Zelda Series Producer Explains What it Takes to Work on a Game in the Franchise
Posted on June 27 2019 by Kristen G. Rosario
Getting to do something you absolutely love to do is a dream that everyone has. It’s one of the primary reasons I enjoy working for Zelda Dungeon. Having the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite game series of all time each and every day is a delight. Of course, getting to work on your favorite franchise is a whole different challenge in itself.
Nobody knows how challenging it is to choose who should work on the Zelda series more than the man who created the franchise, Shigeru Miyamoto. During a New York Times interview back in 2017, Miyamoto talked briefly about how his hiring process works:
“More and more I am trying to let the younger generation fully take the reins… I always look for designers who aren’t super-passionate game fans. I make it a point to ensure they’re not just a gamer, but that they have a lot of different interests and skill sets.”
—Shigeru Miyamoto
In a more recent conversation during this year’s E3, series producer Eiji Aonuma followed up on what Miyamoto had to say from that interview. He even brought up how his hiring process worked for both the upcoming Link’s Awakening remake and the Breath of the Wild sequel:
“I’m thinking probably very similar to Mr. Miyamoto in not necessarily wanting to work with someone that’s good at playing games. I would rather be with people who have an interest in climbing mountains or love scuba diving in the ocean. Just someone with a very different skill. And so maybe by having those skills we can incorporate them into our games.”
—Eiji Aonuma
Aonuma also admits that when he first started directing Zelda titles, he didn’t have time to play through all of the games he himself worked on. This probably explains why Aonuma has the entire team, including the so-called scuba divers and mountain climbers, play through every part of the Zelda game on which they are contributing:
“When I was working on Breath of the Wild, we made sure the whole team played the game and made sure everything was just perfect and that way we could be able to incorporate new changes or new ideas very easily. Now, after Breath of the Wild, I just make sure the team has that time to make sure and play through the game.”
—Eiji Aonuma
One of the other key things he looks for in creating a development team for a Zelda game is people from diverse backgrounds:
“I would love to work with a variety of people with different backgrounds, just because, as I mentioned earlier, I would love to have all their different experiences. But one thing: If they can speak Japanese that would be good, because I can communicate with them.”
—Eiji Aonuma
What do you think about Miyamoto and Aonuma’s hiring methods? Would you ever want to work on a game in the Zelda series? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: IGN
Kristen G. Rosario is an Editor who joined Zelda Dungeon back in September of 2015. His current goal is to become a full-time video game journalist, hoping to eventually gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. While he pursues that dream, he not only takes care of his adorable dachshund Angel, but also helps run a YouTube channel with his brother. The Zelda series is a quest he hasn’t fully completed yet, but hopes to get there one day.
