Miyamoto champions Nite to Unite

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 18, 2008 11:51 pm GMT

Last year, the Entertainment Software Association named "father of PlayStation" Ken Kutaragi as the Champion Honoree for its annual charity event, Nite to Unite for Kids. This year, the father of the Wii will be getting his due. The ESA said today that celebrity Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto...

Last year, the Entertainment Software Association named "father of PlayStation" Ken Kutaragi as the Champion Honoree for its annual charity event, Nite to Unite for Kids. This year, the father of the Wii will be getting his due. The ESA said today that celebrity Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto will receive the Champion Award at the fundraising gala.

Miyamoto, who joined Nintendo in 1977 as a staff artist, created many of the game maker's iconic characters, including Mario, Donkey Kong, and Link from the Zelda series. Most recently, Miyamoto has been credited as the mastermind of Nintendo's best-selling Wii, as well as the driving force behind such audience-broadening hits as Wii Sports and Wii Fit.

Cochairing this year's gathering, which will take place on October 22 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, will be THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell, Disney Interactive Studios executive VP and general manager Graham Hopper, and Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello.

Tickets for the ESA's annual black-tie charity event run $500, with proceeds donated to various children's charities across the US. In its 10-year history, Nite to Unite has raised more than $11 million, as well as honored as LucasArts' George Lucas, EA's Bing Gordon, and Nintendo's Howard Lincoln. The ESA's Web site has more information on the event.

44 Comments

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 3:54 pm GMT

    LEGEND + GAMING + AWESOME + MIYAMOTO + SUPER COOL = NINTENDO!
    In the 7th day, the man rests, In the 9th day, the man created Nintendo, the following day, Chuck Norris was born, in the 194X, Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kicked Hitler shot a german plane by pointing at it and yelling BANG! Few years later, Nintendo saved the video game crash, and gaming has lived, and Nintendo is the SURViVOR, and has the word 'GREATNESS' around it. In 2002, Nintendo forgived Microsoft and Sony, so the PS2, will sell within millions, without SNES, there won't be any Playstations, without Dreamcast, there's never been Xbox, In 2005, Microsoft released their iff-fated, badly designed, badly made hardware, and badly made console, the Xbox 360's, In 2006, Sony released their PS3's, and in near December, Nintendo released the greatest console of all time, the Wii. In 2012, Chuck Norris Wiil Roundhouse kich Bill Gates, and in a few seconds, Chuck Norris will roundhouse kick the name 'Microsoft' away from our precious planet, and 'Microsoft' can stop their evil plot, of stealing money, ripping-off people, and buying companies, all of them will burn through the fire and flames of the burning sun.

    THAT IS THE STORY OF THE VIDEO GAME GENERATIONS!!!!!lool

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 8:52 pm GMT

    u guys sound like u wanna marry the guy

  • necronaux

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 9:53 am GMT

    and he's donating the cash to children's charities. Kudos.

  • puppiemaster

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 6:42 pm GMT

    He is a GOD, in gaming terms. Miroku_of_Nite1 damn I could get a violation because of you.

  • Erebus

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 12:54 pm GMT

    Just give this guy his crown already, he certainly deserves it.

  • JBrookbank

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 11:29 am GMT

    Sega would have taken the place of Nintendo. Sony would have shown up eventually, and the same with Microsoft.

    I am not sure how the games would look, or what games would exist, but it would probably be close to what it is now. And besides PC gaming would exist without Nintendo.

    You clearly don't know much about the video game industry. If it wasn't for Nintendo, the video game industry likely would have remained dead, as after the crash Nintendo was pretty much single handedly responsible for reviving it.

  • Doolum

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 11:01 am GMT

    congratulations dude

  • ninty57

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 10:52 am GMT

    Hey? notice that everyone who defends the wii's 'casual' line of games is clearly a wii fanboy? i have a wii but i am not a fanboy and most wii games are a true dissapointment apart from maybe half a dozen gems

  • Xanzibar_Joe

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 10:24 am GMT

    Finally!! its about time this genius got an award!! He's awesome!!
    He is like the God of gaming, minus the huge white beard of course.

  • hiphops_savior

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 10:23 am GMT

    Shigeru Miyanmoto, one of, if not, the greatest game designer who ever lived. Without him, there might not been a video game industry, let alone a multi-billion one.

  • Super-Mario-Fan

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 9:46 am GMT

    Nice to see all the praise this man is getting. It would be even nicer if gamers would stop complaining about his Wii series of casual games.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 9:12 am GMT

    Miyamoto is a deity to many gamers! and he deserves to be! He is one of the greatest if not the greatest game designers.

  • Trindris

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 8:18 am GMT

    Why is anyone else even considered for this award while Miyamoto still lives?

  • Miroku_of_Nite1 posted Sep 19, 2008 8:01 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Miroku_of_Nite1

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 8:01 am GMT (hide)

    It's a frightening thing to wonder where Nintendo would be without him. Where would the industry, and by extension any of us, be if he hadn't made video games? No matter how you feel about his works or Nintendo in general, the world would be a grayer place without him.

    Sega would have taken the place of Nintendo. Sony would have shown up eventually, and the same with Microsoft.

    I am not sure how the games would look, or what games would exist, but it would probably be close to what it is now. And besides PC gaming would exist without Nintendo.

  • Media-Master

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 7:56 am GMT

    Miyamoto is the MAN!!!

  • FLEEBS

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 7:47 am GMT

    Miyamoto is an absolute genius.

  • stormydog1

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 7:11 am GMT

    My childhood would have been very boring without you, Miyamoto.

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 6:13 am GMT

    It's a frightening thing to wonder where Nintendo would be without him. Where would the industry, and by extension any of us, be if he hadn't made video games? No matter how you feel about his works or Nintendo in general, the world would be a grayer place without him.

  • johnnyv2003

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 5:19 am GMT

    As someone who continues to push gaming into different arenas, for better or worse, Miyamoto deserves the award. Gamespot might not even exist if it weren't for this man. Without Miyamoto's genius, the gaming collapse in the early 80's might have continued on.

    Yet, he's never rested on those laurels and continues to innovate. He's spark new found interest from people who never would have given gaming a chance. I can think of no one better to receive the award

  • AweWiiGamer1

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 3:40 am GMT

    Shigeru Miyamoto is purely the brink of gaming innovation. He really knows how to create games of pure escapism and imaginative flair, and knows how to make simple yet highly loveable characters e.g Mario himself. He is the Disney of gaming, magical, plain and simple.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 3:28 am GMT

    I have a horrible feeling that Nintendo would be nothing without Miyamoto. Will it spell financial ruin for them when he leaves, I wonder.

  • gastof

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 2:16 am GMT

    yahooooo!!! i have always loved him,his ideas and always bringing new thing to the system.he deserves it.congratulation Miyamoto

  • bassy26

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 1:06 am GMT

    Finally, some recognition for the only man in the gaming industry that created the worlds we play in now.

    As any gamer would say, we love you. We all feel your recognition is way past due, but you are getting your due ^^

    Congratulations Miyamoto~! =)

  • bubnux

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 11:57 pm GMT

    Without a hint of sarcasm, Miyamoto is by far the greatest human being that has ever lived. Well deserved, but the fact that Kutaragi was bestowed the honour before Shiggy is an insult and were I Miyamoto I would tell the ESA to stuff it. Not to insult Kuteragi but no man deserves this more than Miyamoto.

  • quincy0191

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 11:31 pm GMT

    Without Nintendo, the gaming industry would not exist. Without Shigeru Miyamoto, the gaming industry as we know it would not exist.

  • SonicTheMonkey

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 11:19 pm GMT

    Truly the Father of Gaming. Come on Miyamoto, just a teensy little detail of the next Zelda?

  • Noob_Krusher

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 10:46 pm GMT

    Let's hope for some serious Wii Music.... Psyche.

  • Sw0rDMaN

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:45 pm GMT

    Truly a great guy =)

  • mike_dragoon

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:42 pm GMT

    Mitamoto FTW!!!!!!!!

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:22 pm GMT

    Way to go, Miyamoto. You truly deserve it after all those years on the old Nintendo systems.

  • Dark_knight109

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 9:05 pm GMT

    Miyamoto is still one of my favorite videogame designers and all, but haven't his games gone downhill after Twilight Princess?

    Evidently you haven't played Super Mario Galaxy.

    ...and what else has he made since then? Other than the Wii ____ stuff, that is.

  • nintendoboy16 posted Sep 18, 2008 8:32 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    nintendoboy16

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 8:32 pm GMT (hide)

    Miyamoto is still one of my favorite videogame designers and all, but haven't his games gone downhill after Twilight Princess?

  • MatzeEdend

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 8:31 pm GMT

    Good for him! This is the man who defined the video game industry. If anyone deserves this award its him.

    and if anyone is going, try to get his autograph and post it on the site

  • LordSpleach

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 8:07 pm GMT

    Miyamoto is god!

  • ArmoredBreaker

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 8:01 pm GMT

    He is a myamoto!This guy Rocks or mushrooms or bananas,really i dont know

  • Thing2

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 7:59 pm GMT

    yeah he does, I grew up playing those games, I was like 10 when the NES came out. nice shirt too lol, I saw one of those at target the other day =)

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 7:00 pm GMT

    He reallly deserves it more than anyone else

  • gnbfd

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 6:29 pm GMT

    W00T! Go Miyamoto!

  • ftjx

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 6:15 pm GMT

    he deserves it

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 4:56 pm GMT

    im so going, meh 500$ easy money .... ill bring back pics!

  • dennis8

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 4:54 pm GMT

    miyamoto truly deserves this

  • Unr3al39

    Posted Sep 18, 2008 4:10 pm GMT

    Miyamoto is a legend.

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