Miyamoto knighted in France

by James Ransom-Wiley { Mar 13th 2006 at 11:30AM }

Today, Shigeru Miyamoto, along with Michel Ancel (Rayman, Beyond Good and Evil, King Kong) and Frederick Raynal (Alone in the Dark), became the first game creators to be knighted under France's Order of Arts and Letters. Technically, the accolade does not include the addition of "Sir" to one's name. But screw that. Three cheers for Sir Shiggy!

Jeux-France has complete coverage.

[Thanks, Tim; via GameBrink]

Tags: Frederick Raynal, FrederickRaynal, Michel Ancel, MichelAncel, Shigeru Miyamoto, ShigeruMiyamoto

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

darryl @ Mar 13th 2006 11:51AM

I thought he was Japanese... Was he born in France, or does France just really like Nintendo?

Nico @ Mar 13th 2006 11:57AM

I thought it read "Miyamoto killed in France"

I was like wtf...

32_footsteps @ Mar 13th 2006 12:24PM

The Order of Arts and Letters just honors those that it feels advanced their art to a significant degree. The recipients don't have to be French, although you generally have to be exceptionally good to be non-French and receive the honor.

It's significant because it shows both the exceptional esteem the French hold Miyamoto, and that they believe video games are enough of an art that anyone in the field deserves to be thus honored. To my knowledge, no other country's government has bestowed such an honor on a video game designer.

Ninegauger @ Mar 13th 2006 12:30PM

Wasn't Molyneux knighted in Great Britain?

Bassam @ Mar 13th 2006 12:40PM

How is it that in France and England, game developers are respected to a degree that they are honored by the royalty of the country... whereas over here in the States, where we spend way more money on video games, game developers get no love at all?

Sushidrew @ Mar 13th 2006 1:26PM

Man I love Miyamotosan :D Hes a one-of-a-kind man. You know what? HE can replace bush anytime! Run Miyamoto for president of the US!!

32_Footsteps @ Mar 13th 2006 2:13PM

I'm a bit wrong, and Ninegauger is nearly right. Molyneux received an Order of the British Empire, but he received a lower rank (there are five; Molyneux received the fourth-highest). Only the top two ranks are actual knights; there is a limit of 945 that can exist at any one time.