Sometimes the decisions that seem strangest, most "dumb" or riskiest can be the source of the greatest success in a company's history.

That's what happened to Nintendo in 1980. They nearly went bankrupt, made what is considered the worst decision in the company's history... but ended up paving the way for a multi-billion dollar success. And it all started with a young toy designer named Shigeru Miyamoto.

Nintendo in Crisis

In 1980, Nintendo was in dire straits.

They tried to enter the American arcade market, but failed miserably.

Their game, Radar Scope, was a disaster. Almost no one wanted to play it. Nintendo lost millions of dollars and was stuck with 2,000 unsold arcade cabinets in a warehouse in New Jersey.

Imagine the stress at that time: the company was on the verge of collapse, money was flowing out, and reputation was deteriorating.

In a panic, Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi made a strange decision. He handed over the arcade project to his son-in-law – a young 29-year-old toy designer.

Not a computer engineer.

Not an experienced programmer.

Just an industrial designer who likes to draw.

Namanya Shigeru Miyamoto.

Toy Designers Who Don't Know Programming

When Yamauchi announced that Miyamoto would be taking over the project, everyone in the company felt like "this is suicide."

"He's never made a game before."

“He doesn't know programming.”

“If this project fails, Nintendo will be finished.”

But Yamauchi saw something that others didn't.

He knew Miyamoto understood the world of games differently.

For engineers, the game is about code, function, and technicality.

But for Miyamoto, games are about the joy of playing – why people like to pick up toys, play them over and over again, and never get bored.

From Painting to Arcade

Miyamoto didn't know how to write code, so he used what he was good at – drawing.

He sketches characters, obstacles, atmosphere. He tells the programmer what he wants to see. He reimagines the games of his childhood: climbing, exploring caves, overcoming obstacles.

His vision was clear – he wanted to create a game that was challenging but fair, difficult but fun, and gave a sense of discovery.

From that imagination, a strange idea was born:

• A giant gorilla.
• A carpenter trying to save a girl.
• Wooden barrels rolled down the platform.

To the programmers, it sounded strange. No one had ever made a game like that. But they still built what Miyamoto drew.

Donkey Kong – The Game That Saved Nintendo

In 1981, Donkey Kong was released in American arcades.

And a miracle happened.

Within a few months, it became the number one game in America.

Nintendo generated over $100 million in just its first year.

Even more incredible, 2,000 of those failed Radar Scope arcade cabinets were successfully modified into Donkey Kong machines – and eventually sold out.

Nintendo not only survived bankruptcy, but began its climb to the top of the industry.

The Birth of Mario – From Carpenter to World Icon

In Donkey Kong, the main character is a little carpenter in a red shirt and hat. His original name is Jumpman.

But soon after, the name was changed to Mario, after the owner of a warehouse in America that stocked Nintendo arcade cabinets.

And who would have thought, from that one game, one of the biggest franchises in video game history was born.

Today, the Mario franchise has generated over $30 billion in revenue since 1981. It is the best-selling gaming franchise of all time, and Mario's face is recognized by more people than Mickey Mouse.

Miyamoto: A Genius Without a “Formal” Background

The success of Donkey Kong was just the beginning. Miyamoto continued to create new worlds:

• The Legend of Zelda at the age of 33.
• Star Fox at 40 years old.
• Pikmin at the age of 49.
• Wii Sports at age 54.

And to this day, at over 70 years old, Miyamoto is still working at Nintendo, still creating new experiences, still figuring out what makes games fun.

All this because the company dared to give a chance to a man without technical qualifications, and because he dared to follow his own instincts.

Great Lessons From Miyamoto & Nintendo

This story is full of lessons – not just for the world of video games, but for all of us who are trying to build something.

1. The background is not prison. Miyamoto is not a programmer. He is not an engineer. But because of his different perspective, he sees opportunities that technical people miss.
2. Lack of experience is not a weakness. Sometimes when we don't know the "rules", we're not bound to follow them. That's how new ideas are born.
3. Collaboration is key. Miyamoto doesn't do it all himself. He uses his drawing skills, design ideas, and collaboration with programmers to bring his vision to life.
4. Focus on what matters. For Miyamoto, what matters is not great graphics or complex technology, but the fun of playing. This is what made Donkey Kong and Mario legendary.

For You: What Can You Learn?

• Are you rejecting your potential just because you "don't have enough qualifications"?
• Do you keep ideas to yourself because you don't feel like you're an "expert" enough?
• Do you wait for permission or a certificate before starting to build something?

Miyamoto's story teaches us:

• You don't have to wait to become an expert before starting.
• Use the skills you have, learn by doing.
• An outside perspective is sometimes more valuable than decades of experience.

Conclusion: Don't Wait for "Deserving"

Shigeru Miyamoto is just a young toy designer. No programming background. No computer certification.

But because he dared to use his imagination and unique skills, he gave birth to Mario – the most valuable game character in the world.

Sometimes the best people to solve a problem are outsiders. People who aren't bound by the "old rules." People who don't know it's supposed to be impossible.

So, don't let your resume or current job title determine what you can do.

Don't wait until you are "qualified enough" to start something.

Sometimes the strangest, riskiest decisions are the doors to the greatest success.

Nintendo proves it – what seemed like the worst decision ended up being a $30 billion investment.

And it all started with a toy designer who didn't know programming.