It might sound funny, but I owe a lot to this guy.
His name is Shigeru Miyamoto. And as a profession, he worked as a Video Game Designer. Shigeru Miyamoto hailed from Japan.
So, what could I possibly owe this guy? Well, he gave me a lot of fun moments. A lot. He also gave me time with my granddaughter. And more than anything, he relieved loads of stress and anxiety from my life. Maybe not directly. But without him, these moments would have been much different.
You see. Shigeru Miyamoto is best known for his work at Nintendo, including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the video game industry.
The Legend of Zelda and all the Zelda games. I absolutely loved these. I played them often, especially with my granddaughter Haylee when she was very young.
I first started playing the game in 1987 when it first came out. I played for almost ten years before Haylee was even born. That game was like Magic with a capital M.
If you’ve never played a video game, please don’t judge. They are much more than mindless fun. Playing a game like The Legend of Zelda exercises a lot of mental and even emotional muscles.
For instance, it helps with problem-solving and critical thinking. Zelda is like one long puzzle. You have to constantly test ideas. Oftentimes, you fail, so you must adjust your strategy and try again.
Also, it is good for memory and attention. You’re remembering map layouts, item uses, enemy patterns, and quest details. You also have to be creative. And curious.
Zelda causes persistence and resilience. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Not only that, but you become engaged in the story. I’d go as far as to say that you feel an emotional connection to your characters.
I could go on and on about the benefits and pluses of this game, but I’m already starting to sound like a commercial.
Miyamoto was born in Kyoto. As a child, he enjoyed exploring the natural areas around his home. And wouldn’t you know? This later inspired his work on the “The Legend of Zelda” series.
After graduating from college with a degree in industrial design, Miyamoto joined Nintendo in 1977. And that is when the goodness started.
He created “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda” games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). And oh my goodness, they are SO good.
Then my next big Wii thing later in life? The Wii. He created this in the 2000s.
These days, he is 73 years old and still going strong, working for Nintendo. Doing all the good.
As I said, it may sound funny, but this guy has brought so much joy into my life. I am thankful to him for that.
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“Play is the highest form of research.” — Albert Einstein
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“Adults are just outdated children.” — Dr. Seuss
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“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” — Carl Jung
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“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.” — George Bernard Shaw
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