Miyamoto talks importance of online, creating a social network, future, changing role, and more
GamesMaster’s full interview with Shigeru Miyamoto has been posted online. We previously posted quotes regarding the possibility of abandoned GameCube-GBA link ideas being realized on Wii U, and origins of Pikmin.
Check out the full interview transcript below. Miyamoto addressed the importance of online, creating a social network, his future and changing role at Nintendo, and more.
Miyamoto on what about Wii U excites him most as a creator…
“Of course the most important thing about the Wii U is how we can create the most attractive game machine. For that matter I’m satisfied with the outcome. However at the same time, I’ve personally been trying to make it so that the Wii U is going to become the machine that’ll be cherished by the entire family, especially when it’s hooked up with the TV set in the living room.
“Actually that’s one of the themes that I’ve been challenging myself with for many years. And at this point in time I’m very satisfied with the outcome as well as how it’s going to create unique gaming experiences.”
Miyamoto on how Wii U represents the future of gaming…
“Whenever we’re working on a certain platform, as time goes by, everybody, including the game players, is looking forward to more improved versions of the existing software. However, that’s not only the direction that evolution should take. Whenever we can create a different format, unique gameplay should be another direction where game entertainment should head.
“For example Nintendo Land, which is going to debut with the launch of the Wii U system. We’ve included a variety of games inside of it, some of them will be able to show the way the future of gameplay might head.
“…You might have already played Mario Chase, it’s a game that’s not only unique in the game itself, but a really unique thing that we found out is that everyone can get together and see the replay of the game. That itself was very exciting. Actually that’s not something that we could originally expect.”
Miyamoto on how important online gaming is for him as a creator and for the Wii U as a console…
“Nintendo have been trying to raise the net connection ratio for the recent hardware we launched and Wii U is going to be the very first machine we launch with the premise that it will always be connected to the internet. I’m always trying to remind myself and my staff members how important it isfor us not to solely depend upon the kind of fun that stems out of competition. First and foremost, the games we are creating must be final, just final. We always have to make it a point that, even when you aren’t competing with other players, the game itself must be fun to play.
“It’s actually a kind of simple transition. We are simply taking that fun nature of the local competition to the one which is competed by taking advantage of the internet. So my plan is a kind of extension from the local competition.”
Miyamoto on how Nintendo approached creating a social network…
“Many people might think, well Nintendo are making one of these social networks, but of course whenever we are trying to do something social, and whenever we are trying to do something online, we have to reassure the game players and owners of these systems that Nintendo’s online communities are always more secure and safer than any other.”
Miyamoto on what he sees himself working on in five years…
“Well, actually it’s impossible for anybody to foresee what’s going to happen in the long run, as long as we are talking about digital entertainment.
“If somebody comes up with a great idea in the future or if somebody comes up with a great invention then the whole entertainment picture shall be changed drastically so it’s not going to be possible for anybody to make a long-term focus.
“So rather than try to do that, and try to see what’s going to happen in five years time from today, what’s important is to look around and aggressively understand and consume emerging technologies. But at the same time I’m not trying to forget about what happened in the past, what kind of know-how and experiences I personally have so far.”
Miyamoto on his changing role at Nintendo…
“I think above all the biggest thing for me personally is how I can change myself. After all I’m 60! It’s not going to be humanly possible for me to work on everything with the same hardship I used to pour into [it] when I was much younger than today! But the fact of the matter is I am able to assign a lot of my responsibilities to younger [staff] members, especially people in their 40s today at the company.
“…When we looked at the titles for the Wii U at launch I was able to assign most of the responsibility to these young creators and they were able to finalise these titles. Now I have to take care of fewer and fewer details and responsibilities of the games, I’ll be able to focus my attention and energies into creating something brand new.”
Miyamoto on how he feels about his role in the childhoods of generations of people…
“Let me say this. Gaming is very unique. It is one of the few interactive media and it can be used in a variety of different and fun ways. I believe that I’m probably one of the few people who is aware of the fact and who can take advantage of that unique interactive nature. I really wish I could describe how fun and convenient it is to my parents and even to my wife.
“Whenever you can find out something fun you think you are one of the first people who’s discovered that. You really want to tell people surrounding you. I want as many people as possible to understand the unique and interesting nature of this interactive media. So I think that’s the kind of perspective I try to have whenever I make some form of play or new application for our hardware systems.”
Miyamoto on what continues to inspire him…
“I can take a look around at anything which is happening around me or around the world and sometimes I can notice that for this particular thing, even though it is one of the very ordinary things surrounding us, if we can apply an interactive nature or game technology to that, it’s going to be something very unique. That’s going to be something that people will enjoy.
“In the case of the Nintendo DS, you can bring the Nintendo DS anywhere, that’s why I was able to think in terms of how it could be used at the museum, for example. And in the case of Wii, Wii is supposed to be inside the house, most often in the living room where families get together, I always thought in terms of how it could expand the joy inside of the living room.”
