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Miyamoto 'Banned' From Talking About Hobbies

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the they-might-learn-our-secrets dept.

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."

20 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. Well then... by pak9rabid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..guess we'll just see how long Nintendo manages to keep him around with ridiculous policies like this in place..

    1. Re:Well then... by ByOhTek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Heh, really.

      Given the fairly common nature of these hobbies, it strikes me not the hobbies themselves that make the game popular, but rather his twist on putting them into a game.

      Seriously, how many people, honestly, could make games as popular as his, on these subject matters. The key factor is the creator, not the theme, I suspect.

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:Well then... by gsslay · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's amazing what people will put up with if they're paid enough. I image that Mr Miyamoto is very well paid by Nintendo, so much in fact that the outrageous imposition of not being able to discuss his hobbies with people is bearable.

    3. Re:Well then... by pak9rabid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's amazing what people will put up with if they're paid enough. I image that Mr Miyamoto is very well paid by Nintendo, so much in fact that the outrageous imposition of not being able to discuss his hobbies with people is bearable.

      From the sound of it, it sounds like he's been with Nintendo for awhile. Long enough to have accumulated enough money to where he very likely doesn't need the income from Nintendo anymore. There's a point in which after a person accumulates enough money, the promise of more money to throw on top of the heap really stops becoming a motivating factor and one starts looking at the other niceties of life instead. Niceties such as discussing interesting subject matters (aka hobbies) to others....not to mention I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem finding a job that pays well and gives him this freedom elsewhere.

    4. Re:Well then... by caramelcarrot · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This smells of a PR stunt to say "look how awesome Miyamoto is! we have to stop him talking about trivial things or he'd give everything away! ha ha!"

    5. Re:Well then... by AvitarX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But you don't want the imitators coming out before you.

      A crappy "We Like to Get Fit" Game coming out before Wii Fit could damage sales.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    6. Re:Well then... by Dancindan84 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But you don't want the imitators coming out before you.

      Exactly. If you correctly read the summary let alone the article, it says they've banned him from talking about his hobbies. He's still being encouraged to develop ideas for the company, they just don't want other companies cashing in on his ideas before they do.

      --
      "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde
    7. Re:Well then... by Anonymous+Cowpat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      or having access to most of the resources of Nintendo and a free hand to turn whatever his interest of the moment is into a game to force onto the rest of us as the next 'in thing'.

      --
      FGD 135
    8. Re:Well then... by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Nintendo is not an American company. Mr. Miyamato is not an American. Why do you expect him to follow the values of American Culture. The Japanese tend to have more of a good of the company/community/family mind set while Americans have the what is good for me mind set. I am not saying one or the other is better or worse. In paradox to this article and thread the American Culture tends to be more creative and come up with new ideas (as they are trying to position themselves for promotion or noticed for the next big thing) while the Japanese are good at perfecting (for the good of the company product need to be perfect).
      YES THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS! when talking about a culture there are always exceptions as we group a group of millions of people into a box. However a cultural norm tend to strongly influence people thoughts and feelings.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    9. Re:Well then... by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I never suggested he wasn't allowed to continue with his efforts. I simply suggested that other companies are highly unlikely to be able to beat him to the punch with a sufficient quality work, such that it would warrant that restriction on him.

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    10. Re:Well then... by twistedsymphony · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I highly doubt that Miyamoto minds... I'm sure he understands that the ban is for the benefit of the company.

      I work for a Japanese owned company.. it's quite different from an American company. You don't just leave because of some stupid politics, the company wants you to respect your co-workers like an extension of your family. It's a long term relationship. The company doesn't treat you like a disposable commodity (lay offs and firings are extremely rare) and in return most of the employees respect the wishes of their employer and do things "for the good of the company" rather than just walking away for greener pastures.

      This is very much true of my own company which while in the US the Japanese corporate mentality is a big part of everything we do. Even though we're in aerospace manufacturing, with the horrible economy and every other company in our industrial park laying people off and going under, my company hasn't laid off or fired a single employee in my entire career here. the company is saving money buy dropping 3rd shift and moving those employees to 1st and 2nd, we're on a hiring freeze, we had a shut down (week of mandatory vacation), and hourly employees must reduce their over time.

      Yes some of that stuff sucks, but in the good times the company does us right so in the bad times people are willing to make some personal sacrifices knowing that it will help the company overall.

      While not a good times/bad time scenario Miyamoto is a very big part of the Nintendo family, he's not just some super star that is only interested in money... I wouldn't be half surprised if he was in agreement with the "no hobby discussion" rule or if it was even partly his idea.

      --
      Collector's Edition
    11. Re:Well then... by Torvaun · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm pretty sure they meant the skill of the creator. There are good games and bad games, regardless of genre. Just because someone makes a fitness game doesn't mean it's going to be good. Miyamoto, on the other hand, has a long history of making very popular games.

      --
      I see your informative link, and raise you a pithy comment.
    12. Re:Well then... by gsslay · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There's a point in which after a person accumulates enough money, the promise of more money to throw on top of the heap really stops becoming a motivating factor and one starts looking at the other niceties of life instead.

      Very true. And I'd be willing to bet that if asked, Mr Miyamoto's would say his #1 hobby is "working for Nintendo". If he no longer needs the money then why is he there?

    13. Re:Well then... by Belial6 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Exactly. WiiFit is not a new or innovative idea. It is an idea that was executed better than any previous version. In fact, if I was the suspicious type, I could call WiiFit a total ripoff. The XBox had Yourself!Fitness. Only the most hard core of fanboys are going to be able to claim that WiiFit isn't the same kind of game as Yourself!Fitness. And the WiiFit controller is just a supped up version of the Amiga JoyBoard. It was well reported that the JoyBoard had a meditation game, which is not far off from Yoga, and the skiing game IS Mogul Maniac. Puzzle games are just not something new. I haven't tried we music, so I cannot comment on it, but it seems clear that there these cames are not innovative. They are just very well implemented.

  2. Bizarre by AKAImBatman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If knowing Miyamoto's hobbies is enough to scoop Nintendo, then why can't competitors even touch his track record?

    I think Nintendo is confusing ideas with implementations. Having ideas is great. Anyone can have ideas. In fact, they're a dime in quantities of tens of thousands. The problem is getting those ideas implemented. And without Miyamoto-san's insight into the implementation, I sincerely doubt competitors are going to be able to get ahead of Nintendo.

    This seems like a case where Miyamoto should ignore his employer and just do his own thing. Unfortunately, I think he's too nice to take a stand on this. He will probably go along with his employer's request. Thankfully, however, I imagine that this requirement will loosen and fall off with time.

    Which can only be good for fans. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have found the stories behind the development of Miis and Wii Fit to be fascinating. (And hilarious. "You guys are useless!" :-P)

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    1. Re:Bizarre by Speare · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think Nintendo is confusing ideas with implementations. Having ideas is great. Anyone can have ideas. In fact, they're a dime in quantities of tens of thousands. The problem is getting those ideas implemented. And without Miyamoto-san's insight into the implementation, I sincerely doubt competitors are going to be able to get ahead of Nintendo.

      While I agree with you to a point, I would have to say that there are a lot of dollars at stake in being the trendsetter or the follower. Ideas are shopped around and cloned so blatantly in motion pictures, usually with much worse (cheaper) script and production values. Pixar: Finding Nemo / Dreamworks: Shark Tales. WarnerBros: Happy Feet / Sony: SurfsUp.

      I think there was a Miyamoto interview recently where he jokingly mentioned what he was dabbling with some new hobby, after specifically being asked about this trend of his. If Nintendo came out with game idea first, it might be interesting primarily through its novelty. If some other house copies the idea faster and cheaper, they will probably get the most money from it, even if Nintendo's longer production leads to a hell of a lot better game. If they appear to be a "me too" on one title, then it's not just that title that suffers, but people might associate Nintendo with "me too" and assume it will be a poor knockoff of someone else's idea, instead of the reverse.

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      [ .sig file not found ]
  3. Re:Maybe not that silly by hey! · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, one thing that business has taught me is how little value ideas really have.

    I know it's heretical to say this, but ideas just aren't that valuable. Discernment, discipline, patience, timing, creativity, craftsmanship, relationships with vendors and customers, and of course money have to be added before an idea generates a single penny of profit.

    Take the idea of a car racing game with cute characters driving. Miyamoto's gone to that well multiple times, but nobody else has scored big with it, even though it isn't a copyrightable or patentable thing. He's got a team that gets the details right.

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  4. Re:Puzzle Games by Enderandrew · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Exactly my point. Nintendo is worried about being scooped, and they shouldn't be. Nintendo and Apple are about style.

    The wiimote isn't the best motion sensitive controller I've ever used. I have an ancient flight-stick from a Comdex about 10 years back or so that I move in the air to control a plane in a filght-sim. The controls are marvelous, and it never caught on.

    The wiimote conversely isn't horribly accurate, doesn't feature enough buttons to offer the complexity I personally crave, and is very frustrating as a mouse-type tool.

    That being said, I enjoy my Wii as do many others. Nintendo focuses on gameplay and design. Microsoft can copy the avatars and such, but neither Microsoft nor Sony seem to get what it is that Nintendo does so well.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  5. How sensationalized has this been? by argent · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Manager: "Please don't talk about your hobbies publicly."
    Miyamoto: "OK"

    Co-worker: "What was that about?"
    Miyamoto: "They don't want me talking about my hobbies."

    Co-worker: "They won't let Miyamoto talk about his hobbies."

    [several layers of 'the telephone game' later]

    "Miyamoto banned from talking about hobbies."

  6. It's not the idea, it's the execution by LKM · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Exactly. The ideas in Miyamoto's games sometimes aren't particularly inspired (collect carrots in a garden?) and often aren't really important to the core gameplay. What makes Miyamoto's games unique and universally great is the incredible polish and attention to detail, his ability to see what doesn't work and call out bad ideas, and the well thought out and extensively tested gameplay mechanics used in his games.

    As always, it's not the idea, it's the execution.

    I guess there could be some brand dilution if others come out before Nintendo, but then, it's Nintendo. People pay attention to them whether their ideas are new, or whether they have been done before (Kinetic Combat was before Wii Fit, Guitar Hero was before Wii Music, and so on).