Unironically what went right for Mario? How does this guy till continue to make bank to this very day?
Self-sustaining fan work community that can exist independent of the actual franchise. Nintendo could retire Mario tomorrow and it wouldn't matter because there'd be countless fangames, romhacks and other projects made with him.
>mickey mouse of vidya for 30 years>one of the first vidya characters kids see>main competitor collapsed 20 years ago>every other company abandoned platformers for shooters>only competition left is the occasional indie game>community of autists making romhacks etc in adulthood