this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2026
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Miyamoto: Games based on developers’ personal interests resonate around the world, not those aiming for global appeal | VGC (www.videogameschronicle.com)
submitted 2 days ago by villainy@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49816572

In an interview in the new issue of Famitsu, Miyamoto was asked why Nintendo‘s IPs are enjoyed around the world.

Miyamoto replied that the key to a successful game isn’t looking at what’s trending and trying to capitalise on that, but starting with ideas that the developers personally find fun and working around them.

“People have long asked me, ‘why does a mustachioed middle-aged guy like Mario sell so well?’ and I always think, ‘that’s a bit rude, isn’t it?'” Miyamoto joked (via machine translation). “Well, I wonder the same thing myself – why did an older guy like this become a hit? But if you look at it simply, it’s because he was introduced alongside incredibly fun games.

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[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

What‘s Miyamoto‘s history with apes and plumbers? I would love to hear about those stories.

Really the only time I remember him giving examples of drawing inspiration from real life was a fox statue at a shrine inspiring him to design Star Fox or something. That seems pretty far removed from reality if you ask me.

[–] Jomega@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Oh, I know this one! ahem

So Donkey Kong came about out of happenstance. Nintendo was just getting into the budding arcade scene, and was in the middle of producing a licensed game based on Popeye. In fact, they were so far into production that when some behind the scenes bullshit meant the deal was off they had a nearly finished game that they still wanted to sell and not feel like they wasted all that time, money, and effort. That's when Miyamoto had the idea to keep the gameplay while changing the games art assets and premise. Popeye, Bluto, and Olive Oil were replaced with Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pauline respectively. After the unexpected success of Donkey Kong lead to them to do more with these now unaffiliated characters, there came a need to flesh out the world they lived in. Miyamoto always thought of Mario as a cartoon character, perhaps owing to the circumstances of his creation, so the Mushroom Kingdom as it was now come to be known was given a sort of classic cartoon aesthetic, the kind where it feels like anything could happen. The rest is history.

Star Fox doesn't have quite as interesting a story behind it, sorry to say. Miyamoto said he had seen Top Gun and wanted to make a game about fighter pilots.

Sorry for the wall of text, I'm autistic.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I know about the Donkey Kong thing but that doesn‘t seem related to Miyamoto‘s claim at all. That‘s just a work story. There‘s nothing about actual life in there.

And yes Star Fox was designed after a shrine spirit near Nintendo headquarters, making him much more of a „real life anecdote“ than Mario or Donkey Kong.

[–] Jomega@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago

A work story is still a life experience, but if you want something else there's plenty to work with. The iconic Chain Chomp enemies were inspired by a particularly nasty dog he'd walk past on the way home from school. The mean old dog would charge at him, sometimes coming inches away from biting him, but would be stopped by the chain keeping it in the yard.

The Legend of Zelda was inspired by his childhood, exploring the woods near his house.

He enjoys gardening, which inspired the setting of Pikmin.

Lastly, according to his Wikipedia page, he's a "semi-professional" dog breeder. (I'm not sure what that means) which inspired Nintendogs.

Basically what he's trying to say is that inspiration from one's personal life is a more appealing starting point than what you think will make the most money.

[–] janus2@lemmy.zip 8 points 2 days ago

I enjoyed reading this ty

[–] cavitationfetishist2@quokk.au 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Did you ever play Zelda: links awakening? Play that and tell me that isn't about someone's childhood spent by the sea. Play that without crying over a fucking 'game boy' game.

Edit: but I don't think he ever made out with a dream manifestation of a metaphor for a seagull.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I re-played that a few months ago, actually. Still one of the best Zelda games but I did not cry, no. There are so many strange things there that it‘s honestly hard to believe much of it was drawn from life, though. It feels like an otherworldly dream and that‘s the point, I think.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Link's Awakening (the original on the OG GB) has a very special place in my heart, just like A Link To the Past. For years I debated with myself (no we are not split personalities) about the ending. I could listen to the tunes all day long, especially Tal Tal Heights. :-) You just unleashed a wave of nostalgia feelings.