|
News 
Shiggy's Birthday!
- Posted By Lander
Clinton, 11.17.2001
Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game designer, was born today, Nov. 16, 1952 in Kyoto, Japan.
Miyamoto’s family didn’t have a television or a car when he was growing up, so he didn’t get much influence from movies or T.V. shows. Instead, Miyamoto spent much of his time engaging his imagination and cultivating his unique view of the world. Miyamoto would play outside in a garden or in a cave, trying to discover new possibilities. This explorative personality shines through in his games today. Players are always rewarded for seeking the unknown. I remember when I first found the secret in Super Mario Bros. 3 where you had to let yourself fall down the quicksand to reach a new area. Miyamoto includes an impressive quote on the box of every GameCube that captures the imagination that saturates his games.
Miyamoto took extra years to finish school because he was a slacker! His imagination forced him to spend time doodling, instead of going to class. When he got out of school he knew he didn’t want to become a salary-man, so he asked his father to help him find a job. His father was friends with Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo, who hired Miyamoto as an artist for games. However, when Yamauchi saw Miyamoto’s toy ideas he asked him to make a game.
That game would eventually be Donkey Kong, but it started out as a Popeye game. D.K. was Bluto, “The Lady” (check the arcade cabinet and that’s her name...) was Olive oil, hammers were cans of spinach, and Mario, then known as “Jumpman,” was Popeye. Actual quote from the DK cabinet: Jump button makes Jumpman jump.
The rest is well-known as we’ve all played his games. Anyone who’s played videogames made after Donkey Kong has played a game that uses one of his ideas. Those of you looking to get Miyamoto a good birthday present can go down to your local electronics store and pick up a GameCube this weekend and ensure that he keeps working!
 |
learning can be fun?
|
|
2.gif)
