Mario's creator comments on the subject of art, education, and games.
At a recent BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Arts) ceremony in which Shigeru Miyamoto was honored with its fellowship award, he chatted with the Associated Press about the event. The designer first expressed his desire to bring consoles and handheld into schools and turn them into educational tools.
"That is maybe the area where I am devoting myself (the) most," he explained, saying that Nintendo was already rolling out the DS "in junior high and elementary schools in Japan starting in the new school year."
This initiative first began with the release of Wii Music in 2008, when Miyamoto visited schools and showed off the game.
When asked about his BAFTA award, he says that he feels honored. He then fielded questions about videogames being perceived as art.
"It's a great honor that my name might be listed as a fellowship member along with such a great director as Hitchcock," he said. However, Miyamoto was quick to note,"I have never said that videogames (are) an art.”