Which gaming mascot was originally created as a placeholder character but went on to become one of the most recognizable figures in gaming history?

Brand mascots in gaming have become iconic symbols representing major franchises and companies. These characters often transcend their original games to become cultural phenomena, appearing in merchandise, crossover titles, and even movies. How well do you know the history behind these digital ambassadors? Test your knowledge about one of gaming's most recognized mascots and its journey through the industry's evolution!

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Pac-Man, who was designed as a simple yellow circle to test arcade hardware capabilities
Sonic the Hedgehog, who started as a generic animal character in Sega's design documents
Mario, who was initially called 'Jumpman' and was a temporary character for Donkey Kong
Master Chief, who began as a testing model for Halo's combat mechanics