Every time I think of the happy American families playing Wii Play and Wii Sports, I smile a little inside. I love it that everyone’s playing videogames. It means there will be more of them. I have to laugh a little too, particularly when USA Today or some other milquetoast news outlet does a write up on Nintendo’s family friendliness. Nintendogs! Well we can all enjoy that right? Sure we can.
In another world, Nintendo wouldn’t have stayed in business in the United States past 1984. Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Mario Bros. would be their only legacy in the land of the free. One day that year, I imagine the following dialogue took place between Mr. Miyamoto and Nameless Nintendo of America Head:
NNOAH: “"Hey Shigeru, I hear ya gots the latest follow up to Donkey Kong ready! Whatcha got to make us rich, kid?"
Shigeru Miyamoto: “It’s a maze game! We’re going to make some of that proverbial Pac-man cash!”
NNOAH: “Genius! Tell me more.”
SM: “I call it Devil World! You play as a little dinosaur in hell. You push a crucifix around hell to collect dots. Satan sits at the top of the screen, clapping his hands.”
NNOAH: “…”
SM: “I already have an arcade in Oklahoma interested in buying cabinets and…”
NNOAH: “Shut up.”
SM: “But…”
NNOAH: “Shut up. Before you destroy us all!”
Can you imagine the ruckus Devil World would have caused? Satanic imagery in videogames! The blasphemy! The horror. God fearing Americans across the land would have called for Miyamoto’s blood. Donkey Kong machines would have been burned. Mario would never have become the icon he is, his good, mustachioed name sullied by sinful association.
I had completely forgotten Devil World existed until last week, hence the post. The game’s innocuous; its derivative play is a great example of Miyamoto’s growing pains as a designer. I’d never really thought about how strange it is, though. I can’t confirm this, but I’d bet good money that this game had something to do with Nintendo of America’s censorship policies in the 80s. They did refuse to have crosses in games, after all.
Related links:
Great Moments in Design: Kuribo's Shoe Rising
Wii Music: A Rare Miss For Miyamoto?
Shigeru Miyamoto, the Heartbreak...Man
Videogame, Non-Game, Old Game, New Game: The Miyamoto Rule