Miyamoto: Nintendo Probably Wouldn't Hire Me Now

[Andy Chalk]

Miyamoto: Nintendo Probably Wouldn't Hire Me Now

Shigeru Miyamoto is a pretty talented guy but in a recent interview he said that the videogame industry has become so competitive that if he applied for a job at Nintendo today, he probably wouldn't get hired.

You likely know who Nintendo [http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=170] in 1977 and in today's highly competitive job market, he doubts he'd even get hired in the first place.

"Nintendo has become one of those companies that graduates from colleges and good universities really want to work for," Miyamoto said in the most recent issue of Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/news/out-soon-e209]. "Because of that, the competition's really become so fierce for positions. And that means that a lot of the recent recruits for Nintendo have tended to have the higher degree from the prestigious colleges and universities and whatnot."

"I often say to [Nintendo President and CEO] Mr. Iwata: 'If I was applying for a job here today, I, with my actual college degree, would probably not have been employed by Nintendo!'" he added.

As a result, Miyamoto said that he's begun involving himself in the hiring process in order to help the company avoid missing out on talented applicants who may not bring a pile of fancy degrees to the table. "I might pick up on them and try to find out something really different within them which you can't judge just by a college degree," he said. "That's one of the special little jobs I set myself."


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[DarkSaber]

More likely because he hasn't had a truly original idea in 8 years.

 

[oliveira8]

For every flak Nintendo gets these days...Miyamoto is probably one of the few people in the business that understands video games and why they made.

Which is probably the reason he wouldn't get hired today alongside his college degree.
But it's still nice to know that even after all these years he still gives a crap about making good games and see that creative/talented people get jobs personally.

It's the mark of a good professional and business man. Something that some people(You know who) seem to be missing.

 

[Doug]

More likely because he hasn't had a truly original idea in 8 years.

But...but... its Mario IN A PENGIUN SUIT! How's that not original?

For every flak Nintendo gets these days...Miyamoto is probably one of the few people in the business that understands video games and why they made.

Which is probably the reason he wouldn't get hired today alongside his college degree.
But it's still nice to know that even after all these years he still gives a crap about making good games and see that creative/talented people get jobs personally.

It's the mark of a good professional and business man. Something that some people(You know who) seem to be missing.

True.

 

[ckeymel]

Nice to know - sometimes college degrees can't hold up to real life experiences and many talented people end up getting passed over due to lack of a piece of paper. Hard work, creativity and motivation can make up for a college education in the workplace. It really sucks how much of an emphasis is put on a diploma and likewise how expensive they have become to get. I wish more people were like Miyamoto!

 

[Plinglebob]

For every flak Nintendo gets these days...Miyamoto is probably one of the few people in the business that understands video games and why they made.

Which is probably the reason he wouldn't get hired today alongside his college degree.
But it's still nice to know that even after all these years he still gives a crap about making good games and see that creative/talented people get jobs personally.

It's the mark of a good professional and business man. Something that some people(You know who) seem to be missing.

Amen. Also, can you imagine any of his original IPs getting made in todays environment? Both Mario and Zelda would probably be shot down in the 1st development meeting.

 

[AceDiamond]

I'm trying to find a way to put things in perspective as a recent college graduate trying to get into the games industry and finding it hard to do so in a way that doesn't make me seem like I'm comparing myself to Miyamoto, but it wouldn't come out right anyway.

The point being he's probably right. These days even a college degree isn't usually viewed favorably, and in the Games Industry more often than not they want people who have worked on at least one published title.

Still, it's good to hear he's trying to do what he can to involve himself in the process of finding new talent.

 

[Trotgar]

I love his work, but he looks kinda scary in that picture.

 

[DarkSaber]

So what's it to be for the next year Mr. Miyamoto, another 7 mario games, 4 zelda games and maybe another smash bros and mario kart? Good to see the old creativity still flowing.

 

[OmegaXIII]

Unfortunately this sort of thing is pandemic in todays society. Hell i'm doing a medicine degree and i still fall victim to it: those who get astounding grades are often the ones who get the best jobs, despite the fact that give them an actual patient to talk to and they're fucked.

Nice to know he's doing his bit to try and turn it around though

 

[Shrewsbury]

I'm suddenly reminded of Willy Wanka.

reminded of Willy Wanka.

Willy Wanka.

Wanka.

*shudder*

 

[Fire Daemon]

I've heard time and time again that developers are more looking for physical evidence of ability than a degree. If Miyamoto had never been hired and Nintendo still around for some reason he could probably show evidence of skill and most likely get a job. Although that depends entirely on how Nintendo would be like at that time, it is interesting to think about how different gaming would be if weren't for this one man.

 

[AceDiamond]

I've heard time and time again that developers are more looking for physical evidence of ability than a degree. If Miyamoto had never been hired and Nintendo still around for some reason he could probably show evidence of skill and most likely get a job. Although that depends entirely on how Nintendo would be like at that time, it is interesting to think about how different gaming would be if weren't for this one man.

Most likely dead or not at the level it is now (i.e. the 1980s industry crash would've lasted even longer). Granted he didn't create the NES but who can say how well it would have done without a title like Super Mario Bros.

 

[oranger]

Unfortunately this sort of thing is pandemic in todays society. Hell i'm doing a medicine degree and i still fall victim to it: those who get astounding grades are often the ones who get the best jobs, despite the fact that give them an actual patient to talk to and they're fucked.

Nice to know he's doing his bit to try and turn it around though

I know exactly what you mean. I've lost count of how many degree holding retards have resorted to ad hominem in discussions. I also recall auditing a psych course to help my mom study, and I kept hearing the same questions reiterated to the prof over and over.
Whats a degree worth, if these students can just short term memory the whole thing, spit it out and then forget it all?

 

[Gigaguy64]

For every flak Nintendo gets these days...Miyamoto is probably one of the few people in the business that understands video games and why they made.

Which is probably the reason he wouldn't get hired today alongside his college degree.
But it's still nice to know that even after all these years he still gives a crap about making good games and see that creative/talented people get jobs personally.

It's the mark of a good professional and business man. Something that some people(You know who) seem to be missing.

This.
One of the reasons i really like Mr.Miyamoto is because he actualy still cares about games, the people who make them, and the people who play them.

 

[esperandote]

he's right, neither bill gates would be hired for microsoft now.