Miyamoto 'Banned' From Talking About Hobbies 256
walshy007 writes "After Shigeru Miyamoto developed a love of puzzles, the "brain-training" software that has proved to be an international "killer application" on the Nintendo DS console was born.
He became interested in taking more exercise, and Wii Fit was created. He took up music lessons, and Wii Music was the result.
Now, according to sources at Nintendo, the games designer has been banned by the company from speaking publicly about his hobbies."
WTF kind of article is this? (Score:5, Interesting)
I do agree, that is an interesting tidbit there, but it's an idle story at best. Fark material IMO.
Re:That's because new hobby = Surfing Pron (Score:5, Interesting)
There was a DS homebrew contest and I remember reading about a girl who won the contest by developing a game in which you stroked the fluffy parts of a bunny with your stylus just right to make the bunny happy, and then it exploded into a bunch of butterflies. The developer flat out said the game was a simulation of getting a girl off. I'm sure a similar homebrew game for the Wiimote will eventually come out.
Dogs and Gardening (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't forget playing with his dogs (Nintendogs) and gardening (actually where his idea for Pikmin came from).
A lot of people know he does this, so many journalists like ask him what he's doing in his free time and then try to parse his words to figure out what future new games he may be working on. If they really are quelling that, I'm not very surprised, given how secretive the company likes to be.
Re:Well then... (Score:4, Interesting)
I suspect this all centers on delaying competition from co-launching similar products.
It's common in all industries, the element of uniqueness adds value, and often that value is the difference between go / no-go for development.
So, I imagine he can talk about his hobbies all he wants, as long as he doesn't mind killing any associated projects. It would be the same at any other (established, successful, ossified bureaucratic) company. He could try going to a small, inexperienced independent who would let him blab all he wants about things that aren't going to be available for 5 years, but I bet he's better off where he is.
Re:Well then... (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, he is paid (at his own insistence) a salary no higher than other developers. I've read it in numerous places over the years, but don't have a link handy.
Re:Well then... (Score:3, Interesting)
..guess we'll just see how long Nintendo manages to keep him around with ridiculous policies like this in place..
How is this a ridiculous policy? The man takes his hobbies and interests and turns them into multi billion dollar franchises. And he has done this repeatedly!
I'm sure there are no end of Sony and Microsoft reps that would gladly throw $TEXAS at him to get him to switch teams, and no doubt they're paying several people $OREGON to watch what he says in interviews to try and figure out what new innovative game he's going to come out with next before they do.
Re:Well then... (Score:5, Interesting)
It doesn't have to be sufficient quality work; if someone releases the Next Big Thing before Nintendo can, but it happens to be spectacularly crappy, then Nintendo is cheated out of a market where people don't believe in the product any more.
Imagine if, a month before the announcement of the iPhone, an almost as good but not quite was released? People go crazy, buy it, are locked into a contract, and disappointed. Will they buy the iPhone? Nope, spent the cash, didn't think it was worth it, and don't want to risk it again.
Re:Well then... (Score:1, Interesting)
Royalties. Stock options in Nintendo. He doesn't need a salary. It's a good PR move, and it's good for company morale. Most importantly, though, it's just not dickish.
Miyamoto barely ever touches Mario anymore (Score:3, Interesting)
You still can't deny almost every single game [Miyamoto] comes up with stars Mario in some form or another.
Au contraire. The Nintendo fanboys are constantly complaining that Miyamoto has abandoned them because he has abandoned his old franchises such as Mario and Zelda. Miyamoto was only a producer on Galaxy, and he was barely involved in the development of New Super Mario Bros; I don't think he's made a Mario title in a decade or so.