Platform Mascots
Hello there my fellow WoS'ers
A thought occured to me earlier today... yes I know that usually spells trouble but I cannot resist but as this question -
What is the Spectrum Mascot / Brand Icon?
y'know how both the NES/SNES had Mario, where Sega had Sonic, and for the most part the Amiga had Zool / Super frog (notice how these are all essentially platform games)
However didn't the SAM coupe have a small SMASH like robot?
So what do you think the mascot for spectrum series of machines is or should be?
A thought occured to me earlier today... yes I know that usually spells trouble but I cannot resist but as this question -
What is the Spectrum Mascot / Brand Icon?
y'know how both the NES/SNES had Mario, where Sega had Sonic, and for the most part the Amiga had Zool / Super frog (notice how these are all essentially platform games)
However didn't the SAM coupe have a small SMASH like robot?
So what do you think the mascot for spectrum series of machines is or should be?
Post edited by Zetr0 on
Comments
There was no such a top seller character that had games from the very beginning to the end of the commercial life of the Spectrum.
Famous characters? Yes, there are some characters that may fit...
- Miner Willy from Manic Miner / Jet Set Willy
- Sabreman
- Horatio
- Monty Mole
- Dizzy
But I guess there's not an iconic character for ZX Spectrum.
P.S.: Also, keep in mind that most games from 8 bits computer were multisystem; most characters appeared also in CPC / C64 / MSX (with the exception of Horatio).
P.S.S.: It would be sad that Horatio was elected as brand Icon for the ZX Spectrum.
An' you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!
Nothing more to add, no official mascot though.
They all aren't Spectrum exclusive and all appeared on other platforms too.
But still if you try C64 or Amstrad version of Manic Miner or Dizzy it feels cleally like a Spectrum import, using a graphic mode similar to Spectrum.
Who needs a zippy blue hedgehog when you've got a ginger-bearded barmy eggheaded genius in an electric tricycle?
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
####
####
######
####
#####
####
##
####
######
----########----
---##########---
---##-####-##---
#####
---#-##-###
---###----##----
----##---###----
There's another unwritten rule - the mascot's games shouldn't be a bit $h!t. Why do you think SEGA ditched the Master System's Alex Kidd and come up with Sonic for the MegaDrive?
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
My son had Alex 'Wingnut' Kidd. He always reminded me of Einstein from 'Skool Daze'
prolly the c5. :)
16K Spectrum only.
Gordon Freeman. Another ginger-bearded barmy eggheaded (violent) genius ;-)
The nearest the Speccy got was Willy, closely followed by Sabreman.
But really, I think the 48k Speccy was enough of a character to get by on it's own! :D
The Spectrum obviously didn't need any of those promotions, back in the time when games are being bought on how much value for money they deliver. (Remember back then when reviews still have scores with 'value for money' in them?)
Obviously mascots are also very useful when your target market is under 12. But the spectrum market only reached that stage at the 90s, when most of the older players were gone. By then it was way too late to introduce mascots.
Games List 2016 - Games List 2015 - Games List 2014
didn't he get his own game in the end?
I have vague memories of a Space Harrier type game being given away with a Sinclair User :-?
I always felt that the "Spectrum flash" (as Rick Dickinson describes it) was the mascot. Granted it may not have been in any way anthropomorphic but I think that gave it much more flexibility than anything then or since. That way any Spectrum-related magazine or hardware could put the colours on the cover or packaging and you could immediately tell when you saw it on the shelves that it was something you should look at. I think it worked pretty well!
you sometimes see the rainbow flag flying outside pubs and clubs, i always thought it was because the patrons were speccy freindly, but once yu go inside you realise they are just a bunch of C64 fans. :p
Always remember, "4 stripes, good; 5 stripes, BAD"... It's obviously an inferiority complex (which is understandable - If someone told you your logo was a "C" with chicken lips would you stand for it?)
I just try and avoid anywhere with rainbow flags these days...just much much easier all round lol
I remember playing some games on the CPC, Roland on the Ropes was kinda fun as I recall.....Roland in the caves....meh not so much
I never realised that. To think all these years when I used to see all those "Roland" titles in the release lists I always thought it was just another "Roland Rat" tie-in! :oops: