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.
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.
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.
I enjoyed reading this ty
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 seagull.
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.