Shigeru Miyamoto: Apple and Nintendo See Eye to Eye on Simplicity

[MacRumors]

Ahead of the launch of Super Mario Run on iOS later this week, Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto sat down with video game site Glixel to share some thoughts on what it was like working with Apple.

According to Miyamoto, amid discussions about entering the mobile space, his team set out to build the simplest Mario game they could, doing away with a lot of the complexity that has been added over the years.

Apple was an ideal partner because Nintendo felt development support was necessary, and the partnership has led to some heavy promotion of Super Mario Run in the App Store and at Apple retail stores. Apple also helped Nintendo settle on an ideal pricing model after Nintendo shied away from freemium pricing.

For Nintendo, we have a lot of kids that play our products. It was important for us to be able to offer Super Mario Run in a way that parents would feel assured that they could buy the game and give it to their kids without having to worry about future transactions. From early on, I thought that Apple would be a good partner so we could work on this new approach.

Miyamoto also believes that Apple and Nintendo have a lot of common ground between them, focusing on how people use products and marketing products to a wide range of people. "They put a lot of effort into the interface and making the product simple to use, and that's very consistent with Nintendo," he said, likening a story about a Super NES controller with colored buttons to Apple's colorful Apple logo.

In the early days when computers were very complicated things, computer companies were purposely presenting them in ways that made them seem very complicated. Then you had Apple who came along with their very simple and colorful logo and it all had more of a fun feel to it.

Actually, this reminds me that with the Super NES controller we put the multicolored buttons on the face of the controller, and then the US office decided not to keep that. I told that story to Apple, and how I liked the use of color in their old logo. That was like a bridge that had been built between us.

Their focus is always on simplicity. Their focus is always on really taking the user into account, making it easy to use and then having an environment that's safe and secure that people can work and play in. They're the areas where Nintendo and Apple really see eye to eye.

Super Mario Run will be available on iOS devices starting on Thursday, December 15. Exclusive demos are available in Apple retail stores around the world ahead of the game's launch.

Super Mario Run will be free to download and try, but unlocking full gameplay will require users to pay $9.99. As was discovered last week, an always-on internet connection will be required for security purposes.

Miyamoto's full interview, which covers topics like his role on Nintendo's creative team, his hobbies, and his inspiration, can be read over at Glixel.

Article Link: Shigeru Miyamoto: Apple and Nintendo See Eye to Eye on Simplicity

 

[dwaltwhit]

I really am looking forward to this. the price tag doesn't scare me away because I am willing to pay for quality. I appreciate that they offer a "trial" version for free.

 

[Icaras]

Of course they do, now hurry up Tim. Buy Nintendo ASAP and make my dreams come true!

*salivating at the idea of accessing and playing Nintendo's virtual console library on my Apple TV*

 

[BootsWalking]

And just like Apple, Nintendo went overboard focusing on simplicity instead of technology which is why the Wii U was such an enormous flop.

 

[fumi2014]

I'm still kind of sad that a company with the imagination and talent of Nintendo, who have arguably produced the greatest games over the last thirty years is now forced to sell its software on Apple devices. It's a changing world.

 

[RuffyYoshi]

But the Switch still has a headphone jack. They're not quite there yet.

 

[blizaine]

So, unlike a normal $9 iOS game that can be shared with my Family, this game requires an in-app purchase. Does that mean each person in my family that wants to play the full version will have to pay for it?

 

[gluckett]

I really am looking forward to this. the price tag doesn't scare me away because I am willing to pay for quality. I appreciate that they offer a "trial" version for free.

I would happily pay the money, but the fact that a constant internet connection is required is a no-go. If I pay for it, I want to be able to play it offline.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Of course they do, now hurry up Tim. Buy Nintendo ASAP and make my dreams come true!

*salivating at the idea of accessing and playing Nintendo's virtual console library on my Apple TV*

Apple already screwed the MacBook Pro up - we don't need them screwing up the Switch, too.

Just buy a Nintendo console if you want to play Nintendo's virtual console library on your TV. Why on earth would you want to be forced to use the Siri remote to play any serious game?

 

[Goatllama]

As Bubsy the bobcat would say: I~ like it!

 

[dwaltwhit]

I would happily pay the money, but the fact that a constant internet connection is required is a no-go. If I pay for it, I want to be able to play it offline.

I think that in the not so distant future, they will work toward that. For me it isn't a deal breaker, but I can see how it is for many.

 

[Xenomorph]

So, unlike a normal $9 iOS game that can be shared with my Family, this game requires an in-app purchase. Does that mean each person in my family that wants to play the full version will have to pay for it?

That is my only issue with it.

Pay up front = easy share.

In-app payment:
* no sharing
* doesn't work if it is ever pulled from the App Store.

I have apps that include IAPs to unlock features and disable ads. I cannot disable ads anymore since the app was pulled.

 

[Yaemon]

So, unlike a normal $9 iOS game that can be shared with my Family, this game requires an in-app purchase. Does that mean each person in my family that wants to play the full version will have to pay for it?

Unfortunately, I think that's the case.

 

[Rob_2811]

As somebody who has been on the developer program for longer than I care to remember, the first page of this thread is depressing reading.

Imagine having to pay for software ??

 

[Porco]

I'll keep this post simple then: No offline, no buy.

 

[TechZeke]

Seriously, just make an official Nintendo controller attachment for iPhone and iPad then add full Nintendo titles. Would sell like hotcakes.

 

[usarioclave]

"more of a fun feel to it"

I feel said hearing this. The fun side of Apple is dead, replaced by "smoothness."

I think the last UI thing I loved was the slot-machine chooser on iOS. Now everything is designed by Dieter from Sprockets. "So serious."

 

[BornAgainMac]

I am glad the they didn't pick freemium.

 

[The Phazer]

"Simple" like "Sorry, this game does not work offline" simple?

 

[iapplelove]

Seriously, just make an official Nintendo controller attachment for iPhone and iPad then add full Nintendo titles. Would sell like hotcakes.

Of course it would. Just Nintendo will never ever do that.

 

[macsrcool1234]

But they feel fine with data sucking, battery draining, 24/7 internet connectivity to play.

 

[jamesnajera]

Of course they do, now hurry up Tim. Buy Nintendo ASAP and make my dreams come true!

*salivating at the idea of accessing and playing Nintendo's virtual console library on my Apple TV*

I think we have to wait for the failure of Nintendo Switch before Apple buys Nintendo.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

I thought Mario appeared slightly thinner... now I know why.

 

[cicalinarrot]

And just like Apple, Nintendo went overboard focusing on simplicity instead of technology which is why the Wii U was such an enormous flop.

Wii U was a flop because that weird tablet-controller, because of its cost (related to the controller), because it had poor development (also related to the controller), because its name too similar to the Wii and bad marketing in general.
Every single analyst agrees on that (nothing to do with simplicity at all). But what do they know...

 

[itsmilo]

cant play it on the plane. What a flop