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Pokémon for Prime Minister?
Video game characters versus real-life characters
It's hard to remember when video-game characters were just that, characters in video games. Today it seems they're everywhere except in games--they're in magazines, on billboards, on TV. They endorse products and conduct interviews. Just how well do we know them? We put video-game characters head to head with real-life personalities--and got eye-opening results.
We asked hundreds of 16-21 year olds to identify photographs of game characters and well-known politicians. 96 per cent correctly named Super Mario and 93 per cent the Pokémon character Pikachu. Lara Croft, pin-up heroine of the Tomb Raider games, was identified by 80 per cent of respondents.
While 91 per cent correctly identified the Prime Minister, Tony Blair has a far higher profile than his cabinet colleagues. Less than one in four (24 per cent) of 16-21 year olds recognised Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jack Straw was correctly identified by just 33 per cent and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook by 42 per cent.
Other members of the cabinet fared even less well. Mo Mowlam was correctly identified by only 37 per cent of respondents and Peter Mandelson by a meagre 18 per cent, despite their recent high media profile. Donkey Kong, the gorilla hero of video games since the 1980s, was the least recognisable video-game character at 67 per cent, but still polled 25 per cent higher than any cabinet member except for the Prime Minister himself. It seems that video-game characters are more recognisable to Britain's youth than the country's most powerful politicians.
When asked how important a role the politicians and video-game characters played in their lives, nearly one in three (29 per cent) said that Tony Blair was either not very important or not at all important to their lives. "Not only do these results demonstrate just how important video games are to young people, they also show that games are now a central part of mainstream culture for much of the population", says psychologist Sue Keane. "Games characters have acquired real celebrity status and are becoming cultural icons in their own right".
Perhaps politicians will take a lesson from these new celebrities. Can we expect to see such upcoming titles as Cabinet Raider or Super Blair ?
The Midlands go bananas for Donkey Kong
Midlanders really excel in their knowledge of video-game characters, outshining the rest of the country and taking the top spot when asked to identify Donkey Kong (82 per cent) and Super Mario (62 per cent). But when it comes to politicians, Midlanders hit rock bottom with almost 20 per cent unable to identify the Prime Minister himself. They redeem themselves when it comes to the Foreign Secretary with a 42 per cent recognition rate for Robin Cook--that's 4 per cent above the national average. Plus, a whopping 25 per cent of Midlanders can name Peter Mandelson compared to just 18 per cent across the country.
South East and London are Pikachu Crazy
Games-crazy Southerners top the Pokémon league with a 96 per cent recognition rate for number one character Pikachu but score below average for Lara, Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Similarly, 96 per cent of Londoners know what Tony Blair looks like (slightly higher than average) but not surprising seeing as he works at what's probably the capital's most famous address. Mr Brown might control the nation's purse strings, but Gordon is failing to deliver any punches with South Eastern teenagers. A meagre 18 per cent of 16-21 year olds in London and the South East could put a name to the Chancellor's picture.
East Anglia--Could do Better
East Anglians can certainly name their gaming characters (94 per cent recognition for Pikachu is slightly above average), but they aren't quite as savvy as other regions when asked to spot Super Mario (19 per cent against national 40 per cent) and Lara Croft (62 per cent against a national average of 80 per cent). When it comes to the cabinet, only 28 per cent of those questioned could correctly identify Robin Cook, leaving East Anglians languishing at the bottom of the Foreign Secretary's regional tally. In contrast, Mo Mowlam and Jack Straw prove popular in Eastern counties, with nearly half identifying Jack (48 per cent) and 43 per cent picking out Mo.
South West--Lara hits the spot
When it comes to gaming characters, Lara Croft gets a big thumbs up from those in the South West--87 per cent of interviewees recognised her (national average of 80 per cent). South Westerners come a narrow second when it comes to correctly identifying Gordon Brown. 33 per cent of 16-21 year olds could name his picture, compared to a national average of 24 per cent. 22 per cent above the national average, a whopping 56 per cent can name Jack Straw. Mo Mowlam gets her highest score in the South West too, with 55 per cent of 16-21 year olds correctly identifying her.
North West loves Lara too
Like their South West counterparts, a similarly high number (84 per cent) of North Western gaming fans could name Lara Croft. Pikachu scored even better with a 91 per cent tally while Donkey Kong posted a respectable 75 per cent. When it comes to the PM, Northwesterners beat their fellow countrymen for political savvy hands down with over 97 per cent of 16-21 year olds correctly identifying Tony Blair. In the Midlands one in five surveyed couldn't name the Prime Minister.
North East votes for gaming action over cabinet debate
Geordies are really clued up when it comes to gaming characters. 81 per cent identified Donkey Kong correctly (national average of 67 per cent), and a staggering 96 per cent recognition rate for Pikachu topped the regional charts. In contrast, 16-21 year olds in the North East don't fare too well when it comes to identifying the leading lights of the cabinet. Although 30 per cent can name Gordon Brown (against a national average of 24 per cent), Robin Cook, Peter Mandelson and Mo Mowlam need to work on their profiles in the North East--particularly Mandelson who was recognised by a mere 12 per cent of all interviewees despite being the MP for North East constituency Hartlepool.
Wales--Savvy in the Valleys?
The Welsh don't fare so well in the league of gaming characters. Only 62 per cent could recognise Donkey Kong (compared to national average of 67 per cent), and 66 per cent spotted Lara Croft (against an 80 per cent average). But, the teenagers of Wales are clearly a politically minded bunch scoring consistently highly in the political recognition stakes and topping the national average. 96 per cent could identify Tony Blair, and one in three could name Gordon Brown, one in two Jack Straw and 57 per cent Robin Cook.
Scotland rejects Westminster for video favourites
Naming video-game characters is obviously where the Scots strength lies! One in two correctly identified Super Mario (40 per cent national average), 94 per cent recognised Pikachu (93 per cent national average) and 84 per cent Lara Croft (80 per cent national average). He may have spearheaded devolution, but most Scottish teenagers haven't got a clue who Jack Straw is, with only 17 per cent correctly identifying him. Not surprisingly overall the Scots score lower than the national average in identifying London-based politicians--Tony Blair (88 per cent compared to a national average of 91 per cent), Robin Cook (36 per cent against a national average of 38 per cent), and Peter Mandelson (14 per cent against a national average of 18 per cent).
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For me, give me Lara anywhere & I'll spot her in croud of millions. Tony Blair can very easily blend in.
Video game characters versus real-life characters
It's hard to remember when video-game characters were just that, characters in video games. Today it seems they're everywhere except in games--they're in magazines, on billboards, on TV. They endorse products and conduct interviews. Just how well do we know them? We put video-game characters head to head with real-life personalities--and got eye-opening results.
We asked hundreds of 16-21 year olds to identify photographs of game characters and well-known politicians. 96 per cent correctly named Super Mario and 93 per cent the Pokémon character Pikachu. Lara Croft, pin-up heroine of the Tomb Raider games, was identified by 80 per cent of respondents.
While 91 per cent correctly identified the Prime Minister, Tony Blair has a far higher profile than his cabinet colleagues. Less than one in four (24 per cent) of 16-21 year olds recognised Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jack Straw was correctly identified by just 33 per cent and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook by 42 per cent.
Other members of the cabinet fared even less well. Mo Mowlam was correctly identified by only 37 per cent of respondents and Peter Mandelson by a meagre 18 per cent, despite their recent high media profile. Donkey Kong, the gorilla hero of video games since the 1980s, was the least recognisable video-game character at 67 per cent, but still polled 25 per cent higher than any cabinet member except for the Prime Minister himself. It seems that video-game characters are more recognisable to Britain's youth than the country's most powerful politicians.
When asked how important a role the politicians and video-game characters played in their lives, nearly one in three (29 per cent) said that Tony Blair was either not very important or not at all important to their lives. "Not only do these results demonstrate just how important video games are to young people, they also show that games are now a central part of mainstream culture for much of the population", says psychologist Sue Keane. "Games characters have acquired real celebrity status and are becoming cultural icons in their own right".
Perhaps politicians will take a lesson from these new celebrities. Can we expect to see such upcoming titles as Cabinet Raider or Super Blair ?
The Midlands go bananas for Donkey Kong
Midlanders really excel in their knowledge of video-game characters, outshining the rest of the country and taking the top spot when asked to identify Donkey Kong (82 per cent) and Super Mario (62 per cent). But when it comes to politicians, Midlanders hit rock bottom with almost 20 per cent unable to identify the Prime Minister himself. They redeem themselves when it comes to the Foreign Secretary with a 42 per cent recognition rate for Robin Cook--that's 4 per cent above the national average. Plus, a whopping 25 per cent of Midlanders can name Peter Mandelson compared to just 18 per cent across the country.
South East and London are Pikachu Crazy
Games-crazy Southerners top the Pokémon league with a 96 per cent recognition rate for number one character Pikachu but score below average for Lara, Donkey Kong and Super Mario. Similarly, 96 per cent of Londoners know what Tony Blair looks like (slightly higher than average) but not surprising seeing as he works at what's probably the capital's most famous address. Mr Brown might control the nation's purse strings, but Gordon is failing to deliver any punches with South Eastern teenagers. A meagre 18 per cent of 16-21 year olds in London and the South East could put a name to the Chancellor's picture.
East Anglia--Could do Better
East Anglians can certainly name their gaming characters (94 per cent recognition for Pikachu is slightly above average), but they aren't quite as savvy as other regions when asked to spot Super Mario (19 per cent against national 40 per cent) and Lara Croft (62 per cent against a national average of 80 per cent). When it comes to the cabinet, only 28 per cent of those questioned could correctly identify Robin Cook, leaving East Anglians languishing at the bottom of the Foreign Secretary's regional tally. In contrast, Mo Mowlam and Jack Straw prove popular in Eastern counties, with nearly half identifying Jack (48 per cent) and 43 per cent picking out Mo.
South West--Lara hits the spot
When it comes to gaming characters, Lara Croft gets a big thumbs up from those in the South West--87 per cent of interviewees recognised her (national average of 80 per cent). South Westerners come a narrow second when it comes to correctly identifying Gordon Brown. 33 per cent of 16-21 year olds could name his picture, compared to a national average of 24 per cent. 22 per cent above the national average, a whopping 56 per cent can name Jack Straw. Mo Mowlam gets her highest score in the South West too, with 55 per cent of 16-21 year olds correctly identifying her.
North West loves Lara too
Like their South West counterparts, a similarly high number (84 per cent) of North Western gaming fans could name Lara Croft. Pikachu scored even better with a 91 per cent tally while Donkey Kong posted a respectable 75 per cent. When it comes to the PM, Northwesterners beat their fellow countrymen for political savvy hands down with over 97 per cent of 16-21 year olds correctly identifying Tony Blair. In the Midlands one in five surveyed couldn't name the Prime Minister.
North East votes for gaming action over cabinet debate
Geordies are really clued up when it comes to gaming characters. 81 per cent identified Donkey Kong correctly (national average of 67 per cent), and a staggering 96 per cent recognition rate for Pikachu topped the regional charts. In contrast, 16-21 year olds in the North East don't fare too well when it comes to identifying the leading lights of the cabinet. Although 30 per cent can name Gordon Brown (against a national average of 24 per cent), Robin Cook, Peter Mandelson and Mo Mowlam need to work on their profiles in the North East--particularly Mandelson who was recognised by a mere 12 per cent of all interviewees despite being the MP for North East constituency Hartlepool.
Wales--Savvy in the Valleys?
The Welsh don't fare so well in the league of gaming characters. Only 62 per cent could recognise Donkey Kong (compared to national average of 67 per cent), and 66 per cent spotted Lara Croft (against an 80 per cent average). But, the teenagers of Wales are clearly a politically minded bunch scoring consistently highly in the political recognition stakes and topping the national average. 96 per cent could identify Tony Blair, and one in three could name Gordon Brown, one in two Jack Straw and 57 per cent Robin Cook.
Scotland rejects Westminster for video favourites
Naming video-game characters is obviously where the Scots strength lies! One in two correctly identified Super Mario (40 per cent national average), 94 per cent recognised Pikachu (93 per cent national average) and 84 per cent Lara Croft (80 per cent national average). He may have spearheaded devolution, but most Scottish teenagers haven't got a clue who Jack Straw is, with only 17 per cent correctly identifying him. Not surprisingly overall the Scots score lower than the national average in identifying London-based politicians--Tony Blair (88 per cent compared to a national average of 91 per cent), Robin Cook (36 per cent against a national average of 38 per cent), and Peter Mandelson (14 per cent against a national average of 18 per cent).
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For me, give me Lara anywhere & I'll spot her in croud of millions. Tony Blair can very easily blend in.
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