Topic: Series Series - Wii in Third - Next Round finally up!

[TJ Spyke]

So Wario is of the species called Wario?

I assume the Yoshi situation is similar to Toad. "Toad" is both the name of the species and the name of a specific character (so the assistant to Peach is a Toad named Toad).

[Stratos]

Toads parents must have been lacking in the creativity department when he was born.

[TJ Spyke]

My thoughts exactly, it would be like parents naming their kid "Human".

[UncleBob]

Maybe Toad isn't really his name, it's his nick-name.  Perhaps it's even slightly derogatory, denoting the Toad-Race's place as subservient to Humans.  It'd be like if aliens had captured you and turned you into a slave.  "Human, get over here and polish my spikes!"

[UltimatePartyBear]

That's the US manual. In Japan, Yoshi is and has always been a dragon. I'm guessing that Nintendo of America felt that "dinosaur" sounded a little more friendly than "dragon"?

I'm no Japanese expert, but my understanding is that the Japanese word for dinosaur (kyōryū) means "frightful dragon."  It seems to cause a lot of confusion.

The English word's origin is similar, essentially based on the Latin for "frightful lizard" instead.  I bet that if we actually spoke Latin, we'd probably have a big(ger) problem with people attributing lizard characteristics to dinosaurs, too.

[UncleBob]

It doesn't help that the coins with Yoshi's face on them are called "Dragon Coins" in the US manual. (Plus there's the "Super Dragon" final smash in Brawl).

Let's just say that all dragons are dinosaurs and call it a day. (Waits for Halbred's head to explode.)

[Stratos]

If Mario Kart wins we should throw in Diddy Kong Racing. It's always felt like a cousin game to the series.

[TJ Spyke]

If Mario Kart wins (I voted for Mario RPG's and GCN launch games), would the Mario Kart Arcade GP games be included? Barely anyone has been able to play the first one due to a combination of so few arcades left and a lot of those didn't buy the game, the second one didn't even get released outside of Japan.

[Mop it up]

Which game says that "Toad" is the name of the species? "Toad" and "Yoshi" are both always capitalized, so I always just assume it's a proper name and not a specie name.

As for if Mario Kart wins the poll, I don't think the arcade games should be included on the basis that very few people have played them, and I think we all know they would place last due to that.

[BeautifulShy]

I went with Megaman and the Mario RPGs because both are I feel can have lots to talk about. Also there is generally lots of compitition between the games within the series.

[TJ Spyke]

Which game says that "Toad" is the name of the species? "Toad" and "Yoshi" are both always capitalized, so I always just assume it's a proper name and not a specie name.

Without doing too much checking, I found an example. Here is his profile from Mario Superstar Baseball:

"Princess Peach's subject. Though he tries to protect the princess from the evil Bowser, she gets kidnapped with disturbing regularity. There are many Toads who look just alike, and though they are generally small and look cute, they are actually quite powerful."

If I were to check more, I am sure I could find it. The Yoshi one is even easier, just take a look at Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story, where all of the Yoshi are called Yoshi.

[Mop it up]

I think it's up for interpretation. Just because the name is pluralized doesn't mean it's the specie name. They're all named Yoshi so they're all called Yoshi. In Super Smash Brothers Melee, there's an event match where you fight "128 tiny Marios." Each one is still Mario, correct? "Mario" isn't a specie. It's the same kind of thing for Toad and Yoshi, I believe.

[TJ Spyke]

Except that SSB is basically non-canon, especially the challenge events. The evidence we have suggests that the species are Toad and Yoshi. Maybe the fact that every other member of their species has names in the RPG's could mean that the "Toad" and "Yoshi" we know are just generic ones, similar to how you can play as a random Goomba or random Koopa Troopa in games.

[TheBlackCat]

Toads parents must have been lacking in the creativity department when he was born.

They weren't the only ones.  "Mario Mario"?

[TJ Spyke]

It's not limited to just video games. Fans of The Simpsons will know that two of Homer's friends/co-workers are Carl Carlson and Lenny Leonard. People do this in real life too, I have seen people named Jack Jackson, John Johnson, etc., don't forget that boxer George Foreman named all six of his sons after him (George Foremen, Jr., George Foreman II, George Foreman III, etc.) and even named his daughter Georgia.

[Stratos]

I've played the first arcade game several times. I say include that one but not the second since there was no stateside release.
 
It would be interesting to see if enough people played/liked it enough to pass any of the other Mario Kart titles. There seems to be enough division between SNES and GBA Kart lovers and haters that the acrade title could sneak in somewhere along the line.

[TJ Spyke]

I am not so sure, I would be surprised if that many people here have gotten to play it. I know I could never vote for it since the only arcade within 100 miles of me (which has since closed) never had it or F-Zero AX.

[Mop it up]

Except that SSB is basically non-canon, especially the challenge events. The evidence we have suggests that the species are Toad and Yoshi. Maybe the fact that every other member of their species has names in the RPG's could mean that the "Toad" and "Yoshi" we know are just generic ones, similar to how you can play as a random Goomba or random Koopa Troopa in games.

The Mario series doesn't really have a continuing story so I don't think there is a canon. The SSB thing isn't the best example but it's a difficult concept for me to explain, so I went with it. I s'pose you could say Toad and Yoshi are generic in a way, as they are simultaneously an individual and a representative of every member of their group. I know, that doesn't make sense, but it's fantasy. It doesn't have to make sense.

They weren't the only ones.  "Mario Mario"?

Isn't the movie the only thing that says Mario's last name is Mario?

[TJ Spyke]

There is the fact that Mario and Luigi are the Mario Brothers. Strangely though Nintendo apparently says that they don't have last names. Mario Mario and Luigi Mario are fine though.

[Mop it up]

I have always assumed it's a Japanese thing to refer to two or more brothers by just the first name of one of them. I'm probably wrong about that though.

[King of Twitch]

WILSON WILSON. Must be an early 90's thing.

[UncleBob]

Mega Man (in some form)    - 6 (20.7%)
Castlevania (in some form)    - 1 (3.4%)
Mario Kart    - 8 (27.6%)
Donkey Kong    - 3 (10.3%)
GCN Launch Titles    - 4 (13.8%)
RPG Mario Titles    - 6 (20.7%)
Kirby Series    - 1 (3.4%)

Total Members Voted: 17

Yay!  Mario Kart wins!  Yee-haw!

And, great news... I discovered today that Mario Kart GP 2 was, in fact, released in the US.  Even played it!  I have plans on how to handle this for the poll... which I'll start in the next day or two... (sooo tired....).  Meanwhile, enjoy this temporary poll!

[Halbred]

He's both because you collect Dragon Coins, which have Yoshi's smilin' face on 'em, but he's often referred to as a Dinosaur.

But he can grow wings and fly, which clearly puts him further into the Dragon camp. Also, the fire-breathing.

[nickmitch]

He's a dinosaur with dragon-like powers. Thusly making a new species dubbed "Yoshi."

[TJ Spyke]

The games state that the species is called Yoshi. It may be based on both dragons and dinosaurs, but is its own unique species (before anyone says they call it one or the other, remember that Pokemon games do things like call Pidgey a tiny bird Pokemon while the species is Pidgey).