What is Mario Creator Doing Right Now in Nintendo After Retirement From Video Game Development?

Nintendo’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, is one of the most celebrated figures in the video game industry. He gave rise to one of the most iconic game characters ever. He still wishes to be a relevant member of the industry even after retiring from game development.

Miyamoto refuses to completely let go of the industry; instead, he uses the knowledge and wisdom that he has acquired over the years to shed light on various aspects of video game development as well as how Nintendo works as a company.

Mario’s Creator Now Has Different Priorities In-Line With Game Development

Shigeru Miyamoto took on the role of a Creative Fellow at Nintendo in 2015. For a long time, he contributed his creative insight to the company’s work.

He seems to have now taken on the role of an educator. He educated hundreds of students each year on the art of video game development for new graduates and mid-career hires. He lectures about the challenges that one faces while pursuing any creative work and how to tackle them with efficiency.

During a Q&A for the Nintendo quarterly financials meeting, Miyamoto was asked to talk about his lectures in detail, his future plans, and his impact on Nintendo. Shedding light on his lectures, he said:

My annual talk is divided into three parts. The first part covers the history of Nintendo, starting with Hanafuda playing cards, moving through toys, and leading to how we have become the entertainment company we are today.

The second part focuses on what Nintendo values in game creation and what our strengths are. For instance, I discuss the evolution of the game interface by tracing the development of our controllers since arcade days. In the third
part, I address game design.

Miyamoto’s lectures give an insight into the nuances of video game development; he is not big on creating ultra-realistic upgraded versions of his game since he believes one should always look at games from a creative lens and figure out what works best for that particular game.

Miyamoto Still Has An Important Role To Play In Nintendo

Miyamoto has a more silent presence in the company now. He has retired from active game development but still works closely with new developers to help them pursue their ideas in the best way possible. He gives advice to the young developers and helps them align their efforts with the company’s principles.

The games from Nintendo have not changed much over the years; they have largely remained the same moving forward. Nintendo’s internal game development culture helps streamline the company’s work.

Miyamoto has now devoted his life to sharing insights on video game development after dedicating the majority of his life to making video games. His legacy is maintained in spirit through his lectures. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.