Today is a very special day, and not just because it’s a Friday and the weekend will soon arrive once again to ease the grind of work. Today is the 60th birthday of Shigeru Miyamoto, perhaps the most iconic figure at Nintendo, or in fact the gaming industry in general. He has created some of the most popular and successful video game franchises of all time, including Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, F-Zero, Pikmin, as well as the Wii series (Sports, Play, Fit, and Party).
What better time to celebrate, with the Wii U now only two days away from its official US launch? Mr. Miyamoto is working on more exciting games in the pipeline, including Pikmin 3 and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. 2013 is looking to be a fantastic year for Nintendo with an incredibly strong line-up for both Wii U and 3DS.
It’s hard to believe that the man is 60 years of age. Just look at the guy. With that cheshire cat grin and warm and active on-stage presence, he could easily pass for 30!
After 30 years in the video game business, Nintendo fans remain just as passionate as ever. To prove it, here are some of Shigsy’s finest moments.
Twilight Princess Unveiling
E3 attendees and home viewers will never forget the unveiling of The Legend of Zelda: Twillight Princess. As the mysterious trailer started, no one knew what to expect. Nintendo had not discussed any form of a new Zelda game. All it took was a glimpse of Link riding a horse for the crowd to go insane with excitement.
As the video continued, the audience only got more wild, and if that weren’t enough, Miyamoto then stepped out with a Master Sword and Hero’s Shield. To this day I can’t recall a reaction to a game like it – it could only be a pure Nintendo moment.
Father Disapproves
The Mega64 crew are renowned for their hilarious video game-based skits, so dressing up as Mario and Luigi and jumping around the streets was a given. Their mischief is cut short, however, as Mario and Luigi’s father appears on the scene, only to find that they’re goofing around. Link also makes a cameo, but wisely gets out as soon as he gets in.
If Mr. Miyamoto can stop Mega64′s antics without even saying a word, now we’re really talking about a man with unbelievable power!
The Pikmin Invasion
Undoubtedly the highlight of this year’s E3 was seeing the man himself surrounded by the creatures of his own creation. For years fans have been clamouring for a Pikmin sequel, and Mr. Miyamoto listened.
Not only had one of the critters entered his front pocket, they had also been unleashed on the crowd. Not only is the man a creative genius, he brings a unique and fun presentation to a conference, and that’s why we love him!
Timeless Quotes
To end our celebration, here’s some of the greatest, wisest and most memorable quotes from the man himself. Aspiring and existing video game creators and designers would do well to take notes.
“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”
“Actually, 3D is really the most normal thing because it’s how those of us with two eyes usually see the world. TVs are the unusual things in 2D!”
“I enjoy thinking about ways to create something that other people have not even thought about, something no one has managed to achieve.”
“I made some games, but I’m pretending like I didn’t because they all turned out weird.”
“I think that inside every adult is the heart of a child. We just gradually convince ourselves that we have to act more like adults.”
“Nintendo’s philosophy is never to go the easy path; it’s always to challenge ourselves and try to do something new.”
“Players are artists who create their own reality within the game.”
The latest Nintendo system, the Wii U, is set to release in North America this Sunday, November 18, and with pre-orders unbelievably strong and hardware quickly becoming out of stock, it’s gearing up to be a huge success for Nintendo. If it weren’t for Shigeru Miyamoto, the world may never have seen the revolutionary Wii, and the same goes for Wii U.
At the time of writing it is late evening in Japan, and we’d like to think that when the man goes to bed, he’ll reflect on his 60 years of changing the world of gaming. Once again, Happy Birthday Mr. Miyamoto, and thank you!
