Miyamoto "is not God", says Iwata News
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by
Ellie Gibson
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said his most famous employee isn't infallible - even though he doesn't half come up with a good idea now and again.
"The games [Shigeru Miyamoto] has worked on have a high batting average to produce big hits. However, he is not God," said Iwata, speaking in an investor briefing.
"Even Miyamoto himself cannot hit the mark every time nor always predict how long it takes to complete development."
Which is why it's Iwata's job, he said, to set timeframes for the development process and work out when launch new products. Besides, Miyamoto may be known for creating Mario, Zelda, Wii Fit and all the rest, but plenty of other Nintendo designers have contributed to the success of such products.
"He is just another human being, so it is not possible that every single idea contained in these software was the sole creation of Shigeru Miyamoto," said Iwata.
"Certainly, when it comes to identifying and verbalising some of the important major findings, few people can easily succeed him. For example, few people other than Shigeru Miyamoto can declare that weighing yourself everyday must be fun for everyone.
"However, the fact that Nintendo software is always full of unique and fun ideas attest to the fact that there are many good game creators at Nintendo. Together with Shigeru Miyamoto, all of them have been making what are called Nintendo software."
So what have they been making lately? Iwata declined to say, but he's probably saving it up for E3. Roll on June...
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Comments: 1-42 of 42 in total
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NegativeZero
22/05/09 @ 07:58
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Next you'll be telling me that Steve Jobs isn't the digital messiah and Chuck Norris couldn't roundhouse kick me into next month.
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superted1974
22/05/09 @ 08:10
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Clearly worried that Shigsy might snuff it and effect their share price!
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Yea I've said it for ages now. Miyamoto is damned good but, he's not the be all and end all of gaming goodness. I haven't really enjoyed the last few Zelda games for instance. Some nice ideas but, the same story re-told every time. Same with Mario.
I had hoped he would continue the Ocarina and Mask seires as those were excellent, especially the way they followed each other. I felt real empathy for the link in those two stories. Tricked by Zelda into taking the master sword and then leaving the end game celebration banquet (in his honour), which no-one even noticed he'd left! He turning up in the Majora's Mask kingdon where, once again he had to play hero to save people oblivious to their own fates. That had the makings of a magnificent trilogy right there! I have a Wii fit board at home that I used a few times and then simply gave up on. Like most things Mayamoto comes up with. They are great novelties until you realise there is nothing else out (that uses the items) that is any fun. |
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''Yea I've said it for ages now. Miyamoto is damned good but, he's not the be all and end all of gaming goodness. I haven't really enjoyed the last few Zelda games for instance. Some nice ideas but, the same story re-told every time. Same with Mario.Same with Mario''
Although I disagree with your comment on Zelda, I can see where your coming from. Although the story is the same, have you played Mario Galaxy? Pure gaming bliss and the best game of this generation. Miyamoto is definitely not God but he is a genius even though he created Wii Music.
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 22/05/09 @ 09:48
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superted1974
22/05/09 @ 09:35
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@ Skillian
You are right you know - I apologise http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/aff... But hey - you should stay away from interweb forums - they must really wind you up - some people don't even spell check their posts! |
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"Even Miyamoto himself cannot hit the mark every time nor always predict how long it takes to complete development."
WHY the hell would you waste his genius making him work on how long it takes to complete a game??? If they have him working in scheduling (in ANY way) ... something is seriously wrong at Nintendo. |
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@Burkey123
I liked Galaxy but, I guess I can't get too enthusiastic about rescuing Zelda for the millionth time or Defeating bowzer yet again. With Majora's Mask I felt some genuine freshness. There was no Zelda to rescue and you felt like a chain had been broken from around your neck. I would have liked Miyamoto to take Link further out into the Hyrule world for some even more interesting adventures. It was even hinted at at the end of Mask. Sadly he never persued the idea for whatever reasons. |
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kangarootoo
22/05/09 @ 13:36
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I wonder if Shig is planning to retire or someting? And perhaps Nintendo want to make sure everyone doesn't assume that his retirement will sign the end of all the games they love so much?
It just seems an odd thing to come out with otherwise. |
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@skillian
Clearly worried that Shigsy might snuff it and effect their share price! Affect. Sorry to be a dick, but that one really bugs me. While we're on the subject of pet peeves, people: please remember the word is ridiculous and not rediculous. (Not you, Skillian, just the hordes who get that wrong again and again.) |
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The key quote of the article is this one:
"However, the fact that Nintendo software is always full of unique and fun ideas attest to the fact that there are many good game creators at Nintendo. Together with Shigeru Miyamoto, all of them have been making what are called Nintendo software." Iwata is simply clarifying that TEAMS MAKE GAMES, not individuals. |
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Vertical Stand
23/05/09 @ 16:00
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My faith has been shattered, oh well, can still believe in Yu Suzuki - he's still God though Yu sure is taking the whole rest on Sunday thing a little too far as of late, where's Shenmue 3 man!
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According to the Gospel of Mario, Shigeru is the messiah of video games. :D
Having briefly met the great man at a megastore signing several years ago. I can personally say that he is very patient to greet his loyal fans and that makes him all the more endearing. He even signed a couple of Sega products by bemused request. :p |
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That's awesome. Too many 'Gamers' and the media seem to latch on to individuals, forgetting that a lot of people would have worked these games. It must be quite demoralising for a team to work their asses off only to see a single guy takign all the credit for your work. It'd be like workign in the the public sector!
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man.the.king
25/05/09 @ 23:53
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I don't know if Xerxes was being serious, but I think there may be a grain of truth in what he posted - Miyamoto may indeed be jumping ship, maybe to Sony or Microsoft, and so Iwata is distancing Nintendo's success from his star designer, so as to not affect Nintendo's stock prices (?)
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@MyPointIs
"Even Miyamoto himself cannot hit the mark every time nor always predict how long it takes to complete development." WHY the hell would you waste his genius making him work on how long it takes to complete a game??? If they have him working in scheduling (in ANY way) ... something is seriously wrong at Nintendo. Christmas 2006: - And we need something good for Christmas 2008 on the Wii. Be as creative as you want but it needs to be out by then. - Right 'ho, boss. Christmas 2008: /tumbleweed |
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@Darren : "a.k.a. casual masses and released the terrible, terrible Wii Music. "
I've take it you've played it then? It's not terrible, it's a game aimed at children. Kids love it. Just because YOU dont like it (as it's not aimed at you) doesnt mean it's terrible. That's like watching an episode of sessame street and comparing it to (i dunno) "Lost" or something - and concluding therefor that sesame street is terrible - and the people who make it dont know what they're doing. i.e. you're wrong. |
Comments: 1-42 of 42 in total
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