The Most Popular Game Characters in the year 2000

According to the book "Guinness World Records 2000: Millennium Edition", the Most Popular Game Characters are:

1. Lara Croft, the Main Caracter of the Toab Raider Series, and the games she is in have been sold a total of 15 million copies (during the year 2000). Tomb Raider was also created by Core Design, featured in advertisments for SEAT cars & Lucozade. In Nov 98, Lara Croft appointed the UK's Ambassador for Scientfic Excellence by the British Department of Trade and Industry.
2. As for the most popular Male Character of the year 2000 is Mario. As most most of us already know, Mario is the plumber, and is one of the Main Characters of Super Mario Brothers. There were even 3 cartoon series and a film called "Super Mario Brothers" (1993), staring Mario and his brother Luigi, which whom played by Bob Hoskins.