LogFAQs > #936890006

Also, this won't mean much but I thought this was fun looking for any signs of indie influence here through the character-based contests: two indie games had representation in the Rival Rumble from November 2011:

SMB's Meat Boy + Dr. Fetus straight-up made it into a contest as a 6-seed:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/4528-south-division-round-1-zidane-vs-kuja-meat-boy-vs-dr-fetus

I Wanna Be the Guy's The Kid + The Guy survived a vote-in with fifth place to land an 8-seed:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/4480-which-of-these-rivalries-would-you-most-like-to-see-in-the
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/4522-southeast-division-round-1-samus-vs-ridley-the-kid-vs-the

July 2013's Character Battle also offered four indie characters who were in SMB:
Meat Boy
Captain Viridian
Steve
Commander Video
(two tangents: although Tim was in SMB, he was only in 2008's contest which was before SMB's release...though if you're looking for characters in 2013's contest influenced from Edmund McMillan but wasn't playable in SMB, you could add Isaac)

All entries here were weak, but if we're talking about appreciation for certain indie games it's worth noting SMB probably had more characters in a contest than any other indie game.

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O P E R A T I O N O U S T : Nominate SHEIK!
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ssb/images/0/0d/Sheik-Victory3-SSB4.png