list. - Its age may hinder it. Not just the original series, but the age of the gap between now and when people last cared about new Mega Man games. |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 7:37:08 PM | message detail |
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MARIO KART: + It's Mario, the king of Nintendo, in his most popular side-series. + MK64 is likely a good deal more popular than SMK, and SMK was #61 on the Top 100 List. + Every MK game has sold 1,000,000+ copies (I hear). + MKDS was the runner-up for GotY last year. + One could argue that Mario's side-series is the reason why Yoshi did so well in both of the Mario-polls... - ...yet Mega Man SFF'd Yoshi last year. - It's still a side-series; one should be cautious about letting it come too close to SMB's popularity so it doesn't get over-rated. - A racing series -- even a light-hearted party-kart series like this -- over classic platforming is risky. - Mario Kart 64 lacked Koopa Troopa, which was perhaps the biggest flaw the N64 ever saw. Mario Kart wins with 51.12% Lopen’s Analysis This is a hotly debated match, but I think Mario Kart is being overhyped. Yes, it is a popular series, but like Sonic, it lacks the truly "big gun" it needs, but I'd say to an even greater extent. Sure, plenty like Mario Kart, but it's just not a favorite. You may think I'm being harsh when I say this, but in a lot of ways I think Mario Kart might be sort of like the Pac-Man of the series contest. Able to do decently well against many, but if against a favorite with a similar old school appeal, it could just totally collapse. And I think it will. I'm trying to stay away from the character/series comparisons when I can, but I've just gotta here. There was a character battle match in the last contest, Mega Man/Yoshi. You remember that one, right? Mega Man would not take any of Yoshi's crap, Mega Man got equipped with blow the **** out of Yoshi… beam… and doubled Yoshi in votes. Why do I bring this up? Because Yoshi is the perennial favorite of the Mario Kart series. Not really a huge factor in the pro Mega Man argument, but it can't hurt. (a grim omen!) Mario Kart supporters in this match tend to have the belief that Mega Man will not get votes from voters who like the Mega Man X series. I don't believe this will be the case. It might lose some votes, but I don't think it's going to be all or even most of the Mega Man X fans. Why? A couple of reasons: 1. Many voters don't pay that much attention to the contests. Based on the outcome of the various "got your bracket in yet?" polls, I'd guess somewhere between a third and a half of the website's daily voting pool doesn't vote in every match. There's a variance of who shows up from day to day. Many voters won't even have seen the Mega Man X match, and would almost certainly treat MMX as part of the series if this is the case, it's the natural thing to do. 2. Of the voters that do pay attention, how many are really going to analyze their pick? Instinctively, when you think of the idea of Mega Man, how many of you can honestly say that Zero things about Mega Man X enter your mind? Average voter will not pause and say "whoa whoa, Mega Man X4 was awesome, but I'd better not vote Mega Man because of it! Mega Man X had its chance and that would be wrong!". I think the votes in this contest will largely come down to "favorite game from either series?", because of instinctive voting. And because Mario Kart does not seem to generally be a favorite among the people, Mega Man will suck the votes away. Mega Man 2, Mega Man 3, Mega Man X, even MM5 and MMX2, X3, and X4 to a lesser extent. They're all big time. If I were guaranteed that all voters would vote only because of the Mega Man series alone, I might struggle with this one a bit, but Mega Man X will have an influence, and it'll push Mega Man over the top here. Lopen's Prediction: Mega Man with 60.18% Comments: For the first time this Contest, the Crew is split on a match. 5 have Mario Kart, 4 have Mega Man. Winning side gets bragging rights! |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 7:38:41 PM | message detail |
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Though to give me some last second hope, there is one thing Mega Man
likely has that Mario Kart doesn't that could give it the edge -- it is
far more likely to be the absolute favorite series of a given
voter...rather than the Mario Kart series which tends to be very
well-liked, but rarely a number one thing. Being a far bigger number
one favorite likely saved Snake against Bowser, helped Squall keep it
so close with Vincent, and allows FFVII to apparently SFF practically
every game under the sun. Yeah, I don't even know if what I said makes
any sense, but there ya go. --- Commit it to memory. |
| LeonhartForever | Posted 7/14/2006 7:39:17 PM | message detail |
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Well, I said the same thing in my write-up, so I know what you're talking about. --- SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Roxas, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden |
| KingBartz | Posted 7/14/2006 7:40:42 PM | message detail |
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Hello all. *never posts again* --- KingBartz: Brilliance. Pure Brilliance. - Tombs |
| Slowflake | Posted 7/14/2006 7:41:38 PM | message detail |
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What kind of BOP numbers do you have, HM? They sure are outdated. --- Mario's not fun btw and only sells on nostalgia. I mean, you're just walking from one side of a level to the other at a tenth of Sonic's speed... -vego |
| LeonhartForever | Posted 7/14/2006 7:42:04 PM | message detail |
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But of course, I wouldn't have figured Super Smash Brothers to be a big
favorite at first either, but it's rather obvious that it is. --- SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Roxas, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden |
| goku z | Posted 7/14/2006 7:42:20 PM | message detail |
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Posted this in a seperate topic, though it went largely unnoticed. Posting it here. FF is doing quite a bit above what I thought it would, and here is the explanation I have come up with: Final Fantasy 7, Cloud, Sephiroth, etc are all very strong in the contest, yes, but nowhere near this strong. What has held them back from attaining this level of power is not the Nintendo fanboys, but Final Fantasy fans themselves. I am a prime example; while I do like FF7 and Sephiroth, I would never vote for them over many games - simply because I don't think it is the best game in the series, and that is doesn't deserve so much recognition. However, when the series contest rolls along, everybody sees their favorite in the series when they vote. One Final Fantasy game that they love (again, me included) is really better to them then the entire Diablo series, and that will probably remain true up to FF v. SMB. What will happen then, when the voter has to decide if one or two really loved games beats out a series of great ones? Guess we'll find out. Just a (long and overly complex) thought. --- Long live Goku GT, lost August 2002 in the moderation wars of B8. 10th Place, 2005 Character Battle |
| Mumei | Posted 7/14/2006 7:42:59 PM | message detail |
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Though to give me some last second hope, there is one thing Mega Man
likely has that Mario Kart doesn't that could give it the edge -- it is
far more likely to be the absolute favorite series of a given
voter...rather than the Mario Kart series which tends to be very
well-liked, but rarely a number one thing. Being a far bigger number
one favorite likely saved Snake against Bowser, helped Squall keep it
so close with Vincent, and allows FFVII to apparently SFF practically
every game under the sun. Yeah, I don't even know if what I said makes
any sense, but there ya go. It makes sense, yes... --- "I believe that words uttered in passion contain a greater living truth than do those words which express thoughts rationally conceived"- Sensei, "Kokoro" |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 7:44:07 PM | message detail |
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But of course, I wouldn't have figured Super Smash Brothers to be a
big favorite at first either, but it's rather obvious that it is. Which is why if Mega Man loses I'll have lost all faith in Sonic, but if he wins I still won't be sold on Sonic pulling the upset. Ah, me of little faith. --- Commit it to memory. |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 7:59:31 PM | message detail |
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For the record, I have mario kart winning in my bracket, and believe
that it will win, which curses it almost as much as lopen picking
something to win. :-/ --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:01:32 PM | message detail |
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Normally that would be enough to keep me happy, but look at the crew
picks. Not only Lopen, but the other three picks for Mega Man come from
Moltar (lol Shadow the Hedgehog), Ulti (lol x-stats), and Heroic Mario (lololololololololol METAL GEAR?!). Mega Man is so screwed. --- Commit it to memory. |
| NewLib | Posted 7/14/2006 8:02:21 PM | message detail |
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How the hell did Ulti get associated with lol xstats? --- Where am I? |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:03:50 PM | message detail |
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Observe how as I do my impression of Ulti after Magus v. Knuckles! lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats lol x-stats --- Commit it to memory. |
| steve illumina | Posted 7/14/2006 8:04:47 PM | message detail |
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1 hour! :) --- Steve Illumina: Sage of Board 8, Hated by Fanbabies, Loved by the Masses. Score: 13-0. Next Win: Mega Man! |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 8:05:45 PM | message detail |
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Pic is up! http://www.gamefaqs.com/shared/bse/bse14.jpg Badass --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:05:49 PM | message detail |
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http://www.gamefaqs.com/shared/bse/bse14.jpg Pic is up...not too bad on either side, though Mario Kart seems to stand out more. --- Commit it to memory. |
| greatone10 | Posted 7/14/2006 8:06:53 PM | message detail |
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Luigi looks scared of Mega's blaster. --- RIP Eddie Guerrero 1967-2005 "I set my ATM card's number to "0001" because I'm number one!" - Manfred von Karma |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 8:07:09 PM | message detail |
| [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster] |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:07:16 PM | message detail |
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Everyone else seems so much more enthused by the pictures these days...maybe I've just been expecting too much lately. --- Commit it to memory. |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:07:44 PM | message detail |
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I was too busy with the lol x-stats! --- Commit it to memory. |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 8:07:49 PM | message detail |
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Consider yourself defeated by four seconds. >_> lol pwned --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| LeonhartForever | Posted 7/14/2006 8:08:23 PM | message detail |
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Ehh, that picture could've been so much better. At least Mega Man's side has Protoman and Mario Kart's side has Luigi. --- SC2K6 Nominations: Squall, Roxas, Serge, Seifer, Laguna, The Prince of Persia, Nightmare, Sub-Zero, Captain Falcon, Raiden |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:08:27 PM | message detail |
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And now that you've deleted that my comment makes even less sense! >_< --- Commit it to memory. |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 8:09:04 PM | message detail |
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I don't know what else could be done with the series though. I mean,
the picture isn't too spaced out or cluttered, and each series gets
good representation. --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| dragoontheguy | Posted 7/14/2006 8:09:40 PM | message detail |
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And by seriesI mean pic. I prefer my new comment. --- When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right. ~ Victor Hugo {WoT}~> Board 408 |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 8:11:16 PM | message detail |
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It's pretty good IMO. Both sides look all right and neither really has the advantage. If he would have put in Yoshi though, MM could kiss its chance of winning goodbye. --- Moltar Status: Disappointed, I lost my perfect bracket. Final Fantasy vs. Diablo - Bracket: FF - Vote: FF (10/12) |
| transience | Posted 7/14/2006 8:13:10 PM | message detail |
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pics is completely even and representative of the series. at first glance I thought Protoman was Zero, which confused me. gonna miss the start of the match! grrr --- xyzzy I lost a sig bet to War13104. Yes, the same guy who had Kefka over Crono. FOR THE HORDE! |
| transience | Posted 7/14/2006 8:13:37 PM | message detail |
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If he would have put in Yoshi though, MM could kiss its chance of winning goodbye. yeah, cause Yoshi's gonna kill Mega Man! --- xyzzy I lost a sig bet to War13104. Yes, the same guy who had Kefka over Crono. FOR THE HORDE! |
| therealmnm | Posted 7/14/2006 8:13:53 PM | message detail |
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Catching up with a few things in the topic as I go: Though to give me some last second hope, there is one thing Mega Man likely has that Mario Kart doesn't that could give it the edge -- it is far more likely to be the absolute favorite series of a given voter...rather than the Mario Kart series which tends to be very well-liked, but rarely a number one thing. Being a far bigger number one favorite likely saved Snake against Bowser, helped Squall keep it so close with Vincent, and allows FFVII to apparently SFF practically every game under the sun. Yeah, I don't even know if what I said makes any sense, but there ya go. I acknowledge that, but the thing is, there are a lot of people who aren't really big fans of Mega Man games at all. Mario Kart's general popularity trumps Mega Man in that aspect. Mega Man's votes will probably be from people who really like the series. Of course the pure numbers of that group gives it a great chance to win the match. But Mario Kart definitely has a lot of popularity. It may not be a #1 overall to a lot of people, but it's definitely more popular than Mega Man to a lot of people too... --- Nominate Carmen Sandiego for SC2k6 Currently playing: Fable, MGS3:S, GTA:SA, MMAC |
| Applekidjosh | Posted 7/14/2006 8:17:33 PM | message detail |
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BASS is in the match pic!!! All the Bass fanboys are gonna come out and vote now. All 7 of us. --- Kingdom Hearts > Metal Gear. BOOK IT |
| Master Moltar | Posted 7/14/2006 8:18:01 PM | message detail |
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yeah, cause Yoshi's gonna kill Mega Man! That's one of those matches that never happened (in my mind). --- Moltar Status: Disappointed, I lost my perfect bracket. Final Fantasy vs. Diablo - Bracket: FF - Vote: FF (10/12) |
| Karma Hunter | Posted 7/14/2006 8:18:20 PM | message detail |
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And Bowser is more popular than Snake is to a lot of people, too. But
having that high spot *really* helps, especially if the MK series is
well-liked by the voter but they like MM even more. I don't think we're
going to see too much of the voters not liking Mega Man, just like we
won't see too many not liking Mario Kart. I've maintained that as a
silly argument by the opposition to begin with. And remember, "last minute hope"...I'm not going to be shocked all of a sudden if MK starts the match on fire and never lets up or something... --- Commit it to memory. |