Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto on Innovation & Retirement

The Guardian recently published an insightful article on Shigeru Miyamoto, the renowned Japanese video game designer known for iconic games like Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong. The piece delves into his lasting impact on the gaming world.

Shigeru Miyamoto - Wikipedia

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.Contributors to Wikimedia projects

Even if you're just curious about the creativity behind game development, this article is a great read. Here are the quotes that stood out to me:

1. "You can tell a Nintendo game not just from its feel – the satisfying swish of Link’s sword in the Zelda games, the weight of Mario’s jump – but by its look. They are bright, energetic, characterful."
2. "Miyamoto is often called the Spielberg of games and Nintendo dubbed gaming’s Pixar, but he doesn’t like those comparisons. 'Miyamoto is Miyamoto and Nintendo is Nintendo,' was how he put it in an interview in February 2023."
3. "In person, though, Miyamoto is welcoming and enthusiastic, though more reserved than you might expect from the world’s most famous game designer."
4. "A lot of times they have to tell me, 'No more, enough!'" - Miyamoto, discussing his attention to detail in game and console design.
5. "I don’t praise people a lot. I realised that when I read that interview," Miyamoto concurs. "But that said, I think working together on the next project is the biggest praise I can give."