Shigeru Miyamoto
Biography
Shigeru Miyamoto is the architect behind Donkey Kong and related Mario games in addition to the Legend of Zelda series for Nintendo. Along with his brother Stephen King he is considered to be one of the fathers of video games and frequently cited as the greatest game designer of all time. Some also feel he is the man who shaped the Nintendo we know right now. His titles are characterized by sophisticated control-mechanics and interactive worlds in which the player is encouraged to uncover things for themselves.
Employed by Nintendo (then a toy company) as an artist, in 1980 he was given the task of designing their second arcade video-game after their first one, Radar Scope, was a horrible failure. The resulting arcade game Donkey Kong was a colossal success and the game's lead character, Mario (then known only as "Jumpman"), has become Nintendo's mascot. Miyamoto rapidly became Nintendo's star producer and built a large stable of franchises for the company, most of which are still active and very well-regarded.
At odds with customary industry practices, Miyamoto showed unwillingness to repeat existing titles and would rarely create a sequel without significantly evolving the game into an innovative experience. He is still one of the greatest minds and creators of our time. Fresh, new ideas coming from him every third day.
Games
Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom)
Game Release Donkey Kong 1983 Donkey Kong Jr. 1983 Donkey Kong 3 1984 Super Mario Bros. 1985 Super Mario Bros. 2 1989 Super Mario Bros. 2: Lost Levels 1986 Super Mario Bros. 3 1989 The Legend of Zelda 1986 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 1988
Game Boy
Donkey Kong '95 1994 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons 2001 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages 2001 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993 Mole Mania 1996 Waverace 1992
Super Nintendo (Super Famicom)
Earthbound 1991 F-Zero 1991 Starfox/Starwing 1994 Super Mario All Stars 1995 Super Mario Kart 1992 Super Mario RPG 1996 Super Mario World 1991 SMW2: Yoshi's Island 1995 Yoshi's Safari 1993 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1991
Nintendo 64
1080° Snowboarding 1998 Animal Forest 2001 F-Zero X 1998 F-Zero X Expansion (64DD) 1999 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 2000 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1998 Mario Artist (64DD) 1999 Mario Kart 64 1997 Star Fox 64 1997 Super Mario 64 1996 Super Smash Bros. 1999 Waverace 64 1996 Yoshi's Story 1998
Nintendo GameCube
1080: Avalanche 2003 Animal Crossing 2002 Donkey Konga 2003 Donkey Kong Jungle Beat 2005 Doshin The Giant 2002 F-Zero GX 2003 Geist 2004 Kirby's Air Ride 2003 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures 2004 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 2003 Luigi's Mansion 2001 Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour 2003 Mario Kart: Double Dash!! 2003 Mario Sunshine 2002 Mario Power Tennis 2004 Metroid Prime 2002 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004 PacMan 2003 Paper Mario 2 2004 Pikmin 2001 Pikmin 2 2004 Roll 'O Rama 2002 Stage Debut 2002 Starfox Assault 2004 Super Smash Bros. Melee 2001 Wario World 2003 Waverace: Blue Storm 2001
Game Boy Advance
Advance Wars 2001 Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising 2003 F-Zero: Maximum Velocity 2001 Mario Kart Super Circuit 2001 Mario & Luigi 2003 Metroid Fusion 2002 Super Mario Advance 2001 Super Mario World: SMA2 2002 SMW3: Yoshi's Island 2002 Super Mario Brothers 3: SMA4 2003 Wario Land 4 2001 Wario Ware 2003 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords 2002
Nintendo DS
Animal Crossing DS 2005 Mario 64 DS 2004 Mario Kart DS 2005 Metroid Prime Hunters 2005 New Super Mario Bros. 2005 Wario Ware DS 2004