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Shigeru Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda (Book) Review

 
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Page Count: 184
 
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A fascinating look into the history of gaming.

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Though there is an extensive list of works cited at the end of the book, the author often cites works within the book as well, which interrupts the flow of text when reading.


Final Fiendish Findings?

The first book in the Influential Video Game Designers series Chances are, just about all of us have played Shigeru Miyamoto’s games on more than one occasion. But whether you’re the type to follow game designers and stay up to date on gaming news, or the type who just likes to play the game and […]

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Posted July 21, 2015 by

 
Full Fiendish Findings...
 
 

The first book in the Influential Video Game Designers series

Chances are, just about all of us have played Shigeru Miyamoto’s games on more than one occasion. But whether you’re the type to follow game designers and stay up to date on gaming news, or the type who just likes to play the game and not worry about where it came from, chances are you don’t know a whole lot about Shigeru Miyamoto. As creator of arguably the most influential games in the business – Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda – he has had an immeasurable impact on gaming as we know it. This book, Shigeru Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda examines the many different ways that Miyamoto challenged the status quo, bringing his ideal of a game that is at its heart fun to play to the world of gaming.

Though it does cover some of Miyamoto’s private life in brief, this is not a biography. Instead, the book describes in detail how Miyamoto contributed to gaming, and the little coincidences and failures, as well as the great successes, that led to his esteemed career. The book is set up into sections, covering everything from “The Father of Modern Video Games”, which describes Miyamoto and how he came to be designing games at Nintendo, to “Revolutionizing Gameplay: Casual Games and Mature Audiences”, which deals with the release of the Wii, and the challenges that come from making games that can appeal to adults as well as children. The book also includes a full transcript of Miyamoto’s keynote speech at the 1999 Game Developer Conference, which gives readers a look at Miyamoto in his own words.

Shigeru Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda really gets at the heart of Miyamoto’s influence on the gaming industry. If at any point readers doubt how much affect he has had, they need only to turn to the final section of the book. This section, titled Gameography, provides a look at the many games he has had a part in. For each game, readers are given title, platform, sales, franchise, a synopsis of the game, and Miyamoto’s roles. Thirty pages of games of all different sorts provide a clear understanding of his prolific range.

Shigeru Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda is an interesting read for gamers of all ages. Providing a great understanding of Shigeru Miyamoto’s role in the gaming industry, it’s a book that also gives readers an understanding of the history of gaming as a whole, as well as the many influences one influential designer can have. Though it reads much like a textbook at times, it provides a fascinating look at how the gaming industry has evolved through the years.


Amy

 
U.S. Senior Editor & Deputy EIC, @averyzoe on Twitter, mother of 5, gamer, reader, wife to @macanthony, and all-around bad-ass (no, not really)


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