Shigeru Miyamoto Shares His Evolving Relationship with Gaming

Iconic game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the mind behind legendary franchises like Mario and Zelda, recently opened up about his current approach to gaming. Interestingly, he revealed that these days, he doesn’t play video games on his own at all—except for when his grandkids come over. In a candid chat with a Japanese publication, which was later translated for a wider audience, Miyamoto shared a light-hearted view on his gaming lifestyle.

When asked if he still dives into his beloved Nintendo Switch, Miyamoto chuckled and said, “I don’t really play games by myself anymore.” Despite stepping back from solo gaming, he’s all about keeping the fun alive for his grandkids. He explained that he prefers to have video games at his house so his grandkids can enjoy them there, rather than letting them hog the consoles at home. “If you want to play games, come to grandad’s house,” he jokes. They often team up to tackle games together, and he even takes the lead in challenging levels, like the boss fight in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which the little ones find quite daunting.

While it might surprise some to learn that this gaming legend isn’t glued to his console anymore, it’s well-known that Miyamoto has a variety of interests outside of gaming. This diverse range of hobbies has heavily influenced his game design philosophy. For instance, his passion for music inspired the development of Wii Music, and his affection for dogs led to the creation of Nintendogs. Even the charming concepts behind Pikmin came from his gardening experiences.

Moreover, in a previous interview, he mentioned that when hiring at Nintendo, he looks for candidates with interests beyond gaming. “I always search for designers who aren’t just super passionate game fans,” he stated. He values individuals with diverse skill sets and experiences, sometimes even bringing in people who had never played a video game before joining the company.

Although Miyamoto may not be an active gamer today, it’s heartwarming to see him sharing the joy of gaming with the younger generation. His love for games continues to flourish, even if it’s in a different form now!

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