Crazy to think that Shigeru M. had no equity, royalties or other type of deal when he invented Mario/ Donkey Kong/ Zelda. Only a standard salary.
Later on he sure got a bigger salary but still peanuts compared to how much Nintendo was making with these franchises.
Some more info from a 2010 Kotaku article: https://kotaku.com/mario-creator-doesnt-need-your-stinking-money-update-5576036
Posted by MX010
11 Comments
And yet he still has a level of influence over his creations that other creators of highly popular characters can only dream of
I doubt equity and royalties were much of a thing in the video game industry in the 80s
Amazing brother
[deleted]
Poor guy
And he’s the lucky one in these type of situations, more often than not the mega corps take the idea and make hundred of millions or billions and fire the dudes who’s idea it was….
Thankfully Nintendo has made sure he’s well taken care of since
There was a speech he did he did in the late 90s where he joked he liked his job so much he’d do it for free, but asked people not to tell his boss. [https://youtu.be/a9DlhDRZ0yA?t=733](https://youtu.be/a9DlhDRZ0yA?t=733)
most employees just get their salary while doing great stuff, while the company is investing in it and taking the risk.
You should read up about Jack Kirby and Marvel Comics.
I dont believe video game companies give rights to individual employees. Only time rights retain is with indie games.
Nintendo at least gave Miyamoto creative control and a good job (but they legally did not have to do that)
You create something that is work for hire. You may get a kickback on sales of THAT game only (if you have that in your contract). But if you make a game for a developer or publisher the rights sit 100% with them.
Another example would be Pokemon. The creator, Tajiri, has a vested interest in the IP still. BUT Pokémon is owned split 3 ways between game freak, monsters, and Nintendo.
Unless you make a game all by yourself you basically give ownership to someone else.
What Nintendo did for Miyamoto is the exception and not the rule.