Shigeru Miyamoto is one of the biggest and most well-known creators in the video game industry. He created three of the most popular video game series: Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda. According to William Markel in his article Shigeru Miyamoto: The Life of a Game Designer, Markel writes, “He was named one of the Most Influential People of the Year by Time magazine in 2007.”
Miyamoto was born on November 16, 1952, in Sonobe, Kyoto, Japan, to parents Hinako Aruha and Iijake Miyamoto. As a child, he didn’t have many toys or a television. According to Markel “Instead, he made his own toys out of wood and string. He put on performances with homemade puppets and even made cartoon flip-books. He would also imagine that there were magical realms hidden behind the shoji screens in his family’s home.” Miyamoto also explored the surrounding areas of his home. According to Markel, “Around seven or eight years old, he came across a hole in the ground. As he peeked inside, he saw nothing but darkness and decided to return the next day with a lantern. When he did, he shimmied his way through the hole and found himself in a cavern, where he could see several passageways leading to other chambers. He returned several times over the summer to watch the shadows dance around on the walls. Although he never found anything unusual inside, he would never forget his journey into its depths and how it left him feeling excited and alive.” (The New Yorker, 2015; Biography Today, 2010).
This childhood experience had a lasting impact on Miyamoto and later inspired The Legend of Zelda, a “seminal” video game. According to Markel, “During his time at school, he became known to his instructors and classmates as a bright boy who spent more time drawing and daydreaming than doing his homework.” In high school, Miyamoto developed his own manga and joined a club. His fascination with the subject led to his desire to become an artist. One of his favorite artists was Shotaro Ishinomori, creator of Kamen Rider and Astro Boy. Miyamoto later attended Kanazawa Municipal College of Industrial Arts and Crafts in Kanazawa, Japan, to pursue his goal. After graduating, Miyamoto’s father arranged an interview for him with Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo and a close friend of Miyamoto’s father.
Miyamoto brought several devices, toys, and concepts he had developed with him. After demonstrating his skills, Yamauchi hired him as an artist to design new products for Nintendo. According to Markel, “He worked for months as a designer for the artwork on playing cards the company sold” (Biography Today, 2010). Miyamoto’s first big success was Donkey Kong, which, according to Markel, was a new game idea about a captive gorilla who escapes his cage, steals his master’s girlfriend, and climbs to the top of a building. Players controlled the master (who was later named Mario) and tried to save the girl from the big ape. Miyamoto said, “I wanted to make it difficult to climb upward, so I chose the setting of a building under construction and a ship’s gangway where obstacles were constantly falling and getting in the way” (Biography Today, 2010). Within weeks of its release in 1981, Donkey Kong became one of the most popular video games in arcades worldwide, and by the end of that year, it was ranked as the second-best-selling arcade game worldwide (Biography Today, 2010).
In 1984, Miyamoto was appointed lead designer for Nintendo’s new video game division. Afterward, he created the hit Super Mario Bros. game. According to Markel, “In this game, the two brothers chased unusual animals around a network of underground pipes, far beneath the streets of New York City. The game became another huge success for Nintendo, and under Miyamoto’s guidance, they went on to create many sequels and spinoffs for the series.” (Biography Today, 2010). As for Mario, he became a folk hero in the eyes of fans, with a reach as far as Mickey Mouse’s. (The New Yorker, 2015).
(Nintendo)
A year or so later, Miyamoto released The Legend of Zelda. According to Markel, “Unlike Mario Bros., which was linear, The Legend of Zelda allowed you to venture out in all directions and explore worlds within worlds. It had a level of choice and depth never seen in a game before. The game was set in the imaginary world of Hyrule, where you could explore many different areas and solve puzzles to progress further into the game.” (The New Yorker, 2015). The world of Hyrule was, in many ways, inspired by Miyamoto’s childhood adventures in the cavern he found. He has said, “Hyrule is a miniature garden that you can put in your drawer and revisit anytime you like.” The world of Hyrule is a game beloved by many people around the world.
Eventually, rather than creating his own games, Miyamoto began overseeing the creation of a variety of games, offering advice and input. Miyamoto has now taken on the role of an educator, teaching and mentoring hundreds of students every year on video game development for new graduates and mid-career hires. Miyamoto’s work and legacy will always be cherished. Though he may not create games now, people can still feel his influence in every single game. His games are beloved by all and will continue to be for many years to come.