Nintendo's Legacy: A Toymaker's Philosophy in a Digital Age
In a world dominated by tech behemoths, one Japanese company stands apart with a philosophy rooted in pure joy. Keza MacDonald, the Guardian's video games editor, delves into this in her biography, Super Nintendo, celebrating Nintendo's enduring impact on global entertainment.
The Pokémon Phenomenon: More Than Child's Play
What is the highest-grossing entertainment franchise ever? Forget Star Wars or Marvel—it's Pokémon, with an estimated $115 billion earned since 1996. MacDonald argues this isn't mere infantilisation but a sophisticated pursuit. Like Harry Potter, it offers a fantasy of self-determination in a world free from adult oversight, even teaching kids algebra through its complex scoring systems.
The 2016 craze for Pokémon Go saw adults hunting virtual monsters in real locations, providing escapism amid events like Brexit and celebrity deaths. Later, during lockdowns, Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 45 million copies in 2020, enabling remote socialisation through idyllic village life.
Mario and Miyamoto: Icons of Consistency and Creativity
Before Pokémon, there was Mario, the plumber in his "unorthodox plumbing uniform" from 1981's Donkey Kong. Shigeru Miyamoto, his 73-year-old creator, downplays his genius as common sense, but colleagues speak of "Miyamoto magic." The Super Mario series remains aesthetically consistent, with 2023's Super Mario Bros. Wonder blending slapstick and music into a video game masterpiece.
Miyamoto also crafted The Legend of Zelda, inspired by childhood explorations. Games like 1998's Ocarina of Time feature vast worlds like Hyrule Field, leaving lasting impressions—even crow caws can evoke nostalgia. Programmers, such as the one behind Epona the horse, showcase Nintendo's wholesome dedication: "I worked hard to make her a good horse."
Nintendo's Antidote to Modern Tech Woes
MacDonald's interviews reveal Nintendo's "toymaker philosophy" as a counter to technology's often negative role. In an era of soured tech utopias and profit-driven algorithms, games like Zelda demonstrate how technology can enrich, creating alternative worlds behind the screen.
The company avoids tech for its own sake, exemplified by Gunpei Yokoi's "lateral thinking with withered technology" for the Game Boy. Nintendo plans no generative AI in games, focusing instead on what makes it special: simple joy. As producer Takashi Tezuka notes, games offer "enjoyment out of discovering how to become better"—a rare gift in an uncontrollable world.
Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun by Keza MacDonald is published by Guardian Faber (£20).
