Shigesato Itoi (designer of MOTHER/Earthbound) and Satoru Iwata discussing game design

[Slurpee]

http://earthboundcentral.com/2011/04/shigesato-itoi-discusses-mother-4/

It's billed as a Mother 4 interview, and it's book-ended by the notion, but, as fans know, the series is quite well and truly complete. The bulk of the discussion is instead focused on Itoi's creative philosophy.

Some quotes:

ITOI: ... Iââ,¬â,,¢m sure itââ,¬â,,¢s the same with any product or work of creativity ââ,¬â€œ in the very end, itââ,¬â,,¢s the customer or end user who finishes it for you. Even with toothpaste, for example, the product only reaches its conclusion when a customer chooses to use your particular toothpaste to brush his or her teeth. In that same way, people playing through a game youââ,¬â,,¢ve made makes you feel very appreciative of them.

...

ITOI: ... In my eyes, I see them as unfinished works that Iââ,¬â,,¢ve left sitting there for someoneââ,¬Â¦
 IWATA: For someone to come and finish.
 ITOI: Yes. For someone to take the baton and run with it. And, unlike a long-distance relay race, with a game you can take that baton and run in any number of directions. That makes things all the more interesting. You can run through the mountains, or you can go all the way to the lake if you want. You can cry out, ââ,¬Å"I love running!ââ,¬Â as you run, or you can run quietly and savor the thrill of running deep down inside. Whatever it is, itââ,¬â,,¢s something the guy who handed you the baton couldnââ,¬â,,¢t have done. Whatââ,¬â,,¢s more, sometimes the runners just keep running and runningââ,¬Â¦

IWATA: The more you struggle with something, the more unique and memorable it becomes.

ITOI: Being weird or goofy isnââ,¬â,,¢t my only aim, though. It might not be something game creators these days go for, but more than anything I have this strong desire to make people feel distraught. I want to give them laughter and joy too, of course, but Iââ,¬â,,¢m always filled with the desire to make people feel ever-so slightly heartbroken.

But read the whole thing, especially if you're a fan of the series, because these aren't quite done justice out of context.

It's inspirational, even speaking as somebody who's not attracted to pursuing game design. There's a refreshing way of thinking that underscores the entire discussion.
Thought I'd share.

As a side note, the English-speaking Mother fan-base is amazing. They're constantly squirreling out and translating and disseminating little things like this for each other. It's a really positive, dynamic community, doubly impressive for such a quaint, quirky series.

[TequilaClock]

This is me taking notes. Love the goofy old man.

[Flounderpa]

An official Mother 3 Release on the states would be nice tho'

[TequilaClock]

nothing big, but huh

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