The human condition is filled with loss, pain and regret. Our brains are wired to look back on missed opportunities while we think “if only.” Perhaps no one understands such misgivings as much as Grant Kirkhope, who — while recently interviewed for the upcoming Mario + Rabbids game — regaled all with the story of when he met Shigeru Miyamoto. I’ll let the man speak for himself:
“It was when E3 had moved to Atlanta [1997]. Nintendo had a party in a museum, and we all got hideously drunk. I saw [Rare founder] Tim Stamper talking to Miyamoto, and I introduced myself as the composer of Banjo-Kazooie, totally drunk. He just looked at me with the blankest expression, he couldn’t tell what I was saying. A while later, I was in the bathroom — and this is embarrassing — I was trying to pull down [Donkey Kong 64 designer] George Andreas’ trousers for a joke. I was on my knees and I looked up to see Miyamoto staring down at me. That was the last time I spoke to him.”
Haven’t we all been there? Now, I’m sure very few people have ever tried to pants somebody while intoxicated in front of the most famous game designer in the world, but surely we’ve all had that time in our lives when we reveal our slovenly selves for all to see, accidentally embedding our lesser characters in the mind of somebody famous or powerful. In that sense, Mr. Kirkhope represents all of us. I’m sure he at least left a strong impression in Mr. Miyamoto’s mind, even if it was one of abject bewilderment.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle comes out next month. Consider getting it, for poor Grant’s sake.
Source: Game Industry
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Written by Amelia Fruzzetti
A writer and Nintendo fan based in Seattle, Washington. When not working for NinWire, she can be found eating pasta, writing stories, and wondering about when Mother 3 is finally going to get an official localization.
