Nintendo's veteran creators recently dropped some wisdom during an interview celebrating the 40th anniversary of "Super Mario Bros." Their big takeaway for keeping the iconic plumber beloved for another six decades – all the way to his 100th anniversary – is to "constantly evolve with technology."
This insightful chat is featured in Nintendo's "Nintendo Museum Book," bringing together original "Super Mario" development team members: Nintendo Executive Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto, Executive Officer Takashi Tezuka, composer Koji Kondo, and SRD President Toshihiko Nakago. Together, they dove deep into how this generation-spanning game continues to evolve.
When asked if Mario could still be a household name by his 100th anniversary in 2085, Tezuka candidly admitted it would be a "miraculous challenge."
"We never know when players will get bored," Tezuka stated. "If a game isn't fun, people will naturally move on. That's why I'm always thinking about how to keep games entertaining and prevent players from getting tired of them."
He further elaborated that different eras demand different forms of entertainment. "Today's Mario is completely different from the one we made in 1985. I want to keep creating experiences that people find fun, encompassing action and interaction, and constantly evolving through subtle changes."
Tezuka also highlighted that the "Mario" series now spans multiple generations of players – originally parents and children played together, but now you can see three generations enjoying it. He mused that while he doesn't know if it can reach four generations, he still hopes to create works that generations can share and enjoy.
"If families and friends can experience the world of Mario together, that would make me incredibly happy. We'll continue making Mario games for a long time, so please look forward to what's next," Tezuka added.
Shigeru Miyamoto, meanwhile, pointed out that while Mario is increasingly venturing into films and other visual media, "interactivity" remains the soul of the series. "It's only natural that Mario will continue to evolve with digital technology. We're now also involved in the film industry, but I hope we never forget that the essence of games lies in interaction."
"As long as we don't forget Mario's core – running and jumping – even if we add new elements, I believe Mario will be with us for a long time. Nintendo has always been brave in challenging new technologies. If a new technology can bring fun, we'll make that fun snowball, growing bigger and bigger," Miyamoto concluded.
via： VGC