He is riding high on the deserved success of Super Mario Galaxy. We wanted to know, what does the master, Shigeru Miyamoto think about how other entertainment media have influenced his work on the Mario games? Next-Gen spoke to gaming's most illustrious designer...
In this exclusive interview, the creator of Mario talks about his most famous creation, and adds his thoughts on why Hollywood doesn't always get it right with movie adaptations. He also talks about why Wii has been such an overwhelming success.
Narrative is important to all entertainment. Donkey Kong was the first game that introduced a narrative story. Where did you come up with that idea?
Shigeru Miyamoto: I have been a big fan of comics since I was a young boy and so one idea I had in creating that game was to apply a little bit of story to it in order to help people understand the concepts of the game better. It was a similar way to what you see with comics.
What did you like besides comic books?
Miyamoto: Actually, another thing that I did when I was younger was that I often would create little flip-book animations and made my own puppets and played with them quite a bit. And when I started working on videogames I realized that it was a very good medium for doing those types of creative activities.
How did Mario, the character, evolve from Jumpman to Mario?
Miyamoto: Well, the first thing I should probably explain is that when I originally created the Jumpman character my goal was to be able to use a character in a lot of videogames going forward. This stems from something that we often see in Japan, where comic book artists will create their own character and use that character in a lot of different comics. So I was hoping that Mario, or Jumpman, would be kind of a "Mr. Video" type of character who would appear in lots of different games.
When we released Donkey Kong, the character was originally just called Jumpman, but what we found out was that the people had started to call him Mario. And the reason for that was that the character design apparently resembled the landlord of the warehouse that Nintendo of America was using and his name happened to be Mario.
So when I heard that the people in the United States were calling my character Mario, I thought, "Oh, you know, that's a catchy name. That's a good name. I think maybe we could use that for the character." So there was kind of a character evolution there, where it evolved into something bigger and better.
What are your thoughts on the Disney Super Mario Bros. movie?
Miyamoto: Well, when we first initiated talks about a Super Mario Bros, movie, I tried to emphasize the point that the Mario Bros. games are fun as videogames and if we were going to make a Mario Bros. movie, that movie should be entertaining as a movie, and not a translation of the videogame.
I think that they tried very hard and in the end it was a very fun project that they put a lot of effort into. The one thing that I still have some regrets about is that the movie may have tried to get a little too close to what the Mario Bros. videogames were. And in that sense, it became a movie that was about a videogame, rather than being an entertaining movie in and of its self.
Did you collaborate a lot with Disney to create this movie?
Miyamoto: I didn't collaborate with them a whole lot. Obviously, I was involved in the initial pitch about them wanting to make a movie. After they had started production and had filmed some scenes, there was a step there where we were a little bit involved.
I have to say his comment about manga artists reusing characters in other series is a little bit off. The only one I really know of is Clamp. Also, I think Miyamoto is over-rated anyway. Yes, he has created countless quality games but they've all been based around the same characters for many years meaning he's in the comfort zone in terms of creating a whole new set of characters and universe. The only exception is Pikmin but that was quite simply a very weird game...
One of the vets of the industry and still doing his thing. Yes he hasn't really bought out any new characters but how many other companies have in the last 5 years?
Odds are he knows more Manga than you, and from a generation (or two) before you as well
They need to stop cutting these interviews into multiple parts. This one ends in a completely useless place. So far we've been told a little about where he came from (good) and a lot about the crap movie (bad).
The thing is he's not just an icon for Mario or Nintendo. He invented one of the most recognisable characters in the world (Mario) and not only that, the genre we now call Platform games. And to say the games are samey is a little short-sighted. In terms of storyline, absolutely. But a 2D platformer redesigned for 3D with analogue controls was a massive step. And now 3D with variable physics and gravity effects is another leap forward.
I have to say his comment about manga artists reusing characters in other series is a little bit off. The only one I really know of is Clamp. Also, I think Miyamoto is over-rated anyway. Yes, he has created countless quality games but they've all been based around the same characters for many years meaning he's in the comfort zone in terms of creating a whole new set of characters and universe. The only exception is Pikmin but that was quite simply a very weird game...
Overrated! This guy makes the best games ever created! I never thought I would see a game as that betters Mario64 or Zelda OOT but Galaxy has exceeded all my expectations, I have had to stop playing Halo3 as Galaxy is taking up all my time and is in my opinion the greatest game ever made. Also Pikmin might have been weird but that did not stop it being fantastic. As long as he is delivering games of such high quality I do not care if he creates new ip or not, besides which most other games companies are the same they only create new ip when they absolutely have to.
I have to say his comment about manga artists reusing characters in other series is a little bit off. The only one I really know of is Clamp. Also, I think Miyamoto is over-rated anyway. Yes, he has created countless quality games but they've all been based around the same characters for many years meaning he's in the comfort zone in terms of creating a whole new set of characters and universe. The only exception is Pikmin but that was quite simply a very weird game...
Overrated! This guy makes the best games ever created! I never thought I would see a game as that betters Mario64 or Zelda OOT but Galaxy has exceeded all my expectations, I have had to stop playing Halo3 as Galaxy is taking up all my time and is in my opinion the greatest game ever made. Also Pikmin might have been weird but that did not stop it being fantastic. As long as he is delivering games of such high quality I do not care if he creates new ip or not, besides which most other games companies are the same they only create new ip when they absolutely have to.
What im trying to say is that in terms of gameplay, yes, he innovates quite alot and has basically created the platform genre and once again rule that roost thanks to Galaxy. However, in terms of characters and plot he fails. While you have games like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed delivering storylines that rival some of the best books, you have Miyamoto that sticks to the same sort of plot and the same characters, ie he's in the comfort zone in that aspect. I wouldn't consider him a 'God' like alot of people do until he can deliver in both areas.
I have to say his comment about manga artists reusing characters in other series is a little bit off. The only one I really know of is Clamp. Also, I think Miyamoto is over-rated anyway. Yes, he has created countless quality games but they've all been based around the same characters for many years meaning he's in the comfort zone in terms of creating a whole new set of characters and universe. The only exception is Pikmin but that was quite simply a very weird game...
Overrated! This guy makes the best games ever created! I never thought I would see a game as that betters Mario64 or Zelda OOT but Galaxy has exceeded all my expectations, I have had to stop playing Halo3 as Galaxy is taking up all my time and is in my opinion the greatest game ever made. Also Pikmin might have been weird but that did not stop it being fantastic. As long as he is delivering games of such high quality I do not care if he creates new ip or not, besides which most other games companies are the same they only create new ip when they absolutely have to.
What im trying to say is that in terms of gameplay, yes, he innovates quite alot and has basically created the platform genre and once again rule that roost thanks to Galaxy. However, in terms of characters and plot he fails. While you have games like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed delivering storylines that rival some of the best books, you have Miyamoto that sticks to the same sort of plot and the same characters, ie he's in the comfort zone in that aspect. I wouldn't consider him a 'God' like alot of people do until he can deliver in both areas.
You don't need a great plot or in depth characters for all games. Its about fun and enjoyment. Something a lot of games lack. He's consistently giving good games on a regular basis for a good 20+ years so i think he is up there in terms of influence and contribution. He isn't just involved in software either he's the thinker behind the control interface for Nintendo's consoles as well.
He doesn't have to produce an epic story at all. Not many, if any, has achieved what he has and still going. So he deserves his credit.
I have to say his comment about manga artists reusing characters in other series is a little bit off. The only one I really know of is Clamp. Also, I think Miyamoto is over-rated anyway. Yes, he has created countless quality games but they've all been based around the same characters for many years meaning he's in the comfort zone in terms of creating a whole new set of characters and universe. The only exception is Pikmin but that was quite simply a very weird game...
Overrated! This guy makes the best games ever created! I never thought I would see a game as that betters Mario64 or Zelda OOT but Galaxy has exceeded all my expectations, I have had to stop playing Halo3 as Galaxy is taking up all my time and is in my opinion the greatest game ever made. Also Pikmin might have been weird but that did not stop it being fantastic. As long as he is delivering games of such high quality I do not care if he creates new ip or not, besides which most other games companies are the same they only create new ip when they absolutely have to.
What im trying to say is that in terms of gameplay, yes, he innovates quite alot and has basically created the platform genre and once again rule that roost thanks to Galaxy. However, in terms of characters and plot he fails. While you have games like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed delivering storylines that rival some of the best books, you have Miyamoto that sticks to the same sort of plot and the same characters, ie he's in the comfort zone in that aspect. I wouldn't consider him a 'God' like alot of people do until he can deliver in both areas.
You don't need a great plot or in depth characters for all games. Its about fun and enjoyment. Something a lot of games lack. He's consistently giving good games on a regular basis for a good 20+ years so i think he is up there in terms of influence and contribution. He isn't just involved in software either he's the thinker behind the control interface for Nintendo's consoles as well.
He doesn't have to produce an epic story at all. Not many, if any, has achieved what he has and still going. So he deserves his credit.
we found out was that the people had started to call him Mario. And the reason for that was that the character design apparently resembled the landlord of the warehouse that Nintendo of America
Well, I had read a very long time ago from the offical nintendo magazine, that he named Jumpman(not Junkman) Mario after Miyamoto's landlord which i always found strange considering Miyamoto always lived in Japan I dont care which one is right but I wanna know the truth...
4) The fact Miyamoto has created characters so successful that they transend their games, consoles and even generations is legendary in itself. Look at Sonic, without a good game how far has his stock fallen? Remember when Crash Bandicoot was popular? The Tomb Raider phase came and went as the games declined. The fact he has kept his characters so popular and done it all with gameplay alone is even more comendable. .
Miyamoto.... the Mario film was the biggest pile of steaming, maggot infested s**t i've ever, ever seen!... & i dont even like the little Italian c**t.
What im trying to say is that in terms of gameplay, yes, he innovates quite alot and has basically created the platform genre and once again rule that roost thanks to Galaxy. However, in terms of characters and plot he fails. While you have games like Bioshock and Assassin's Creed delivering storylines that rival some of the best books, you have Miyamoto that sticks to the same sort of plot and the same characters, ie he's in the comfort zone in that aspect. I wouldn't consider him a 'God' like alot of people do until he can deliver in both areas.
I think you're being unfair in certain comparisons here, you're comparing two heavily plot driven games in Bioshock and AC to Miyamoto's games where the plot is simply a device to get the user moving in the game and introduce the occasional set-piece. If he wanted to make his games more plot driven I'm pretty sure they could get some professional writers in to sort that out but that's not what the Mario and Zelda games are about.
On that other point, delivering in both fun, innovative games and gripping story lines with well developed characters, how many games are there that actually deliver in both these areas? Not many.
The vast majority fall down in one or both areas, and a badly delivered plot can be worse than a very simple one. Final Fantasy 10 did this for me (feel free to disagree but this is how I felt), I found myself having to mute the TV whenever the characters started speaking because, Auron aside, they were all so god dammed irritating, and I just didn't care about the plot or why they were doing what they were doing it was so badly delivered, and for a plot driven game this is a pretty serious disaster (even worse considering that I'm a big fan of the Final Fantasy series).
I' fair to say, i am actually 23, i thought i was old school until i came on here. it is fair to say that if it was not for Super mario bros 1,2,3 etc/ and then mario kart on snes, i probably wouldn't of been that bothered about gaming, but straight away the charactes the plot what ever does help. Miyamoto to me is like godfather in game a man who choose a different line stuck with it and the company games industry must always be thankful
I' fair to say, i am actually 23, i thought i was old school until i came on here. it is fair to say that if it was not for Super mario bros 1,2,3 etc/ and then mario kart on snes, i probably wouldn't of been that bothered about gaming, but straight away the charactes the plot what ever does help. Miyamoto to me is like godfather in game a man who choose a different line stuck with it and the company games industry must always be thankful
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