As people look up to the creative talents behind the games they love, putting them on a pedestal is easy. The reality is that many of them don’t necessarily view themselves like their fans do. Shigeru Miyamoto is an example of a creative who rose from humble beginnings to become the main creative force behind Nintendo’s most classic franchises. Beginning with the Mario franchise, he has helped create distinct and original titles for every single platform Nintendo has released. The company has even brought him out on stage more than once, using his name and popularity to remind people what the company has behind its creativity. Does he see himself as a visionary or as a video game auteur? Apparently not.

An Ordinary Man

In an interview with Miyamoto, translated by Automaton, the creator of Mario identifies himself as “a pretty ordinary person.” As he gets up in years, he has spent time mentoring the next generation of Nintendo’s designers. Despite this, he doesn’t view himself as particularly special. That humility can go a long way in helping someone not just create great works but also accept criticism and collaboration. Most of the biggest games in the world are built not by singular creative talents but by massive teams of talented people. Miyamoto may be the name behind legendary franchises, but within Nintendo, he is just one part of the grand machine that pumps out classics like The Legend of Zelda.

Auteur Theory

Auteur theory originated in the world of film, based on the idea that a singular creative vision was what produced the best works of art. It disregarded the collaborative aspect behind creating a grand piece of art and pushed forth the notion that one genius was all you needed to make something spectacular. Many within the game development world refute this idea, believing that the teamwork inherent in a studio is necessary to make something great. Shigeru Miyamoto himself has made this clear by taking on proteges like Eiji Aonuma, who has helped him with the Zelda franchise for quite some time. By surrounding himself with other creators who he can mentor, he ensures he has teams that can carry on without him.

Ideals Over Individuals

What Shigeru Miyamoto claims to bring to the table is not his particular genius but a set of principles with a proven track record. As he states in the interview, game design is “about looking at the things around you and putting together the aspects that you think would be interesting in a video game.” This philosophy has helped him stand apart from other developers who chase trends or seek to copy their competition. Without these ideals, Miyamoto would have never brought us games like Pikmin. Nintendo’s legacy will always be one of surprising and innovative titles that are unique from the rest of the industry. Instead of chasing genres that sell, they create genres that inspire millions.

Conclusion

Shigeru Miyamoto may not think of himself as a genius, and that humility will serve him well. Regardless, his impact on gaming is immeasurable and justifies how fans view him. Many a designer will cite him as their inspiration, trying to create games that are even remotely as fun as what he has to offer. While he may call himself “a pretty normal guy,” the legend of his games would seem to indicate otherwise. From Mario and Zelda to Donkey Kong and Star Fox, the characters he helped create became games that fans are eager to see new installments for. Whether or not he is the sole reason for their success, he is an asset to Nintendo and the world of gaming as a whole.