Mario more famous than Paris Hilton

  • By Emma_UK, GameSpot
  • Posted Nov 15, 2007 8:59 am PT

A survey has found that more people can name Nintendo's iconic plumber Mario than the Simple Life star Paris Hilton. The hotel heiress might be a paparazzi favourite, but she's still got a way to go to be as well known as Mario, a survey of 1,000 adults has found.The results showed that 69 percent...

A survey has found that more people can name Nintendo's iconic plumber Mario than the Simple Life star Paris Hilton. The hotel heiress might be a paparazzi favourite, but she's still got a way to go to be as well known as Mario, a survey of 1,000 adults has found.

The results showed that 69 percent recognised the world's most famous plumber, although only 53 percent could name Paris Hilton, and 51 percent recognised Justin Timberlake. Nintendo announced the survey findings to coincide with the release of Mario's latest adventure, Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii.

To celebrate the UK launch of the long-awaited title, eight Game stores across the UK will be holding special launch events tonight and offering prizes for those in costume. GameSpot will be reporting from the London event, so look out for our reporter and cameraman at the Oxford Street Game store.

Nintendo also projected a giant image of Mario onto Battersea Power Station in south London to promote the title. David Yarnton, general manager, Nintendo UK, said, "We expect the release of Super Mario Galaxy to help break the 200-million franchise barrier."

172 Comments

  • gtrfreak182

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 11:04 am PT

    good. i'm sick of people thinking talentless people are so great. paris hilton is a perfect example

  • Distinctive_Fin

    Posted Nov 27, 2007 9:23 am PT

    why does this not surprise me? oh yeah! hilton bought fame and is not that hot. Mario earned his and still shows us he will be here for a while

  • BK90

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    I'm glad to here more people pay more attention to video games than stupid maginzines at the the check-out lines in grocery stores showing pictures and titles in big block letters about someone cheating someone, being gay gaing 2 pounds or whatever!
    I wonder how many people know who Luigi is? Someone I knew thought he was the "green dinosaur-thing." XD

  • The_Third_Place

    Posted Nov 22, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    a survey of 1000 people? lol please

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 4:09 pm PT

    mario is also more liked

  • chupamelpo

    Posted Nov 20, 2007 9:19 am PT

    Mario became famous by games that do not suck. On the other hand Paris became famous by films that by sucking make them brilliant.

  • NovaSky

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 10:43 pm PT

    Thank God he's more popular, it's bad enough that the girl is as popular as she is now, what the hell is so fascinating about knowing weather or not she's partying! America get a clue!

  • ravingrabbid

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 8:20 am PT

    lol with her new "video" out i wonder if it will all change.

    but really how could you compete with an icon for more than 20 years to a bored biatch that makes a crap load of straight to DVD movies >.> (if you ever go to blockbuster you would get what i mean)

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 7:38 pm PT

    I block hilton and timberlake both from my mind and pretend I never saw them the horror is to great.

    Mario is better looking that Paris Hilton or Justin Timberlake and less annoying to watch on your T.V

  • PS360Fanboy

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 7:58 am PT

    We'll be seeing a sex video later on then....

  • heroofwinds1

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 3:51 am PT

    I believe that everyone who has ever played or watched a videogame knows mario.even a lot of people who do not play or watch videogames know mario simply because he is something bigger from a videogame hero in our minds.

  • KBABZ

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 4:43 pm PT

    Not much of a stretch, but reassuring to know, for sure.

  • Artemyr

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 4:37 pm PT

    Hah, way to go Mario! And people thought stomping all those mushrooms was pointless

    Paris hilton is an idiot, always worth noting

  • Juno2_17

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 10:35 pm PT

    You guys are being really harsh on Paris Hilton...

    Oh who the hell am I kidding? I can't find a reason to justify her worthless existence. Does her family even care she's a slut?

    Anyway, Mario is 10000x better than her by a longshot.
    Go Mario!

    I acutaly find this refreshing as news, because all I've been hearing on the news is violence, violence, violence, did I mention violence?

  • UnknownPerson55

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 8:55 pm PT

    Mario was great when it first came out and is still great today...
    ...I just wish I could say the same for Sonic...

  • rouge-ninja14

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 8:30 pm PT

    Honestly who cares?

  • eeo10

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 7:47 pm PT

    slow day at the office huh?

  • Bamb0o-Stick

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    Mario for President 2012!

  • crippla87

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    thats hot. NOT. Its a me a mario biotch!!!!

  • Rangel_19

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 11:55 am PT

    There are only two main reason why Paris got famous!

    1st was her infamous sex video! (hehehehe)

    2nd is because she is a Hotel heiress....

    Besides, Mario was already famous back before she became an actress or a celebrity for that matter!

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 11:26 am PT

    paris hilton stinks, mario is much, much cooler

  • mike62884

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 11:22 am PT

    Is this country really so mired in asinine pop culture that we now have surveys to determine if Mario is more of a household name than some spoiled hotel heiress that deserves absolutely no attention what so ever?

  • X-RS

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 10:15 am PT

    paris hilton is like peach, mario's B!+CH!!!!

  • WILIANPKXD

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 10:14 am PT

    yeah go video games

  • backfromdagrave

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 9:47 am PT

    Mario's new tag line:
    You know who I am..
    (Everyone will know who it is.)
    Well put vashkey.
    Un-possible!! Paris whats-her-face more popular then the legendary plumber of godly powers???
    Mario less popular than Mickey?
    Mario eats mickey mouse for lunch!!!
    NINTENDAVE > COMPLETELY CORRECT HAHAHA
    EVERYONE IS RIGHT!!!
    MARIO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>x10,000,000>>>>>>Paris--um---(place last name here)
    Rockstar, I am your religion, and I heard what u said, but remember
    what

    The_Super_Mario_Bros_and_Murder_she wrote:
    Forcing religion on someone else could actually force them away.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 7:08 am PT

    I guess mario can drop his tag line:
    "Its a-me, Mario!"

  • sieg6529

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 6:38 am PT

    I would be surprised if it were the other way around.

  • vashkey

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 6:31 am PT

    Soo......?
    It's sad so many people even know Paris Hilton. She doesn't deserve any recognition.

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 6:27 am PT

    If it was the other way around I would have been ashamed of being a human being.

  • rockstar_88

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 2:31 am PT

    This isn't sad. What's sad is that more children in the world recognize Ronald McDonald than Jesus Christ (not that I'm enforcing religion on anyone).

  • gazza_gamerNZ

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 12:13 am PT

    I think most gamers agree, Paris Hilton is not news worthy. Especially here at Gamespot.

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 10:54 pm PT

    I am only saddened by the fact that Paris Hilton is mentioned in a place that I find sacred! I award you no point and may god have mercy on your soul.

  • ultraburu

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 10:18 pm PT

    I know Mario is like the iconic figure for videogames and all that there is to itf, but such a comparison with just a sample size of 1000 people is pretty.... vague.

  • nintendave86

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    good job mario! paris hilton is uglier than bowser anyway.

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  • ocdog45

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 9:16 pm PT

    who gives a damm about paris hilton.

  • Devvy01

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 8:37 pm PT

    Paris what?

  • HALCONAZUL

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    Why people surprise? Mario saves princess and Paris Hilton sleep with them

  • Chainblast

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 8:25 pm PT

    I'd certainly hope so. Hell who am I kidding...

  • LordSpleach

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 7:35 pm PT

    As it should be.

  • darkride66

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 7:34 pm PT

    The fact that there are people who don't know who Paris Hilton is makes me envious.

  • Felaipes

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 7:21 pm PT

    thats a normal survey, now make a nightvision survey with
    the same characters.

  • DrCLos

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 7:20 pm PT

    Not surprising in the least. I had read a long time ago that Mario is even more recognizable than Mickey Mouse. I would hope a no-talent heiress would have less chances than the animated mouse.

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    Paris can make all the dirty sex videos she wants but there is no way she will ever top Mario in popularity.

  • frankfurter209

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 6:35 pm PT

    The news reports often divide GameSpot users into console arguments, flaming, and general idiocy. This is one thing we can ALL get behind and agree on.

  • THGarrett

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 6:16 pm PT

    Mario = +1 Paris = 0

  • felshs

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 6:13 pm PT

    of course mario is way more famous. even little kids know who mario is.

    paris hilton only famous cause comedian and talk show keep making joke of her from the her porn on TV. "Suck It Paris"quote.

  • f15srcool

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 5:55 pm PT

    Hey, cool. I assumed it would be the other way around, with how star obsessed our nation is.

  • gnbfd

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 5:30 pm PT

    Paris Hilton dies: 10 people go crazy

    Shigeru Miyamoto dies: The world suffers

  • rl_41

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 5:25 pm PT

    For real? This is news? I've been playing mario since I was a little kid.............. Paris is famous for being famous, mario has practically formed a culture

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