Shigeru Miyamoto’s Early Genius: Behind the Creation of Super Mario 64

Teenagers inherit traits from both their mother and father in various aspects, yet one aspect of the life of video game industry legend Shigeru Miyamoto may not have mirrored his father’s gaming legacy as Super Mario 64 playtesting revealed.

In a discussion with Shmuplations, the renowned developer and producer of Super Mario 64 elaborated on the game’s development. When talking about playtesting, Miyamoto shared that the team comprised 10 middle school students, including his own child, who played on King Bob-omb’s level, Bob-omb Battlefield.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Miyamoto’s gaming lineage had not entirely carried over, as his child’s performance left much to be desired. “Watching him attempt to scale this seemingly insurmountable hill repeatedly, as a parent, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow, does this kid have any sense?'” Miyamoto chuckled. Fortunately, regardless of his child’s skills (or lack thereof), the playtesting proved successful. “Afterwards, we asked the kids what they thought of the game, and they expressed that it was enjoyable and that they wanted to play it again.”

Instances like this shaped Miyamoto and Nintendo’s approach to gaming, emphasizing that enjoyment is a fundamental element. “I believe there’s been this perception with games t