'Waluigi Was Robbed and Humiliated by Nintendo' (washingtonpost.com)

Gene Park, writing for The Washington Post (shared by numerous readers): In the Nintendo universe, Waluigi is supposed to be as villainous as his cartoonish mustache and perpetual frown would suggest. But what made him that way? Perhaps it is Nintendo's insistence on humiliating the character in front of his friends and the general public. On Tuesday for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo announced new details on the much-anticipated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for its Switch console. The 25-minute presentation was long on details. For one thing, the latest game includes every single playable character in the fighting-game franchise's 19-year history. It seemed to exceed fan expectations, except for fans of the meme-ready Waluigi. Waluigi, again, was snubbed by Nintendo. He will not be a playable character in the new game.

Waluigi has traveled a long road. Once he was hated by Nintendo fans, who listed him highly among gaming's most annoying characters. His origin story is unimpressive. Waluigi is simply a bizarro version of Mario's less famous but more charming brother Luigi. In his 18-year existence as a minor character, he's had virtually no back story. But that blank canvas ended up becoming Waluigi's greatest gift. Since he stood for nothing, supporters could project their wildest hopes unto him, like Barack Obama in 2008 but actually good at golf. He can be described in a single website as anyone from a "true nowhere man" to "the logical end point of capitalism" and the "triumph of capital over creativity." In other words, Waluigi became the perfect meme fodder.

Comments

ummmm.......

[rockout]

what the hell is this??

Re:ummmm.......

[Anonymous Coward]

You exist because some of your ancestors were assholes who stole someone else's food, or screwed someone else's spouse.

I also exist because for countless thousands of years humans have lived in groups where they all pitched in to maximise the survival of its members.

You know, society.

Now we've been reduced to the idea that rich assholes are out to lower the taxes for their rich asshole friends, so they can become even bigger and richer assholes -- and that somehow this is an evolutionary imperative.

Stop pretending humans would exist in our current form if we didn't form strong bonds and pitch in to help as many people survive as possible.

People who decry any form of society looking out for all of its members are basically advocating the idea that being a selfish bastard is going to work in the long run.

Talk to us when you or one of your loved ones is suffering from a disease that in other parts of the world healthcare would treat without bankrupting you. Then see if you think being a selfish prick is a good evolutionary strategy.

Me, I'm glad I live in a society in which things like healthcare are considered basic human rights, and not a profit centre for some greedy multinational corporation.

Really?

[theurge14]

Is this really a Slashdot post?