A new book – the Nintendo Museum Official Book – released in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. features members of the original team discussing the game, its legacy, and whether the franchise will continue to be popular in 2085 when it will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The interview segment of the book, according to a transcription by VideoGamesChronicle, features Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto, executive officer Takashi Tezuka, and composer Koji Kondo, along with SRD president Toshihiko Nakago.
Tezuka, according to the book, believes that one of the core reasons behind the popularity of the Super Mario Bros. franchise so far has come down to the fact that the games are developed according to the times. This is because developers never really know how quickly their players might get bored of the game. Because of this, the company always keeps thinking of new ways in which it could make things interesting.
“One might think it would be a miracle if Mario was still here after 100 years, since we make things while not knowing when our players may get bored with them,” said Tezuka. “If it’s not fun to play, you’ll get bored, and I’m always thinking of how to keep it so that something like that doesn’t happen so that people keep playing.”
“Different times bring different kinds of fun. What Mario can do now is completely different from when we started out. I want to continue making things people find fun to play, including the actions you do, by changing things little by little.”
He also noted that the longevity of the franchise has been helped by multiple generations of players coming together to experience the titles. Currently, he notes that three generations of parents and children can play together, but he doesn’t know if the franchise will get to the point of four generations.
“I think it’d make me very happy if we can share that chance to experience Mario together with family and friends,” he said. “We’ll continue to make Mario games for a long time, so please look forward to them.”
Miyamoto similarly echoes the idea of keeping things fresh by building on top of the core of Mario’s gameplay – running and jumping. He also notes that, while Nintendo might also be expanding the franchise out into movies, the company also wants to hang on to the interactive and digital roots of Mario.
“It’s a given that Super Mario will constantly evolve by incorporating new digital technology,” said Miyamoto. “Now we’re working in visual fields like movies, but I want to make sure we keep it interactive and digital. As long as we don’t forget Mario’s prime point – running and jumping – as we add new things, I think Mario will be with us for a long time to come.”
“Nintendo takes on unique challenges, and if a new technology is interesting, I believe that by incorporating that technology, we can make that fun expand and grow-like rolling up snow for a snowman. So I hope that you will continue to stick with us.”
As for Kondo, he makes it a point to say that, while he doesn’t know what will happen a century from now, he will continue “to create programs that are intuitively conveyed to others.”
Miyamoto had previously spoken about the Nintendo Museum expansion that has opened up at Universal Studios Japan, noting that the museum itself plays a big role in the company’s plans to make sure that its IP is always alive and accessible.
