Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary developer behind Super Mario 64, had a humorous experience during playtesting of the game. A group of 10 middle schoolers, including his own child, played around on King Bob-omb’s stage. However, Miyamoto’s child performed poorly, struggling to complete the level despite numerous attempts.
Miyamoto was initially skeptical about games that were fun but not necessarily challenging, but this experience changed his perspective. He recalled a conversation with the children, who said they had enjoyed playing the game despite not being able to beat it. This insight influenced Miyamoto’s approach to game development, focusing on creating enjoyable experiences rather than solely emphasizing challenge.
Miyamoto’s philosophy has been reflected in Nintendo’s games, prioritizing fun over difficulty. He believes that a game is still good if it’s enjoyable even if players aren’t progressing through it. This mindset has shaped the company’s approach to game design and continues to influence their development of new titles.
Source: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/super-mario/nintendos-shigeru-miyamoto-found-it-hard-to-watch-his-own-kids-playtest-super-mario-64-geez-does-this-kid-have-any-brains