Shigeru Miyamoto and the Development Philosophy of Mario | Insights from Nintendo's Genius Creator Behind the Scenes of Creation

The Mario series is loved worldwide, but behind its success lies Shigeru Miyamoto's unique development philosophy. His creative ideas of "Making games that anyone can enjoy," "Ideas first," and "Pursuing the essence of play" have been at the core of the Mario series for over 40 years, passed down through generations. This article thoroughly explains the development philosophy and creative process that Miyamoto has practiced through Mario, using specific development stories and interviews. It provides content for those aspiring to be game creators and those interested in Nintendo's development culture to learn about the essence of creation.

Shigeru Miyamoto and Mario | The Roots of a Legendary Creator

Shigeru Miyamoto is Nintendo's representative game creator and has produced many masterpieces such as Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong. To understand his development philosophy, it is essential to know his own roots and the background of Mario's birth.

Shigeru Miyamoto's Career and the Birth Story of Mario

Born in 1952 in Kyoto Prefecture, Shigeru Miyamoto studied industrial design at Kanazawa College of Art. When he joined Nintendo in 1977, he was initially hired as a designer for arcade game cabinets, but he eventually became involved in game development itself. In 1981, to recover from a failed attempt in the American market, Miyamoto was given his first opportunity to develop a game. That game was "Donkey Kong." The carpenter character that appears in this game would later be named Mario and achieve great success as the main character in 1985's "Super Mario Bros." At the heart of Mario's birth was Miyamoto's strong desire to "create games with stories."

Why Was Shigeru Miyamoto Able to Create Mario?

The reason Shigeru Miyamoto was able to create the innovative character and game known as Mario lies in his unconventional background and unique creativity. His background in the arts, which was rare in the gaming industry at that time, fostered a focus on ideas and design rather than technical overemphasis. Moreover, as Miyamoto himself states, the source of his creativity comes from his childhood play experiences. Early experiences exploring caves in the nature of Kyoto and playing in rivers directly reflect the adventures of Mario and the exploration elements of Zelda. The fusion of an understanding of the "essence of play" and the ability to express it in the form of games led to the creation of the enduring masterpiece that is Mario.

The Core of Shigeru Miyamoto's Development Philosophy | Three Fundamental Principles

Shigeru Miyamoto's development philosophy has been consistently practiced through the Mario series. Understanding its three core principles reveals why Mario continues to be loved across generations.

The Philosophy of Universal Design: "Games that Anyone Can Enjoy"

The most important principle of Miyamoto's development philosophy is "Creating games that anyone can enjoy." This philosophy aims to create games that all people, regardless of age, gender, or gaming experience, can enjoy. The Mario series thoroughly embodies this principle, characterized by intuitive controls that require no complicated tutorials, and simple yet deep game design.

For example, the basic action of Mario, called "Jump", is an extremely simple operation that only requires pressing a button, but it also allows for advanced control through timing and holding down the button, making it enjoyable for both beginners and advanced players. Additionally, by lightening the penalties of game over and providing options for difficulty levels, care has been taken to ensure a wide range of players can enjoy the game until the end. This universal design philosophy is what has turned Mario into a mega-hit series, selling over 200 million copies worldwide.

The Creative Process of "Idea First, Technology Later"

Another important development philosophy of Shigeru Miyamoto is the creative process of "Idea First, Technology Later." In many game developments, the latest technology tends to be prioritized, but Miyamoto always considers "whether the game is fun or not" as the top priority. Technology is merely a means to realize the ideas and not an end in itself. During the development of Super Mario 64, Miyamoto first pondered on "how Mario should move in a 3D space" and "how players can enjoy it" before jumping into 3D technology, going through multiple prototypes. As a result, he was able to create a new play experience unique to 3D space, rather than just a simple 2D to 3D transition. This pursuit of "fun" makes Miyamoto and Mario special in an industry that often falls into a technology-centric approach.

The Attitude of Pursuing the "Essence of Play"

The third pillar of Miyamoto's development philosophy is the attitude of "pursuing the essence of play." This is the idea that before being a digital game, it is important to value the fun of "play". Miyamoto always references his childhood play experiences and values the inspiration gained from natural observation. For example, the spherical stages of Mario Galaxy were born from the idea Miyamoto had of walking around small planets. Additionally, the hat-throwing action in Mario Odyssey was inspired by the simple play of children throwing hats. In this way, his attitude of pursuing the fundamental enjoyment of "play" without being distracted by the evolution of digital technology and graphics gives the Mario series timeless universal appeal.

Practical Examples of Development Philosophy in the Mario Series

Miyamoto's development philosophy has been concretely practiced throughout the history of the Mario series. Let's look at how this philosophy is reflected in game design through the development episodes of each title.

Super Mario Brothers | Game Design That Requires No Tutorial

The original Super Mario Brothers, released in 1985, is the most emblematic work of Miyamoto's philosophy of "fun for everyone." Particularly, the design of Stage 1-1 is still spoken of today as a masterpiece in game design history. Players start the game without any explanation, but everything, from the first encounter with a Goomba, block placements, to the guidance into pipes, is meticulously designed so that players can "learn naturally while playing." As they move to the right, they encounter Goombas and learn to either avoid or jump on them; they discover that hitting a ? block releases items; and they realize there are hidden areas when they enter the pipes. This design philosophy that creates the "joy of discovery" is a perfect example of Miyamoto's universal design philosophy that anyone can enjoy without reading a manual.

This game design, which requires no tutorial, has been inherited by all subsequent Mario series.

Super Mario 64 | "Freedom to Play" in 3D Space

Released in 1996, Super Mario 64 is a revolutionary work that evolved the Mario series from 2D to 3D. What Shigeru Miyamoto valued most in this development was to "give players freedom in a 3D space." At that time, many 3D games failed due to issues with camera work and control, but Miyamoto addressed these challenges with an "idea first" approach. He thoroughly researched Mario's movements and experimented to find ways to naturally express actions such as running, jumping, and swimming in a 3D space. He also introduced a system that allowed players to control the camera freely, enabling the joy of exploring the 3D space from their own perspective. This pursuit of "freedom to play" laid the foundation for 3D action games and had a significant impact on the entire gaming industry that followed.

Super Mario Galaxy | New Play Using Gravity

Released in 2007, Super Mario Galaxy is a masterpiece born from Miyamoto's philosophy of "pursuing the essence of play." The core idea of this game was a simple one: "walking around spherical planets," which resulted in the creation of a new game mechanic called "gravity." In spherical stages, the concepts of up and down become relative, creating a unique feeling of floating as players can circle around planets or jump from one planet to another. Miyamoto stated that he was inspired by his childhood experiences imagining and playing on small planets. While it required complex gravity calculations technically, it was presented as an intuitive and enjoyable play experience for players. This is a practical example of Miyamoto's development philosophy that technology is a means and ideas are the goal, turning the physical phenomenon of gravity into a source of fun in play.

Super Mario Odyssey | Infinite Possibilities Created by the Hat Throw

Released in 2017, Super Mario Odyssey centers around the "hat throwing" action performed by the hat character "Cappy." This simple idea brought about innovative changes to the Mario series. Hat throwing has various uses such as attack, platforming, and "capturing" (possessing) enemies, stimulating player creativity. In particular, the capture system, where players can take control of enemies, creates new gameplay that solves puzzles using the unique abilities of each enemy. Miyamoto mentioned that he was inspired by the image of children playing by throwing hats, showcasing his creativity that draws infinite possibilities from familiar play. The essence of Miyamoto's development philosophy, where he meticulously refines simple ideas to provide players with freedom in play, is condensed in Odyssey.

Understanding Shigeru Miyamoto's Thought Process from Interviews

Shigeru Miyamoto has shared his development philosophy and thought process in various interviews and talks. From his words, we can learn about the essence of creativity.

"Games are not art, but entertainment"

Miyamoto consistently holds the stance that "games are not art, but entertainment."

This expresses the idea that the essence of games is to entertain players, emphasizing the value of entertainment over the creator's self-expression or artistry. In an interview, Shigeru Miyamoto stated, "What I want to create is entertainment that everyone can enjoy. It’s not a difficult-to-understand work of art." It is this attitude that allows the Mario series to be enjoyed widely, from children to adults and from beginners to experts. Rather than creating games that are understood by only a few due to excessive pursuit of artistry, he provides entertainment that can make everyone smile. This clear value system is at the core of Shigeru Miyamoto's game design.

“Don’t fear failure, keep experimenting”

One distinctive aspect of Shigeru Miyamoto's development style is his focus on prototypes and his willingness to repeatedly experiment without fearing failure. He holds the belief that "there is no such thing as a perfect idea from the start. You have to make it, try it, and if it’s not fun, redo it." During the development of Mario 64, he spent months adjusting Mario's movements and refused to compromise until it felt "fun just to move him around." Furthermore, when ideas aren’t working out, he is not afraid to pivot. This culture of "learning from failure" is ingrained across Nintendo's development teams and creates fertile ground for innovative ideas. Miyamoto's approach of seeking the best answers through trial and error, rather than perfectionism, is something for everyone involved in creative work to learn from.

“Refine ideas as a team”

Although Shigeru Miyamoto is a legendary creator, his success is not something he achieved alone. He emphasizes a bottom-up development system where "everyone on the team refines ideas together." As Miyamoto himself states, "My role is not to come up with good ideas, but to recognize and nurture the good ideas that team members have," taking on a facilitator role that brings out the staff's creativity rather than top-down directives. In the development environment, he fosters an atmosphere where anyone can freely share ideas, seriously considering young members' suggestions as well. This development culture continually brings fresh ideas to the Mario series, preventing stagnation. Miyamoto's belief that leadership is not about commanding but about maximizing the team's capabilities is also insightful for organizational management.

“The evolution of technology is a tool that broadens expression”

Shigeru Miyamoto has a unique perspective on technology. He clearly states, "The evolution of technology is a tool for broadening the range of expression, not the goal itself." When the use of the latest technology becomes the objective, the original goal of "fun" can easily be lost. Miyamoto constantly asks, “With this technology, what new kinds of enjoyment can we offer to players?” For instance, the Wii's motion controls were seen not as an end in themselves but as a means to realize "the fun of playing while moving your body." In Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch, he prioritized the new gameplay idea of “hat throwing” over high-performance graphics. This attitude of correctly positioning technology as a means rather than an end is what gives the Mario series its universal charm, untouched by the competition of technological advancement.

Co-evolution with Digital Technology | Shigeru Miyamoto's Flexible Adaptability

Shigeru Miyamoto's development philosophy is consistent, yet at the same time, it has flexibly adapted to changes in the times and technology. This adaptability is the driving force that has kept the Mario series shining at the forefront for over 40 years.

From 2D to 3D | A Challenge Beyond Dimensional Walls

In the mid-1990s, the gaming industry faced a major shift from 2D to 3D. While many series failed to transition to 3D, Shigeru Miyamoto successfully overcame this "dimensional wall" with Super Mario 64. The secret to his success lies not just in replacing 2D games with 3D spaces, but in thoroughly considering what "play unique to 3D spaces" entails. He redesigned Mario's movements from the ground up to create the joy of freely exploring a 3D space. He also cleverly took advantage of the technical constraints of the time (low resolution, fewer polygons) to achieve simple and clear visuals. From this experience, Shigeru Miyamoto learned the lesson that "technical constraints stimulate creativity." Instead of jumping on new technologies, he sought to understand their essence and elevate them to play. This flexible adaptability has evolved Mario into an icon of the 3D era.

From Motion Controls to HD, and Then to Open World

Since the 2000s, the gaming industry has experienced further technological innovations. Major waves such as motion controls with the Wii, HD graphics, and open worlds arrived, and Shigeru Miyamoto demonstrated his ability to convert each technology into "play." In Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii, he employed motion controls for intuitive operation, while providing beautiful visuals in HD without losing the essence of play, and in Super Mario Odyssey, he maintained a Mario-like structure while incorporating the freedom of an open world. The important point is that even as technology changes, the core philosophy of "fun for everyone," "ideas first," and "the essence of play" never changes. Shigeru Miyamoto does not fear the evolution of technology; rather, he welcomes it as a new opportunity for expression while continuously preserving the essence of Mario. This balance of consistency and flexibility is what supports Mario's success for over 40 years.

Conclusion | The Essence of Creativity Taught by Shigeru Miyamoto's Development Philosophy

Shigeru Miyamoto's development philosophy teaches us the essence of creativity through the globally successful Mario series. The three fundamental principles of universal design thinking, which is "fun for everyone," the creative process of "ideas first, technology later," and the attitude of "pursuing the essence of play" hold universal value that can be applied not only to game development but to any creative endeavor.

What Shigeru Miyamoto has practiced is the ability to discern essential values without being swayed by technology or trends. Rather than chasing the latest technology, his constant questioning of "What brings joy to people?" and "What moves people's hearts?" has led to the creation of works that are loved across generations. Additionally, his leadership, which encourages trial and error without fear of failure and brings out the creativity of the entire team, is a significant factor supporting Shigeru Miyamoto's success.

For those aspiring to become game creators or anyone involved in creative work in any field, Shigeru Miyamoto's development philosophy will serve as a valuable guide. Technology evolves daily, but the "essence of play" that entertains people remains unchanged. By seeing through its essence and continuing to express it in new forms, that is the reason why Shigeru Miyamoto and Mario have been loved by people all over the world for over 40 years, and it is the essence of creativity that we should learn from.