Nintendo's Displeasure with Sega's Mascot Placement During Development of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - IGN
It's hard to believe that a simple foot placement could stir up controversy, but during the development of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Nintendo was reportedly not pleased with Sega for placing Sonic's foot in front of Mario's. This intriguing behind-the-scenes detail emerged in a recent interview with Sega veteran Ryoichi Hasegawa, who contributed to the creation of this beloved title released back in 2007.
Hasegawa recounted how Nintendo had specific expectations regarding the visual representation of their iconic characters. In fact, they demanded alterations to the artwork intended for the game’s packaging, which unfortunately showed Sonic’s foot leading ahead of Mario's.
"There was one amusing incident," Hasegawa recalled about the project’s journey. "We had artwork featuring Mario, Sonic, and several other characters in an athletic setting, which we planned to use for the game cover, the instruction manual, and even the cartridge label. However, there was a minor mistake where Sonic's foot was depicted in front of Mario's. Nintendo insisted that we rectify this to ensure Mario was prioritized."
When asked if Sega complied with Nintendo's request, Hasegawa confirmed that the developers certainly made the necessary adjustments. "We were shocked, thinking, 'Oh my gosh, we have to fix this,' or else the deal might fall through," he said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good relations with Nintendo.
This incident highlights Nintendo's reputation for being meticulous about how their characters are portrayed. Another well-known example involves Nintendo sending directives to Disney on how Bowser should properly hold his teacup during a brief moment in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph.
Ultimately, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games became a phenomenal success for Sega, achieving sales of 10 million copies and giving rise to numerous sequels. However, the franchise came to an end after its last installment in 2020. This conclusion occurred when the International Olympic Committee opted not to renew its licensing agreement with Sega and Nintendo, choosing instead to explore partnerships focused on mobile gaming and NFTs. Producer Lee Cocker, who worked on the series while at ISM Ltd, noted that the IOC aimed to internalize the process and seek out new partners to maximize their revenue.
Tom Phillips serves as the News Editor at IGN. You can connect with him via email at tom_phillips@ign.com or follow him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social.
