Japan is like madagascar. Isolated, so its weird self-reliance fluorishes.

I mean, I get what you're saying. I say Japanese in a cultural sense.

But I think you're giving way too much credit to the culture, and not enough to the individuals.

o: ... Well of course Miyamoto's individual-ness helped.

Which betrays Japanese cultural values as well.

But often as a creator, your efforts are quashed by people around you NOT GETTING IT.

Frequently on display is a flourish of individual exceptionalism

For example, Legend of Zelda was inspired by Miyamoto walking around forests without a map

He wants to make a game about that

Someone has to say "Yes. I can see that. Let's do it."

And... THEY DID!

That's where Japan itself helps.

People who learn to GET OUT OF THE WAY is an asset.

right. Window seats.

So many countries don't have that.

But japan CONSIDERS.

Legend of Zelda wasn't originally developed, though, as what it became.

It was originally developed as dungeon-building software

in much the same vein as Super Mario Maker

One person builds dungeons and the like, for others to try to beat

Hydelide.

I wouldnt attribute the achievements of the few on the whole

Theres alot of creative geniuses in Japan yes

Plenty of weaker games existed by that point.

As proofs of concept that probably helped.

"Okay we do this part, but not shit. And THAT part, but not shit."

"And this, except we don't ripoff the Indiana Jones theme."

I don't see how Hydelide disproves my angle.

The game was originally a dungeon-builder. It turned into a better version of Hydelide later on. Making it sound like he just got this idea from walking around a forest and then he made it isn't quite an accurate portrayal.

There are countless examples of japans collectivism backfiring on them

Especially in the games industry

Find someone whos played Metal Gear Solid Five and ask them what they think of it

Hideo kojima, brilliant creator got literally fired by his company halfway through writing it

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Japanese culture isn't beautiful. I really do like a hefty portion of it.

But given how good it is, it's really easy to cross into excessive praise of it where it's undue.

I've been there before, myself. I was once... A weeb.

Like, one of the interesting differences that I learned in Japanese class is one of the initial Japanese greetings. Their equivalent to 'Nice to meet you', our Japanese teacher (who was native and ESL, mind) translated it roughly to 'Please take care of me'.

The dungeon builder bit was probably AROUND the whole "No map" thing

And then they decided that was a little much.

(probably a better refutation)