Having created franchises like Donkey Kong, Mario, and Zelda, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has been a big name in the industry for a long time. And if you've read one interview with the man in the last 20 years, you've pretty much read them all.
He likes new challenges. He likes innovating. He likes to make games that anyone can play. If the interview is from 2001 or later, it might mention how he got the idea for Pikmin while he was gardening.
CNN today posted a transcript of Miyamoto's recent appearance on Talk Asia, and while much of it reads like a "greatest hits" of the developer's previous Q&As, there are some interesting passages where he might be doing more than reciting the same answer he's given 100 times before.
When asked about why Nintendo hasn't jumped headfirst into the profitable world of violent games like Grand Theft Auto, Miyamoto replied, "My personal thought is, and I think it is the same with Nintendo, that before thinking about how to handle violence in video games, I think it is important to think about pain people feel. For example, you would not laugh at people with disabilities. There are bullying problems in Japan. Looking at the overall picture, it is important to understand and feel the pain that people might have. We make our games based on that philosophy, using means other than violence."
Talk Asia host Anjali Rao also asked Miyamoto about how he deals with fan feedback, noting that gamers are rarely restrained in offering their opinions.
"This is a difficult subject," Miyamoto confessed. "If a fan makes a suggestion, I will often put it in my mind, and I will take in whatever comment I feel is useful. But I make my own predictions of how a user might react to the games I create, and I would say I am sensitive to whether those reactions are in line with what I predicted. People generally have different views and opinions about anything. So I would only listen to whatever information is useful for me. It is interesting to hear what other people say. But instead of reading the blogs, I would rather stand behind a person playing the games and sense how the player is reacting to the game--whether he is unhappy with the games, or if he is having fun. I can feel all of that directly. It is more useful for me to do that than to read what he thinks of it."
Keep checking the GameSpot News Blog for more stories from every corner of the gaming world.
--Brendan Sinclair
Comments
This only implies that Miyamoto's games well never be violent. Third party developers can still make mature titles for the Nintendo platform.
The only thing I see, is some kid who thinks that a lack of violence is "kiddie". Grow up.
Your guns in videogames don't make you mature, they make you look really immature that you NEED that so you can feel like a big grown man.
Nintendo Wii isnt a kiddie console obviously, the console is meant to appeal to all kinds of people and all kinds of genres.
Nintendo Wii isnt a kiddie console obviously, the console is meant to appeal to all kinds of people and all kinds of genres.
Violence does not equal adult. Some of the most kiddie and immature people in the world play GTA. If you equate non violence with kiddy, then your views on life are really screwed up.
I guess it comes down to how you define "violence" as well. There's a lot of "killing" in Mario, Zelda, etc. . . It's just cartoonish and not sensationalized.
I have never doubted Miyamoto in his otherworldly powers of creating the most imaginative of pictures in video games. He's almost like Willy Wonka.
And I put emphasis on ALMOST, because he's more like Gene Wilder than Johnny Depp. I always liked Wilder better in that part.
*pulls up bulletproof shield*
Miyamoto makes GREAT games and I would only call them "kiddie" because they make you feel like a kid at heart when playing...and that's a good thing.
I can understand Mr. Miyamoto gonna try to keep Nintendo Image clean. But with all do respect it's not what he wants it's what the consumber wants. 3rd party can make the games but it's up to Nintendo to reject the use of those games to be played on there system. Which is why most of the ppl never look to Nintendo for games liek this they always look some where else.
Still, Miyamoto-San is entitled to his view, and he's certainly earned my respect. I hope that his philosophy and approach to games will never change. He is the man, and anyone who disagrees needs to be shot.
Oops, did I say that?
If u don't understand their vision u should keep your mouth SHUT.
I'd rather play an Zelda or Mario back to forth than an linear game like GTA.
Nintendo was and always be the best developer.
You do realise that you have summed up the entire games industry... Same formula, just a few added extras to create a "new game".
Nintendo games also suffer from the same thing - Metroid, Mario, Zelda and Pokémon have the same formula every game, but with a different background.
Please think about your argument before posting...
he's setting a double standard from cartoon to "realistic" type graphics. with the same argument he made...i can say i feel bad for that turtle getting stepped on by some big ol' italian plumber.
"it is important to understand and feel the pain that people might have" -miyamoto
that's his stand on things isn't it? so now...what about when princess peach gets kidnapped. doesn't anyone wonder the metal stress she's in? that she's been kidnapped by some fugly overgrown turtle who's trying to get with her? heh, sounds pretty traumatic for me.
the point is...there can't be a double standard when making a knowledge claim like that. it's a logical fallacy to have double standards. thus, what miyamoto said made no sense.
eh...i used to respect the guy -_- --->i still do, but...still...
ESRB Mature rating ≠ Mature person (virtually any in-game chat/talk proves this)
"Kiddie game" ≠ bad game (The Lion King for SNES was one of the most polished side-scrollers I've ever played)
I'm totally cool with violence, but it's not a must. Let's not forget that Goldeneye N64 was a Teen rated game.
On the other hand a game with twisting plot and moral choices with near real grapichs which doesnt depict sex or violance will get an E rating.
A real mature person would apreciatte a game for its context and entertainment value rather than wether the game has nudity and extreme violence.
there are great games both with and M rating and with and E rating if you can appreciate both then you are a true gamer
So when is Manhunt coming to the Wii? I heard next year.
lmao
No violence?? Well if you played LoZ: WW, the way you kill the last boss is not exactly... not violent. So shut up Miyamoto and bring GTA to the Wii!! I can't wait to stab to death some hoes with the wii-mote
deadlyfriend