Miyamoto knighted in France

10 Comments by James Ransom-Wiley Mar 13th 2006 11:30AM
Filed under: Culture

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

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

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.

Matt Q: Mar 13th 2006; 2:54PM

I guess the French have better taste than I thought...

Dave: Mar 13th 2006; 4:36PM

During the knighting ceremony, Miyamoto wore a green cap and little pointy shoes.

Shiggy: Mar 13th 2006; 4:56PM

So, Roger Ebert and Hideo Kojima were wrong, then? Games are indeed art! Well, some of them...

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