Famed game designer Shigeru Miyamoto has been barred from speaking about his outside interests, according to the Times Online.
If the story is to be taken at face value - and not as a Nintendo marketing stunt - the rationale is that Miyamoto's habit of converting his outside interests like puzzle solving, exercise and music into hit games is worth big money:
Having managed to lure millions to games with the inventiveness of characters such as Zelda and Mario, it became Mr Miyamoto's hobbies that shifted gears for Nintendo in the next-generation console era. And as Nintendo's Wii games console approaches its second year, even the most fleeting insight into how Mr Miyamoto is spending his work or play-time is creating huge interest.
In short, the gaming and investment communities are wondering which of his current pastimes will be translated into a virtual rendition that will attract millions of sales five years from now.
GP: It would be kind of amusing if it turned out that Shiggy's new hobby was something either unmarketably freaky or irretrievably boring.
Via: Destructoid
Comments
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I think it's just something even more simple, he has an XBOX 360.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Squigs - All of those could be made into games IMO, and I think I could do it.
This has to be PR
Could these be converted to games? Yes, yes, no, no (a game playing game... recursive), yes, and yes. But I couldn't make a game of any of them. That's where Miyamato's skill is.
Re: This has to be PR
You never heard of World of World of Warcraft or the Sims?
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Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
If it really is Nintendo that forbids him (or anyone) openly speaking about hobbies or anything else that's personal, that's just plain disgusting. Sure, they may have an agreement, but under no circumstances would I go so far as to say "It's okay!", when a corporation attempts to enforce something like that, *even* if it was an agreement. Wether the laws in Japan support it that strongly or not, freedom of speech should be upheld worldwide.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Wow. When I become a gamedeveloper, maybe my hobbys will fall under company non-disclosure rules too! :)
But seriously, I hope Miyamoto doesnt suffer under this. And, I suspect it isn't the hobbys themselves that make big money, but how Miyamoto manages to make them into great game concepts.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
my guess is miyamoto just doesnt want people invading his privacy (while this maybe a "cheap" way to get out of talking bout himself its tottaly his right
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
lol
Shiggy
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I call bull**** on this. I am leaning towards the Nintendo marketing machine implication the article hinted at.
That's just stoopeed. It makes me want to stop using my DS... grrrr...
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Next years big release, the WiiWhip, which comes packaged with the WiiCuffs...
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
He recently made friends with Max Mosley or something?
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I honestly don't see the need for this. Even if other developers leatrned what Miyamoto san enjoyedi n his spare time, some, well, just can't do it as well as Nintendo, especially since other companies may pump the games full of blood and adult themes to make them more adult.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Even if it is related to the press it is still completely out of line in my opinion.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I don't think there are enough people with the kind of collateral to make 'Scrooge McDuck Cash-Diving Olympics' a realistic prospect for a game, regardless of how much Mr Miyamoto may enjoy it in real life.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Hmm.... this sounds really really bad. A company telling another man that he may not discuss the activities he likes to do in his day to day life to others.... To me this sounds completely out of line. There isn't enough money in this world that could purchase something like that from me. Not discussing what you are working on is one thing, but not discussing what you enjoy doing in your freetime is another.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
In a way though, Myamoto probably feels quite honored about it all. After all, he's so important to Nintendo, and to the gaming world on a whole, that even his hobbies could lead to potential loss of revenue.
"I'm not responcabel fer my comuter's spleling errnors." -- Xlorep DarkHelm
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Don't quote me on this but I think it only applies to him talking to the press or a gaming outlet.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Give me $100 billion, and i'll even forget what my hobbies are
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Makes you worry about the real story behind the Wiimote though....
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Miyamoto likes looking at naked children.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Hmm....isn't there some games that have digital naked children? Oh wait...it's just the thoughts that the politicians have put in my poor, misguided head
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Err yes there are games like that.
Not only that but in the U.S. those games are legal as long as they don't include images of real children.
(However there's been a recent supreme court case saying you can't advertise them as having real children or something like that).
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
...where can I find those kinds of games?
I mean, it's digital, so not real...
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Ok confession. I don't KNOW those games exist, but I assume they exist and my guess is that you'd probably only find them in japan(ese).
But if you're looking for that stuff on the internet try searching for lolicon (don't ask me how I know this).
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Well actually he can't talk about his hobbies for one simple reason:
He's involved in an underground fight club.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
HEY! NO ONE CAN TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB!!!.......oops
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Fight Crub.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Speaking of which, anyone else up for a round of Wii Stamp Collecting?
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I bet he's big into wife swaping now, and that would make for a not so family friendly Wii game.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
The game reported on earlier about side scroller, haha
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Wait... so some of his first hobbies were plumbing and Saving princesses from ape-infested construction sites? DUDE! Myamoto is awesome1!!1!
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Not to mention killing goblins and trolls and throwing bombs around whilst cutting people with swords!
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I can see it now.
*Sony and M$ spying on Miyamoto*
SONY: What's that? Is he playing with building models?
Microsoft: We must be prepared!
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I wonder how Nintendo would react if they found out that Miyamoto recreationally endulged in BDSM as a hobby?
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
well...he is japanese...
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
okay, I am just sick of that stereotype. the reason it's in a lot of fiction from there is purely for the shock value.
岩「…Ace beats Jack」
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Stereotypes aside, I think the reason why they condone bdsm and the like is because that they recognise that there are people with special needs around... Hence, its not so much for the shock value as it is for pure entertainment.. =)
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Hmmmm... intresting thought on new Wii-mote usage and design there Anon.....
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Wii Underwater Basket Weaving! The new gaming sensation!
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
I don't think there is such a thing as "irretrievably boring" when it comes to video games. I mean, Throw hitpoints and special effects on stamp collecting and you've got Yu-Gi-Oh and its ilk, practically. YOu like to doodle? Play Drawn To Life. You ike playing an instrument? We've got guitars, drums, maracas...
Just about anything can be turned into a game, I think, it all depends on the designers behind it.
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
Maybe he's been playing on an Xbox?
Re: Miyamoto Can't Talk About His Hobbies, Says Nintendo
*sigh* not ever lil thing is marketable or a slight against CP violation(glares at the blurred out CP/trade mark stuff in documentaries).
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