Shigeru Miyamoto is right up there as one of Nintendo's most famous and adored talents (likely sitting comfortably at the top of that list for many), and is arguably one of the most important and influential game developers of all time. The creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and plenty more besides hardly needs any introduction, though, so let's get to the good stuff.
Working alongside such an industry legend sounds like it would be exciting, inspiring, and probably a little bit terrifying, as expressed by Nintendo's Shinya Takahashi and Hisashi Nogami in an interview with The Guardian. Miyamoto's role at Nintendo has shifted in recent years - it's been well documented that he now acts more as an advisor, rather than getting stuck in himself - and Takahashi provides an insight into how that plays out at Nintendo HQ.
“He is not involved in the minute details of development, but does oversee entire projects and identifies major issues: this part is bad, this part is bad, THIS part is bad … ” laughs Takahashi. “If he says something’s good, it’s rare, and you know it is. Although he’s been saying quite a few things are good, I should say. He’s actually a shy person – even when he thinks something is well done, he would not often say that to someone directly.”
If someone we respected to such a level told us that something we had been working on was "bad", we'd probably break down in tears on the spot; while these Nintendo veterans are clearly much stronger than us, Miyamoto's opinion still clearly means a lot to those working under his watchful eye. The interview goes on:
“I have never once been praised by Mr Miyamoto,” Nogami chimes in, deadpan.
“Perhaps not to your face, but behind your back he’s very pleased with you,” Takahashi laughs.
If you're interested in hearing more, you can read the full interview right here.
Is Miyamoto one of your gaming industry idols? Imagine how different things would be without his work...
[source theguardian.com]
Comments 60
I may not always agree with his design decisions, but there's no denying that Miyamoto is an absolute legend who's behind some of the greatest games of all time. My childhood would have been distinctly less magical if it weren't for the high standards that Shiggy put in his games. Thank you, Mr. Miyamoto.
It would be super awesome if I got to work with him, but then, I am still super grateful for all the fun games that he has created and designed that are super fun.
Sounds like a place to work for millennials.
So he is too shy to say something good, but easily says what is bad? Sounds kinda like a dick to work with.
@RickD Never heard about that. If that's true, if he reacted that way towards a bug, I'd hate to imagine how he was feeling after the infamous Skyward Sword stage demo.
"Is Miyamoto one of your gaming industry idols"
How to put it... He is the only living legend and will ascend to God of video game the day he retires (hopefully never). He is the Da Vinci of modern recreation, the Einstein of art, the Jean Jacques Goldman of video games creation.
So yeah, barely an idol of mine.
Also imagine what Miyamoto said and the tsunami of tears when they rebooted the Prime 4 project.
I've always assumed him to be the shy person this interview would suggest. I like that quote from the interview you included near the end though. Not everyone is very good at heaping praise in person. I can respect that.
@Dissident Miyamoto strives for perfection. If he sees something bad, he wants to fix it. I would assume that he doesn’t want to give much praise because he doesn’t want people getting complacent. He wants his team to always aim for better and better. My two cents.
Considering Miyamoto's currently held position, combined with his personality, these accounts sound about right, lol. I believe he really is a nice guy, but as a senior advisor, he can't buddy up with everyone and has to stay a little stern/strict. As long as Nintendo is the better for it, then it's all worthwhile.
My favorite Mario game, and game of all-time, he ever worked on, but not by himself, of course: Super Mario Bros. 3!
Sometimes, as a creator in the game industry doesn't like being moved up the ladder, away from being creative. Kaji Inafune for instance.
Commercially, the Wii was a success for Nintendo. But, I think the console should have had more power, than it did. Also, I loved Wii Music, but didn't purchase, because I couldn't create music, like in the Composer mode of Mario Paint, back on SNes. That would have been fun!
Eventually, he is going to retire, or hopefully not die, while still working. I recall reading how he teaches his proteges to not be like him, but think similar to him, adding of course, their own flair, and personality. That in mind, plus, no person can work without breaks, or forever, the game industry won't be exactly the same without him, but it will be in good hands. The same applies to other modern developers taking cues for themselves after developers from the 80's to now.
I appreciate his work, and his contributions. Thank you, Mr. Miyamoto!
I'm sure he has high standards, and, as some have already said, does not want his teams giving less-than 100%, or more.
@Yoshinator I've sometimes wondered about his impact. While since if it might have been the head of the team(a different one than when Paper Mario/Thousand Year Door/Super Paper Mario were made), it's believed that Paper Mario Stickers Star was made into what it turned out to be in part because Miyamoto was bored and felt prototype they had at the time "played too much like Thousand Year Door" and the team as a result might have taken his criticism too much to heart when he also commented that he "wasn't sure a Mario game even needed a story?" and wished the team stopped "introducing new characters and instead focused more on ones that can be found within the Mushroom Kingdom"(hence all the Toads were got in Sticker Stars and Color Splash).
And you can see the impact it had in making Stickers Stars and Color Splash both the first Paper Mario games to sell less than their predecessor.
In comparison, Mario Odyssey ditched almost all the traditional conventions(what Miyamoto seemed particularly unhappy about Paper Mario) to a degree unseen since Sunshine and apparently saw little involvement by Miyamoto compared to previous games... and not only is a great sellers of the Nintendo Switch but might even be one of the best selling Mario games of Nintendo's entire history.
So i'm starting to wonder if Miyamoto might not indeed be less involved in games the more time pass and this be used in more promotional fashion with his "advisory role" being to keep his involvement in actual development at more of a minimum as time goes and limited to aesthetics and general advices at most.
Like some of the limitations of the WiiU era has me wonders if they are in part because of him.
For example 3D World was appreciated by fans but was also one of the most "traditional" Mario to date to hit home consoles and couldn't really be called that much of a ground breaker consider it could be said to be mostly just an updated 3D Lands for home consoles.
@Ludovsky 3D World wasn't that traditional IMO. It's pretty unique.
Miyamoto San is the humble gaming artist. Me Thank you for the super Mario odyssey, sir!
So he’s a shy guy.
Yes. Shigeru Miyamoto has directly or indirectly influenced every part of the gaming industry and my life would be very different without the likes of Zelda and Mario. I will probably be weepy for days after he dies, but I'm glad parts of him will live forever in our own dreams and happy places.
His projects and dedication to his craft is admirable but at the end of the day, he’s still human with limitations, aspirations and misfires like anyone else.
I love his games and contributions to the medium but he’s far from perfect, putting anyone or anything on a pedastal is an unusual and counterintuitive endeavor if I’m being honest here.
Still- I will recognize the man and his team’s lasting contributions to the medium as a whole and I look forward to their latest projects.
The industry itself is always changing but it’s great to see Nintendo and their innovations come to life before our very eyes!
Cheers Miyamoto and staff!
He sounds a bit vicious. Held on in honoured well paid position but basically had his day.
@Lionyone vicious seems too strong a word; maybe rigid or tough but no means a Monster. The Japanese work ethic is a beast though, I can agree that much.
My favourite creation of his is the Pikmin. I love how he can just look at his garden and see a world of wonder and intrigue. The inspiration he has is the kind that inspires others and I think the video games industry is better due to his influence.
@LavaTwilight I very much agree. He is the exact type of person we need in the industry so the standards can always remain high, at least within Nintendo. He is a very firm believer in what he helps create, yet he is very imaginative as well. Rare traits to have in combination but critical to his success.
The Guardian made it sound like this interview was conducted for Nintendo's 130th anniversary, but that isn't until September
If someone you admire at work tells you you did something bad, don’t “break down in tears.” Be grateful because they’re trying to teach you. They don’t HAVE to do that.
@Likethepear Yes he does have to do that, it's literally his job
Super Mario 64.
. . .
He's saying "Notice me, Senpai!"
@RickD You think Game Informer was pressured by someone to delete this article?
But... but... HE RUINED PAPER MARIO AND STAR FOX!
I miss the Iwata asks interviews, here are some good ones from the Ocarina of time development staff and they talk about working with Miyamoto back then, it's a good read
http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/1/0
Tsundere Miyamoto confirmed.
"W-what?! Squids? Hey, don't get the wrong idea! It's not like I like your Splatoon concepts or anything..."
@RickD Thank you for sharing. It's obvious why he was pissed, and imagine what happened when Skyward Sword miserably failed on E3 2010, now that everyone could see the conference. I didn't knew Wind Waker failed presentation during that E3 until now.
@Vee_Flames Yeah, he has made some questionable decisions. People should call out these errors more often rather than shrug it off.
It's important to keep in mind that this type of management style isn't uncommon in Japan even though it may seem strange from a western standpoint.
Source: Lived and worked in Japanland since 2011.
@sixrings I mean yeah..considering millenials are between 23 and 38 this year i would assume that they have a lot of people that age working there. That is also the target audience for most game companies.
Miyamoto, like Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, The Beatles and Walt Disney, is a genius and likely also very hard to work with, just like these folks as well.He should be praised and commended for his massive influence over the video game industry.
There is a YouTube video about the life of Iwata-san; it quotes him about working with Miyamoto-san. It is clear that that Iwata appreciated the direct feedback about what was or wasn't "fun" about his games. I think that as a professional, you understand that if somebody doesn't say something you don't have to worry about it.
The bio is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE
@Paddle1 Has the best 4-multiplayer in the series, and doesn’t skip a beat with all 4 characters running, jumping and climbing around highly detailed environments. That is not easy to pull off. It was definitely special. And it still looks gorgeous.
@ilikeike Just out of curiosity, can you mention a couple of design decisions you don’t agree with?
Sounds like he's trying to give constructive criticism. I would actually appreciate that, it shows that he's passionate about gaming to the point where he wants to make sure you're putting out the best product you possibly can.
@RickD That was a wonderful article RickD; thanks for sharing that.
Working in Japan I can confirm that praise is rarely given like it is in the west. The idea being that if you are doing well, you are doing your job and don't need to be told the obvious. If you do get praise, you really do know they appreciate your efforts. Though segments of the population are pushing for that to change because the low amounts of positive feedback have been blamed as a partial cause of Japan's high rates of depression and even suicide.
Miyamoto is a longtime veteran of the industry, so I would imagine any feedback from him to be very valuable. On the other hand he is an older man, and used to old school Japanese office life. Presumably at least.
The best are always demanding.
@Paddle1
I agree. I prefer Mario to be focused on jumping rather than only collecting things.
Does anyone on here make games? What's your opinion on miyamoto? I feel like he's past his prime.
@Obitokamui64 That's why he's taken on an adbisory role rather than being hands on with projects.
Those that strive for greatness are those who know that the people around them could do better. Working on a demanding environment brings out the best and worst of people.
Miyamoto here is just an example but he was without a doubt, a lynchpin in his time. His advisory role is much less stressful but his opinions on matters still hold an impact. That's a sign that people hold him in high regard.
@Heavyarms55 He is a perfectionist. Perfectionists don’t dish out praise to easily.
Well as someone with so many amazing games under his belt he has a right to have such high standards, alot of the time he set the standard that future games had to try to meet.
@outsider83 My biggest issue is primarily his views on making every game "unique". While I'm all for gameplay variety, I think that his emphasis on forcing new mechanics and ideas into beloved traditional franchises has done more harm than good--i.e. Star Fox Zero, Paper Mario, etc. I think that some games are better when they focus on refining a tired and true formula, rather than trying to do something radically new every time.
@Ludovsky Lol, what are you smoking? Miyamoto is a legend and an inspiration to the world, let alone the people who work at Nintendo.
His catalog speaks for itself, nobody even comes close.
@ilikeike Nope, that's what kept the Nintendo brand big throughout the decades. How many gaming franchises from 30 years ago do you know that are still popular today?
It's really hard to keep a games like Mario and Zelda fresh for all those years. Miyamoto's vision and drive for innovation is why Mario did not end up like Sonic the Hedgehog.
@HumanDog You're absolutely right that Nintendo's innovation is important - it's what led to all-time masterpieces like Mario Galaxy and Breath of the Wild. Miyamoto's direction for Nintendo's bigger franchises has definitely helped them remain at the top of the industry. I just think that sometimes Miyamoto's focus on making every game "unique" could be misplaced. Star Fox Zero would likely have been much better received if it weren't for the arbitrary control scheme, for instance. Of course his design philosophy was generally great and led to amazing game, I just think that sometimes it wasn't applied as well as it could have been.
I love how this small news piece turned into a bona fide discussion of Miyamoto's importance to the company!
On that note, I wonder how much of a gamer Miyamoto is himself. You could say he single-handedly created whole genres, defining the platformer with Super Mario Bros. and 3D-platformers with Super Mario 64. When he made those, he was creating, not competing. You have to be a designer first, non necessarily an avid gamer to make those. Wii had ample opportunities for this kind of thinking as well, with the motion controls allowing developers to create something wholly new.
Today, however, the variety in indie creations seemingly leaves nothing really new to create. It's up to big teams to come up with marginally new ideas an execute them perfectly (e.g. Splatoon, which is an online shooter, but unmistakably Nintendo in execution). Those games need you to be in the moment, understanding the industry and defying its expectations.
I think Miyamoto is not that person. He's a good designer, having a gut feeling for what's fun and what's not (hence his advisor role), but his time as an innovator has passed. I'd like to be wrong when he surprises us with something we've never seen before (maybe in VR?), but rationally thinking, I find it highly unlikely.
@Dissident It's Asian culture, it doesn't put emphasis on praising people in words but will let you know if you did something unsatisfactory.
It's where the whole tiger parents and memes like 'you are Asian, not Bsian' come from.
@ReaderRagfihs Yah, I wonder how well that will go over when (if) he reads that!. Funny because with so many people, we only know them for their work, but we really don't know them. We want them to be the greatest people on the planet because we love what they do, but we really don't know.
@ilikeike But Star Fox always had gimmicks. Star Fox on the SNES introduced the Super FX chip. Star Fox 64 introduced the Rumble Pak. Star Fox Zero started as a tech demo for for the Wii U.
It wasn't even that bad. There was an review echo chamber where every reviewer copied each others opinion about the control scheme. It wasn't that different from Splatoon.
Plus I usually like mastering a new control scheme. I remember when I had to rewire my brain the first time I played with mouse and keyboard or when I played Turok (or control scheme 1.2 in Goldeneye). Same for Splatoon with the motion controls, which made Star Fox Zero easier to learn.
But let's be real, Star Fox 64 was the only really good game in the series. Star Fox is probably Nintendo's weakest franchise.
Haha, poor Nogami.
We know Miyamoto is pleased with him though, as they were threatened with having Splatoon invaded by established Nintendo characters, if they didn't come up with something better than the rabbits it was pitched with.
And obviously, the original cast of Splatoon are now a main contributer to the game's runaway success.
@HumanDog Star Fox Zero had repeating or outright recycled content, pacing issues, all on top of an absolutely baffling control scheme. Gimmicks can be good or bad. This one was bad. Command's was bad.
As for this article, complimenting employees genuinely is difficult if you're "not on the frontline" of the work. This can be due to the time constraints of your own responsibilities or just the lack of timely and meaningful opportunity to do so. That said, it sounds like Miyamoto would benefit from throwing in a few "This is a good start" or "I like where this design/mechanic is going", etc.
@kingbk I refuse to praise Steve Jobs he was a grade A douchebag.
I'm glad he helped the Chibi-Robo team to complete the first game in the series and release it on the Gamecube. It didn't made much of an impact on the industry, but to me personally, its one of Nintendo's best games. Thank you, Miyamoto-san for helping producing it.
Also, Mario is platformer perfection (can't wait for Mario Maker 2) and the Zelda formula is the blueprint for every metroidvania. Those series had and still have so much influence on the industry since over 30 years. Yeah, Miyamoto did so much right already, I allow him to take risks. I didn't like shaking the Wiimote in DKCR for blowing at dandelions, but Star Fox Zero's controls were pretty cool.
@ilikeike Never thought about that. When you mentioned Star Fox, I knew exactly what you meant.
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