Welcome to OXM's Fair Trade, a semi-regular discussion where OXM editors (and occasional commentators) debate trading away an Xbox staple for something from another console.

The guidelines of any trade proposal strictly stipulate that only one exclusive can be involved in any swap. Meaning if we're trading an exclusive game character, that doesn't include the game’s developer, character’s world, or co-stars. For instance, a trade involving Xbox’s Marcus Fenix for PlayStation’s Nathan Drake would not also see Dom Santiago going to PS3 or Elena Fisher coming here. All we’d be getting in return would be Drake, available to star in as many Xbox games as publishers could support. That said, let's get it on!

TRADE PROPOSAL

Master Chief (Halo series hero, gaming icon)

In Exchange For

Mario (Various classic Nintendo titles, gaming icon)

FRANCESCA REYES, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
No trade from me. I love my Mario games. I love Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad all the same. But the two audiences are way too different from Nintendo to Xbox — both Master Chief and Mario are so tied to their first-party roots that it wouldn't be as easy as swapping one out of the other. The Chief wouldn't fit in a kart racing game and no one wants to see Mario kill ANYTHING except for a goomba here and there. I know this isn't about simply cutting and pasting one character into the other's world, but both Microsoft and Nintendo have spent so much money and time creating such a specific image for their consoles/markets that it'd be just…too much of a headscratcher to make this trade. Would I want Mario games on my Xbox? Hmmm, maybe. Would I play a Nintendo system to spend time with the big MC? Depends on the games. I know that Nintendo would love to court the older, shooter audience, while Microsoft would give its left arm to woo the less aggro, Wii-playing gamer — but this one is just too much of a square peg in a round hole to work. Sorry, folks.

RYAN MCCAFFREY, SENIOR EDITOR
Interesting call here. You’ve got to look at this from multiple sides. Creatively speaking, Nintendo’s design team is what makes Mario magical. Miyamoto and his disciples brought us Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros, among many other classics. With all due respect, I don’t see anyone I could hire for an Xbox version that would be capable of that. However, one other key factor is in play: Mario is versatile. He can be adapted to many genres…successfully. Platform games, party games, kart racing, etc. Master Chief is a one-trick first-person-shooter pony. Sorry Spartan 117, but as we say in our fantasy baseball league, you have to give up talent to get talent. I’m making this trade.

JOSHUA ABRAMS, INTERN EXTRAORDINAIRE
Never. Nintendo is very successful in its own right, but I see them specializing in more light-hearted, family-oriented games, not hardcore shoot-em-ups. Don't think that I assume Nintendo can't craft living, immersive worlds either, because that's been proven with Mario and Zelda games. I just think it would be out of character for them as a company to develop a game like Halo. And it would have to be something similar to the other Halo games, I don't think anyone wants a $60 triple-A title Master Chief game that is a platform puzzler. Also with Halo Wars- which I loved- being more of a sleeper hit, it shows that the fans just want to run and gun as the man in green MJOLNIR armor. Plus I love Master Chief way more than Mario, sorry!

KEVIN W. SMITH, FEATURES EDITOR
Even proposing this trade is completely sacrilege to both Microsoft and Nintendo, as they’d both be swapping the faces of their respective consoles. As a sports fan, I’ve seen what happens when a marquee player heads to a rival and what that can do to the spirit of the fanbase. Loyalty and emotions aside, this trade makes the most sense for Microsoft, which has been tirelessly pursuing the causal base since introducing Kinect. Adding Mario to its roster would give Microsoft an instantly recognizable face to put on the boxes of all its Kinect games (some of which already look like Wii titles) and perhaps finally win over skeptics. Nintendo already has a surplus of lovable plumbers on its roster, and by adding Master Chief, it could effectively explore the hardcore market once again. I say pull the trigger on this trade. 

ALAINA YEE, MANAGING EDITOR
I'm confident in saying I'd definitely make this trade.  I have this vision of Mario staring in a rash of cartoon-y FPSes that'd allow moms and dads everywhere to let their kids unknowingly hone their shooter skills without the controversy (or awkwardness) that comes with letting an eight-year-old play an M-rated title.  Get Bowser right between the eyes with a mini-fireball?  Woot. (Though I will admit, I fear what the world of Nintendo might do to Master Chief.  Would we see a chibi version of him?  Perhaps playing tennis?  Ack.)

DAVE RUDDEN, ONLINE EDITOR
Even though it feels like I’m stabbing my Xbox brethren in the back, I have to sign over Master Chief to Miyamoto and co. You see, almost five years without an original experience starring John-117 hasn’t made me as anxious for his return as it’s made me realize how… interchangeable he is. ODST and Reach, for all their explosion and attempted character development, had scads of Spartan soldiers that didn’t really seem all that different. They’re all armored, have opaque visors, and can use alien weaponry like it was second nature. Even if you put a Needler to my head, I wouldn’t be able to tell you any personality traits exclusive to The Rookie or Carter-A259.  On the flip-side, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi all have developed their own distinct character traits despite having barely any dialogue besides post-Kart race quips. So let’s bring Mario over to finally deliver on a quality Xbox 3D platformer, while the rest of the Halo-verse can continue the intergalactic FPS fun.

COREY COHEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
My immediate, gut-level response was "Hell yeah...that'd be great! The Xbox needs a character like that!" But after thinking a bit more, I'm back in the "No" camp. Two reasons: (1) Unlike Marcus Fenix — who's terrific but could probably be traded without damaging the platform — Master Chief is so synonymous with Xbox 360 (even without Bungie behind him), and such a flagship character, it'd be just too big a morale hit to lose him. Symbolically, it'd be like cashing in the console's soul. (2) Given Microsoft's continual quest for the casual market, I have this nagging fear that they'd turn Mario into a Kinect mascot. And even if his Kinect games turned out to be awesome, I'd hate to see him confined that way. All that said, if Microsoft did trade Master Chief for Mario, I'd hope they'd take advantage of the Fair Trade rules specifying that only the character is traded — not the universe — and immediately create a Halo-spinoff franchise starring a different Spartan. May as well capitalize on Chief's facelessness, and just have another guy/gal in MJOLNIR armor (perhaps red or blue, to be on the safe side legally) go off and kick Covenant ass.

DAVE CORDEN, ART DIRECTOR
I would not trade away Master Chief. Sure, Mario is a blast — he's a plumber who races around in a magical kingdom and all that— but he reminds me of myself, too much: short, with an expanding waistline and some facial hair. MC is not like me at all. John-117 is a faceless, badass soldier made to fight a war in the future. Even if you take away Halo's epic stories, array of enemies and the amazing weapons, Master Chief is an appealing, mysterious character who I want to see explore and fight whatever comes his way.

VERDICT: Tie! Because voting is deadlocked, this trade will remain under review and may be revisited again in the future after the characters in question star in their next adventure. In the meantime, the public is encouraged to weigh in below!