Miyamoto thinks his college degree wouldn't get him a job at Nintendo today
In the upcoming issue of Edge Magazine, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto discusses a variety of topics with the UK gaming magazine. Develop Online got their hands on a copy of the magazine already, revealing a rather ... revealing quote from the father of Donkey Kong. "Nintendo has become one of those companies that graduates from colleges and good universities really want to work for ... I often say to [Nintendo head] Mr. Iwata: 'If I was applying for a job here today, I, with my actual college degree, would probably not have been employed by Nintendo."
Though he adds that he "might pick up on [applicants] and try to find out something really different within them which you can't judge just by a college degree," it worries us greatly that today's equivalent of the man who helped to birth some of the game industry's landmark franchises may end up unemployed or even dissuaded from game development altogether. All alone! Without a home! We imagine somewhat like a rolling stone!
... Our apologies. That was quite enough.
Though he adds that he "might pick up on [applicants] and try to find out something really different within them which you can't judge just by a college degree," it worries us greatly that today's equivalent of the man who helped to birth some of the game industry's landmark franchises may end up unemployed or even dissuaded from game development altogether. All alone! Without a home! We imagine somewhat like a rolling stone!
... Our apologies. That was quite enough.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rob Accomando @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:03PM
They'd probably laugh at boot him out the door.
brian @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:40PM
one of the problems in alot of industries today, not just gaming.
Grades are not a good standard to go by in most cases (im guessing for med school and things like that it's fine).
but how do you judge someone going into entertainment based on the grades they got when it is such a opinionated thing, how do you know your instructor will like your style of work etc?
The Aquacharger (PSN:Elvenmonk) @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:49PM
@brian
You bring up a good point. My girlfriend's going to UNT for an art degree. Her professor doesn't like her work or style too much. However teachers at the Guild Hall have told her to apply right away (A masters only program for the game industry) and that they love her work. Along with various other people in the game industry have told her her artwork is amazing and would love to hire her.
RageOverdose @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:55PM
Grades aren't a good thing to go by because they have no standard but what the teacher approves of. The only consistent part of grades are the numerical levels.
I would think, however, in the entertainment business, while things are more opinionated on what is "good," a lot of that may come from how well the student works and if they do well at keeping a schedule and such.
That's the thing though, that's not consistent across all teachers. Same goes for more practical studies, although I'd like to say it's probably more consistent.
The point is, grades have no standards, de facto or otherwise. Unfortunately, I wouldn't like the idea of no form of progress tracking either. There probably should be a better system, but it would be hard to do without a bunch of boards discussing on what suits what.
TC @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:16PM
You can imagine the interview today:
Iwata- Hello, Mr...Miyamoto is it? What makes you think you can succeed at Nintendo?
Miyamoto- Well, I am very inventive, and have some great game ideas....
Iwata- ....Like what? Perhaps a new kind of dance rhythm game, or shoot 'em up?
Miyamoto- No! Actually I would make a game where you essentially jump and avoid bad things, while collecting good things.
Iwata- That doesn't sound very saleable, We would need to spend a fortune hiring a celebrity's likeness to endorse a game like that, hmm, maybe Hannah Montan...
Miyamoto- ...No! This is the best bit - the main character would just be a fat plumber.
Iwata- Get the f**k right out of my office now.
embassy @ Nov 23rd 2009 10:03PM
Brian,
You hit it right on the head. Entertainment firms really need to step out of the standard business practice and take another look at acquring talent. Also, at the same time, people looking to get into the entertainment biz have so many avenues available that they need to be willing to try something new to get recognized instead of jumping up and down in front of Reggie Fils-Aime's office. Aka, make them come to you. Of course, with the internet, everyone also has this ability so being seen or noticed is damn hard.
This hits close to home for me because after an unsuccessful post-college jobhunt I went back to school and am now wrapping up my Master's this semester yet I still feel as if I have no options. I honestly feel as though my graduate degree is more of a liability than anything else in this economy because employers think you're going to leverage it to ask for more money, which is a completely ludicrous frame of mind.
There just is no clear "path" in the entertainment biz. Skill, talent, education etc don't guarantee anything. But like I said, that's a gift/curse. It allows one to be inventive and try creative ways to make a way for themselves.
Skaz @ Nov 23rd 2009 10:36PM
Miyamoto was this nobody programmer who got really lucky with a higher-up noticing a stroke of genius in the form of his retooling of a failed Popeye game into something original.
Ask anyone who got huge in the entertainment business (film, comics, games, books etc) and they'll all say luck was a huge part of their getting up there.
The Aquacharger (PSN:Elvenmonk) @ Nov 23rd 2009 11:45PM
@Skaz
Miyamoto's not a programmer, but an artist.
Katana Master @ Nov 24th 2009 2:19PM
@ TC
That was hilarious!
drew @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:03PM
Great. I'm going to college for no reason now.
Shadow Hog @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:09PM
You're going to college to get a job. Nobody said it had to be with Nintendo first. Shit, Reggie started out with Pizza Hut! (Well, I'm pretty sure Pizza Hut wasn't his FIRST job, but you get the drift.)
TypeF @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:24PM
and bill gates started in the trash cans!
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:25PM
Was he kicking ass and taking names back then too?
acefondu @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:26PM
The Regginator yelled at pizza's until they got up and sold themselves.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:35PM
Reggie scares the hell out of me
BananaBoat @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:50PM
A masters degree is the new bachelors degree. It's sad, but true. Employers get a stack of applications, and they immediately toss anyone without a highschool degree, and then anyone without an associates degree, and then anyone without a bachelors degree. If they are tossing anyone without a doctorate, you might as well give up working there.
Spekkio @ Nov 25th 2009 4:03PM
Yeah, you're screwed. Sorry.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:04PM
New Shiggy picture, Joystiq.
It wasn't uncommon back then. Yuji Naka didn't attend college, so he ended up working for Sega after Namco turned him down.
Oops.
Reuben @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:05PM
Dylan reference made my evening.
No direction home!
charlie b. @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:25PM
like a complete unknown.
Marco le Polo @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:38PM
Like a rolling stone?
edes @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:05PM
Shigi, I'm sure he would get a job at nintendo
sony boy (6 years til sony man child!) @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:05PM
How hard can it be when their systems print money??
jekoln @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:07PM
my college degree sure didn't get me a job.
sad face.
CH3BURASHKA @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:21PM
Actually, Gorillaz face.
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Nov 24th 2009 6:49AM
My Uni (college to the americans) degree didn't help me get a job.
So i did a masters... guess what...
Still no job!
I swear to God, if this doctorate doesn't get me a job somebody's gona get fucked up!
The Aquacharger (PSN:Elvenmonk) @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:09PM
It's funny, depending on where you go to work you wont get looked at without one, but just having one doesn't matter.
That Burning Sensation @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:12PM
Today, college degrees are nothing more than testaments to ones ability to tolerate paperwork and memorization of information. It's hardly a litmus test for a good employee or an intellegent person. Bill Gates never graduated from college, he wasn't exactly a Steven Hawking either.
Nah, actuall there days people can cheat and bs their way to a degree. True genius is often overlooked for a fast talking charmer.
SoshiKitai @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:22PM
It always takes more than a degree to get a great job.
Sometimes, it doesn't take a degree at all.
Most times, it takes willingness, a goal, and a path.
...people often get confused and believe college = good job.
College HELPS you get a good job, the rest depends on your abilities and the company's standards.
That Burning Sensation @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:31PM
Yeah I'm being a bit too cynical. My point was just that, degrees determine nothing tangible really.
RageOverdose @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:00PM
You aren't likely going to get a job developing new weapon systems for the military as an employee of a contracted company without a college degree, and I doubt you'd have the knowledge necessary without college or some form of higher education for such a job. Working on R&D for new technology is the same way. Of course, that's mostly engineering and science degrees, something that I think hold a lot more weight as representative of a person's knowledge and capabilities than a degree in accounting.
At the same time, sitting in a cubicle looking at bills all day and putting them where they should go, making sure each one is properly filed and labeled, and then getting them paid really doesn't require a college education, just some time for training and a person who can handle doing monotonous work all day.
Luke @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:13PM
You're right about something, though. Someone who just barely got their degree because they slacked off or partied 24/7, but has charm or connections, has a better chance at their preferred job than an intelligent, hard worker who doesn't do well with people. People skills go much further than any degree.
That Burning Sensation @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:19PM
The problem with your argument RageOverdose is that you are using two extreme examples of employment, two completely different ends of an intellectual spectrum. Are you not aware of the grey area that is inbetween? How about a job as a business executive, market manager, editor, and such? Your argument is to black and white.... obviously if a person was trying to be a engineer that is one thing, but there are plenty of jobs like Senator/Congress man, a manager, etc that are obtained by those less inclined to intellectual prowess and more by social savy.
I am not saying I am either or, but I am just stating an observation as a college student that has witness people get through courses by aligning political ideals or ass kissing... Besides I stopped caring about this subject. Good night.
andrewpoe @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:58PM
I agree -- and the problem with most jobs nowadays have very little to do with a person's degree. People who did graduate with a degree are overlooked for people who can lie about everything in their background, get away with it, and hope they aren't noticed as being frauds. I can't tell you how many jobs I applied for out of college and I hope someone would 'take a chance' on me that didn't happen. The sad fact of life is the fast-talking charmers usually go further unfortunately and look for other people like them. So people like me end up not getting hired because we can't 'relate' to them.
Reallly, 'people skills' are overrated anyway -- most people that you work with don't know how to act around you either. I really wish we could cut down on the chatter that hiring personnel use when interviewing.
Brodo @ Nov 23rd 2009 10:44PM
LOL
"It's hardly a litmus test"
Luke @ Nov 23rd 2009 11:17PM
I have people skills...I'm good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE
RageOverdose @ Nov 24th 2009 3:38AM
Extremes? That's wholly irrelevant
I'm making a point about needing college degrees for certain jobs, versus the fact that people seem to think more common white-collar jobs where employers want a degree are the only jobs needing college degrees out there, and overall downplaying college as just a waste of time, when plenty aren't.
Do you want your interstates to be under the eye of people without a mathematic understanding of physics? No.
Do you want your motherboard to be designed by someone who doesn't have the knowledge of circuitry or discrete logic? No.
Do you want your prescriptions to be made by people without any understanding of the chemical reactions they will have with your body? No.
Do you want your engine to maximize efficiency and be built accurately without miscalculation? No.
It's hard to come by a person who has good knowledge in such fields who hasn't been to college.
Also, accounting is a very general term. There are a variety of accounting jobs, many of them can be found in State offices. And they are pretty representative, I think, to the kind of jobs where you don't really need a degree.
Meh @ Nov 24th 2009 10:55AM
"Do you want your engine to maximize efficiency and be built accurately without miscalculation? No." You've lost me there.
sohcahtoa @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:16PM
I believe that's just a bad comparison. College degree is like inflation, what you can buy for a buck twenty years ago, is different today. Society just got inflated with college degrees these day, maybe a master, or even a PhD might be a good equivalent.
And from a society's point of view, this is a good thing, we have moved forward, and at a good rapid pace.
??? @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:23PM
There's a joke at my alma mater: The Success Program that so many alums follow require them to drop out two or three years in. Which is funny, except that it's true. The latest: A classmate of mine who dropped out his junior year. He's now fronting a band that is selling out shows across the country.
It really just shows how much a joke college is, you know?
Sidebuster @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:26PM
Why didn't you mention his name? Is it because he's in Nickleback?
Luke @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:41PM
The guy's username is a hint. The band is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/!!!
??? @ Nov 23rd 2009 11:21PM
I wish I knew Nic Offer of !!!. I'd plan a throw down between him and Giuliani. In a schoolyard.
If I knew Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, I'd sock him. Then I'd ship him to Matthew Good, with a baseball or cricket bat that said, "USE WITH EXTREME FORCE."
Actually, all I'll say is the band in question had their music in a PSP commercial in Canada last year, upon which the song's YouTube vid got spammed with sellout accusations. And they're from Boston.
HolyMustard @ Nov 24th 2009 11:32AM
Passion Pit, who are actually officially from Cambridge, but close enough.
Luke @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:26PM
It says more about the development of the company than it does about the value of a degree, but I definitely agree that college degrees are worth far less today than they were twenty years ago. Obviously you need one, but it's basically as valuable as a high school degree once was, and that's always been free. Today's college grads usually enter the job market with debt. They can go into more debt to go to grad school, or they can try their best to find a job somewhere out there. But many grads are forced to go back home and live with the 'rents until things recover.
Stay in school kids! As long as you can afford to. Ride out the economy and hope that there are jobs when you graduate. 'Cause living at home sucks.
seemoneh @ Nov 24th 2009 8:17AM
Predicting a continued rise in autism and downsyndrome rates as young adults are forced to postpone the creation of family due to debt restructuring.
charlie b. @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:28PM
RE: Bob Dylan reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nej4xJe4Tdg
The Adventures of Cesaria Across the 8th Dimension! @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:33PM
And without Miyamoto, I would not have my hobby. I write this whilst wearing a Donkey Kong shirt. Thank you, Miyamoto.
Snake Robot Podium @ Nov 23rd 2009 8:59PM
Maybe his degree doesn't qualify him to tighten up the graphics on level 3.
darrell @ Nov 23rd 2009 9:04PM
does anyone know what degree miyamoto has?