Miyamoto Slams RPGs, Discusses Future

Nintendo games god Shigeru Miyamoto reveals dislike for RPGs, harshness on workers, and Nintendo's strategic future.

In a recent interview with NOM, Miyamoto - as ever - has made some comments that stand out somewhat. First he criticises the RPG genre as no fun to play, before revealing his hard approach to workers at NCL.

When asked about Nintendo's RPG history and his opinion of the genre, the most adored games designer of all time said: "I personally have a fundamental dislike of the RPG system. But there are so many people who do like it and there are certain types of games for which that system is perfectly suited. I think that with an RPG you are completely bound hand and foot, and can't move.

"Don't ask me, I just work here."

"But gradually you become able to move your hands and legs.... you become slightly untied. And in the end, you feel powerful. So what you get out of an RPG is a feeling of happiness. But I don't think they're something that's fundamentally fun to play."

Moving onto office politics, Miyamoto revealed a hardline policy towards workers. "You want to know my reputation among Nintendo staff members? I'm loud and hard on everybody; I stick to minute detailed points; I'm the guy who changes his opinions one after another; and I'm the guy who is still fighting for his opinion past midnight. People who don't know me say that I just spout things out from my gut feeling, but as they come to know me better they think of me as more of a logical type."

Finally Miyamoto commented on Nintendo's position and why fighting against competitors may be pointless: "At the very least, we are always aiming to be the number-one games developer and publisher. That's for sure. In order to do so, we always try to challenge ourselves with projects that are really new and innovative.

"We need to do something bold and brand-new, or the total market may shrink. And if we are just fighting against our competitors to be at the top of a shrinking marketplace, it doesn't make that much difference in the public eye. So thinking about the big picture, we want to make changes so that people realise what we are making is truly innovative and fascinating."

Tune in next time for more exciting Japanese quotes!

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com