No, you're kidding yourself. If Nintendo did the game with another set of characters, it will FAIL. You know why? Because Nintendo depends on the popularity of their main characters like Mario, or Link to boost the sales. You think as much people will buy Mario Kart if it didn't have Mario in the title? Nintendo knows they'll keep making money off these franchises as long as they make them. In the gaming world, Sony fanboys are supposed to be the cows. But you know what? I think Nintendo fans fit that suit better. The reason, the majority, of people buy Mario Kart versus lets say Crash Bandicoot, is not because it has Mario on the tittle. Its because it has the Nintendo characters and items from games we all know and love in an entirely new mix. Just like SSBB.