Producer of the Zelda series, the legendary Eiji Aonuma, has laid out what is needed as a new recruit for the Zelda team in the modern day.
In an interview with IGN, Aonuma commented on a quote from Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto in 2017. Miyamoto told the New York Times, “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.”
Following this, Aonuma said, “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,” Aonuma continues. “Just someone with a very different skill. And so maybe by having those skills we can incorporate them into our games.”
We can only assume that the members of the Breath of the Wild team were avid fanatics of past-times such as mountain-climbing, horseback archery, photographers, cooking and shield surfers! Aonuma himself wasn’t always an avid gamer when he began work at Nintendo. “[In] the past Zelda games … when I was a director, I didn’t really have much time to play the games and to play it all through.”
“I would rather be with people who have an interest in climbing mountains or love scuba diving in the ocean,”
That appears to be changing now, however. While gaming may not be a required skill during the hiring process, staff are still encouraged to play through the games they are working on. “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.”
Aonuma is also excited at the prospect of working with a diverse team from varied backgrounds going forward. “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.”
He ended with one last skill that appeals to Aonuma in his staff. “But one thing: If they can speak Japanese that would be good, because I can communicate with them.”
It may seem bizarre to seek new recruits to work on one of the biggest game franchises in the world who aren’t at least borderline obsessed with games. It could also, however, prove to be a commendable, future-proof attempt for Nintendo.
In the run-up to the launch of the Link’s Awakening remake on Nintendo Switch, and the recent unveiling of the highly anticipated sequel to the breathtaking Breath of the Wild, the Zelda series has never been healthier, and budding industry professionals will be chomping at the bit like a hungry Bow-Wow to be a part of this illustrious team.
