Shigeru Miyamoto



""What if everything that you see is more than what you see? The person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it or accept that there is more to the world than you think. Perhaps it is really a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things.""

- Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto (b. November 16, 1952) is a game developer for the Nintendo company. He is credited with the creation of a few of gaming's most celebrated franchises, including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Star FOX, all of which have sold millions upon millions of units worldwide. His chief video game character, Mario ("Jumpman" when Donkey Kong was first released), is the mascot of the company, and arguably the most recognized character in all of video games, comparable to what Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are for animation. His other achievements include mentoring Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Kirby and Super Smash Bros., and Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

He is so well regarded that even competitors and their fans admit that he has given more to the Video Game industry than just about everyone else, possibly combined. Recently he was issued a gag order forbidding him from revealing anything he does in his off-time, as he frequently bases his games on his hobbies and Nintendo wants no information leaked about possible future franchises.

He's also been awarded a knighthood by the French Ministry of Culture. They must really like Mario.

Franchises and standalone games created, co-created, and/or produced by Miyamoto:

 * Devil World, the only game he designed that did not get an original American release.
 * Donkey Kong
 * F-Zero
 * Kung-Fu (the NES port)
 * The Legend of Zelda
 * Metroid Prime (part of the overall Metroid series)
 * Mole Mania
 * Nintendogs
 * Nazo no Murasamejo
 * Pikmin
 * Star FOX
 * Super Mario Bros.
 * Wave Race
 * Wii Sports / Wii Music / Wii Fit / Wii Play

...And I just love Zelda and DK Guess that's why they broke and you're so paid.