We've seen Shigeru Miyamoto's ever-beaming self quite a lot over recent years, often during big events such as E3 where he's essentially presented as the face of Nintendo and an all-round gaming icon, but we don't often get the chance to see him in his younger days. Thanks to this rediscovered interview with the BBC, however, now we can.
The British television broadcaster gets an exclusive look into Nintendo's famous walls - a treat reserved for very few even today - and sits down for a chat with Miyamoto-san to talk about life at Nintendo back in 1990. Despite only being around 38 years old at the time, he was still considered the "god of games" back then by youngsters - of course, he had already designed and released the likes of Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda by this time, so we guess that's fair enough.
https://twitter.com/TheRetroEarth/status/1027685791005401088
In the video, it is explained that all of the Nintendo colleagues wore a uniform to work, and were paid an "ordinary" salary despite their games being able to earn the company several hundred million dollars a piece. Miyamoto explains why the developers were happy to work in these usual, non-flamboyant conditions:
"That's a difficult one... Well, we’re not paid glamorously for developing games which sell well, but the company's a sponsor; it encourages and pays for us to visit museums, to go to movies, or even short trips so that we can get inspired. So everyone’s happy to work for the company, especially as we get the prestige of being associated with it."
That's a nice sentiment, and one that shows a high level of loyalty to Nintendo's name. The passion for developing the games and working under Nintendo's roof were clearly larger inspirations than earning huge amounts of money, which no doubt, in turn, helped the quality of the final products.
Now then, when are we being invited to take a visit to Nintendo HQ?
[source twitter.com]
Comments 14
That’s a great mentality to have!
In Japan you work for a company until you are dead (Yes they pay for your funeral).
Someone scored big playing Recordable VHS Tape Russian Roulette. Could it be gold, could it be forgotten nostalgia, or will it just be porn? Who knows?
I'm not sure if Nintendo still pays game developers an "ordinary" salary like they used to or not but I think it's really interesting that they pay them to take time to get inspired. This might be one of the reasons for Nintendo's success because I really believe that successful games are made when the creator(s) are really enjoying what they are working on. And more money doesn't always make the job more exciting.
I’ll watch this later. I do admire the jobs for life thing in Japan, such a far cry from the “fire at will” contracts here in the states and uk.
Also, look at the youth of Shiggsy!
@NewAdvent People get around that, especially in the creative industry. You can't get fired when you're Freelancer. Or you only get hired on short-term contracts.
@NewAdvent Yeah, the US system is much more like royal retainers in feudal England of old. You work under privilege by their grace, and at any instant they can decide you don't, and your life resets back to being a school kid. There's really no such thing as "stability" you just aim to make it another day unless you're irreplaceably valuable. Something reserved for very few, outside realms like medical and law. It ensures business is efficient, flexible, and successful more times than not, but on the flip side, your life hangs in the balance of pleasing the master fully on a daily basis. Which probably explains a lot about behaviors here ranging from bottomless debt and "live for today" behavior, ranging to all those shootings people blame on the availability of weapons and never bother looking at the underlying causes of why so many people seem to want to destroy as many other people as possible so often.
@Nincompoop In the US you work for a company until a younger replacement is found. You're on your own for the funeral, but we have plenty of coastline for disposals.
Of course in Japan, you also live in, for, and about the company..... Home is a bed you can occasionally use, and mobile games are about all you'll have free time for....
Nintendo have changed since then... Some things good some things bad.
@Angelic_Lapras_King
Honestly, couldn't it be all three simultaneously?
@NewAdvent
Except that you can't until you've been in continuous employment for >2 years. The only challenge available until then is discrimination, and if you're white - fuhgeddaboudit
I was only six years old lying in bed all day, and this man was already out there changing the world. I'm still lying in bed all day.
@NEStalgia good post.
I’ll say this , I’ve been a freelancer for many years in nyc and some companies treat you poorly , some are great . It has given me fearlessness for if I go full time - sacking g me just means I’m freelance the next day
Everybody looked like a scientist lol
@NewAdvent this seems overstated. Yeah some places can suck but a lot of companies are good. The worst stories I’ve heard are always from the huge companies that people can fire other people several levels below them. In other words they are removed from things.
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