Flappy Mario

Industry experts and jumpy investors are screaming at Nintendo to make games for smartphones right now, but company president Satoru Iwata is adamant that the future of the firm lies in dedicated gaming hardware, rather than diluted, cash-grab experiences on the likes of iOS and Android.

However, it's always fun to play devil's advocate, so the guys over at Red Bull's gaming site have put together some amusing mock-up images which show what Nintendo's key franchises could look like if they were fused with popular smartphone properties like Angry Birds, Temple Run and Candy Crush Saga.

Super Luigi Jump
The Legend of Zelda Water Temple Run

Before any pitchforks are brandished and torches lit, it's worth pointing out that this is a little bit of fun — but let us know what you think of the ideas by leaving a comment below. Are there any other obvious mash-ups you can think of? Could any of these light-hearted ideas actually work as a proper game? And what does the simplicity of these concepts say about the divide between dedicated and smartphone gaming?

[source redbull.com]