This thread is making me depressed : (

"The day he retires is the day I quit gaming, there's still no one to even rival Miyamoto's genius."

Saying something like this tells me two things: you have no respect or passion for gaming or even Miyamoto.

Scariest thought in the world.

Those who sat Miyamoto is not irreplacable are fools. Dude is one of a kind.

We all know that he doesn't do it all alone and there are MANY MANY talented people at Nintendo and obviously much as he learned from Yokoi they will have learned from him. And like him bring their own style and vision to creativity.

But there's no doubt there would be a black hole where Miyamoto once stood much like when Yokoi left.

The company will change much like it has changed somewhat after the hard-nosed Yamauchi retired and gentler Iwata took his place.

I just hope the company culture stays intact because that is what produces all of these geniuses. As long as Nintendo is self-controlled it will live on. But it will be an end of an era and I'm surely not looking forward to it.

Miyamoto is just one of those guys who nobody can hate. He enjoys what he does, he seems magical almost even though there much logic to how he approaches his work. This is a man to emulate as a role model. Humility, dedication to his craft, forward-thinking attitude, imaginative, and just that damn good.

The sad thing is Miyamoto is a product of country living. Small town boy who grew up with his own imagination as his playing device. That town he grew up in no longer exists now and modern day developers think more technically first than organically like he does because they grew up all around technology. This is the man who told an associate asking about how to model Epona for Twilight Princess to go out there and ride a horse. Most would have looked at films and mimicked the motion there. Miyamoto always went that step beyond and I hope someone will be able to do what he does in that respect because it is that quality which sets Nintendo apart from the rest.

Here's to a long life for Miyamoto! Keep on upturning the tables and making the best games the world has to offer.

John Lucas 

You know I said the same thing to myself. I said I hope he outlives me. They say Japanese have long lifespans. He may get to 100 before I get to 80.

So glad I grew up in this era of time.

John Lucas 

No more mario.

A couple of years ago Nintendo restructured their development teams (in part) to take a lot of the focus on Miyamoto (and Miyamoto's franchises) and put it on the other talented producers Nintendo has ...

Wow, talk about depressing posts.

 I thought it would be bitter sweet. I can't think of a better way to go than being right there to the end doing what you love.

 Do you have anything but doom and gloom for Nintendo on your agenda?  What's your issue these days? 

To answer your question.  You have nothing to worry about if Shigeru retires, for one he said he would never retire and would have to be dragged from Nintendo or he'd have to be dead.   Also, he has been grooming people in their perspective fields for years.  He has been like the ultimate teacher at Nintendo.  Everyone knows now what he likes and doesn't like and people there have recently even shown that they no longer report to Miyamoto as much as they use to.  Full games are made and sent to Miyamoto to test out, he gives a yay or nay and most of the time he's given a pass to the games.  His most recent project being Super Mario Galaxy was made completely by an outside studio at Nintendo.  Miyamoto is no longer in the driving seat, he's the passenger teacher.