You guys know Iwata Asks. They're a pretty cool series of interviews.

http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mario25th/vol1_page1.jsp

This is another entry in that series, only the interviewer is Shigesato Itoi, best known in the west as the creator of EarthBound. He's interviewing Miyamoto about his design philosophies and also about Super Mario Bros. specifically.

These two are my favorite developer personalities, and the interview so far is really interesting. The tone is very different from the normal Iwata Asks - less formal, more laid back, and (it could be argued) more interesting.

I thought you spelt Iwata wrong in the thread title.

But there is actually a Itoi lol

The two best developers ever in the same room *world explodes*

Now I'm reading the interview intently

A very rewarding read, I must say.

As a designer, I am thankful for the insight into these great men's minds. I expected an in depth discussion of the thought that goes into Miyamoto's rather idiosyncratic design practices - 'upending the tea table', or negative design, as it were - but their deliberations on life in general was a welcome addition.

I am a little disappointed that the meta-elements that pervade Miyamoto's games were not brought up. I get the impression that he takes a very distant, analytic, almost self-deprecating(ly) postmodern view of games in general. The inherent artifice of the medium has been a recurring motif in the Mario games, for example, and I would like to see that brought to light.

Still, I feel I learned a lot today.

I still need to play Mother... :(

I still wonder exactly what Itoi's up to now.

What is Nintendo having him do?

@Helios:

It would be pretty interesting for them to talk about that, but if you're into that then the Mother series (Mother 2/EarthBound in particular) would be right up your alley. No other series I can think of is quite as aware of its own medium as this one.

@Mr Khan:

Itoi is a copywriter, actually. He doesn't work for Nintendo.

He also apparently makes very expensive sweaters.

That's cool

That's why I brought it up. They touched upon the subject of expressing oneself through one's work, and if I any designers were to discuss the issue, I feel it should be these two.

I know Itoi is famus for it, but that aspect of Miyamoto's work never seems to be given any attention; Mario is 'only' an example classic, 'fun' game design - as if that precluded any possibility for it to elicit thought or beauty...

Hehehe, pretty darn good! I actually learned something about myself  while reading this. And it's been pondering in my head since I picked up a pencil and paper and started drawing...