Time's number 1 most influential person. Discuss.

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Mstrswrd

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Mar 2, 2008
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Shigeru Miyamoto is the number one most influential person of 2008, according to TIME's most recent poll (people's choice, not TIME's itself). Here is a link to an article that has more links, if you want more info.

http://www.gametrailers.com/viewnews.php?id=5859

Now, personally, I find that amazing. I know he was on the list in 2007, but wasn't he a fair distance from number one? He was in the 50's or something like that (I'm not looking for the old one, sorry). That a game designer would be considered the most influential is great for the games industry. It gives those who don't think games are anything but a child's plaything something to think about.

Now, what I want to know is if you agree with this (this is the discuss part of my title). Do you agree that Miyamoto deserved it, or do you think another person in the games industry deserved it? Did someone unrelated to the games industry diserve it? Personally, I believe that Miyamoto deserved it because he is influential not just to games he directly works on, but how they have developed over the years. Games are what they are today because of many people, but none so much as Miyamoto. That's my opinion. Obviously, please back up what you decide upon. I know I didn't put much info, but I don't want to be here all night, writing about Miyamoto.
 

sammyfreak

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Dec 5, 2007
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I dont really think he deserved it, infact no way in hell. He might have been the game industries most influential person of the year but not for the rest of the world.

But on the list Time made themselfs i was suprised to find the guys behind Harmonix featured.
 

Jumplion

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Mar 10, 2008
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sammyfreak said:
I dont really think he deserved it, infact no way in hell. He might have been the game industries most influential person of the year but not for the rest of the world.
I'd have to agree on that, he's definatly influential, no doubt about that, but not the most influential in the whole world in the whole year. I can understand the top 20 or so, but not #1

Boy, if my friend saw me typing this, i would have my ass so far up my own ass along with my body.
 

Aethonic

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Jan 10, 2008
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Mstrswrd said:
Shigeru Miyamoto is the number one most influential person of 2008, according to TIME's most recent poll (people's choice, not TIME's itself).
I call shenanigans on the validity of this poll. That, or this is a very dark time in the human race.
 

Saskwach

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Nov 4, 2007
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How could anyone in their right minds vote Shigi for MIP? That's like voting Cliffy B for president: he's in a whole different ballpark. And playing a different game.
 

000Ronald

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Mar 7, 2008
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...

I see no reason why he shouldn't be, Considering that the Wii is hammering both the 360 and the PS3 with one hand and giving children puppies with the other hand.

What's more, if Shigeru Miyamoto doesn't deserve the honor of being the most influential person of 2008, who does and why?

Apologies Abound.
 
Mar 26, 2008
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Let's not forget that wrestler Mick Foley was Time's 'Person of the Year' at one stage before some called shenanigans and he got disqualified or something. I suspect the same thing has gone on here.

He might be the most influential person in gaming, well him and Hideous Kojima; but (and I know this may come as a shock to some of you) there is more going on in the world than gaming.
What about the peacekeepers who are working to make sure our world isn't nuked back to the stoneage? Maybe they should send Miyamoto to the Gaza Strip. I'm sure his 'most influential person in the world' status would help greatly in solving the Palestian / Israeli conflict. Peace thru Wiifit.
 

stompy

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Jan 21, 2008
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Programmed_For_Damage said:
Peace thru Wiifit.
... I would so see that.

And on the other hand, it's nice to see a gaming figure (ok, more like the father of gaming) being heralded as the most influential person in the world. But, as said by other people, I don't think that he deserved TIME's Person of the Year Award. Maybe Gaming Man of the Year Award?
 
Feb 13, 2008
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Programmed_For_Damage said:
Let's not forget that wrestler Mick Foley was Time's 'Person of the Year' at one stage before some called shenanigans and he got disqualified or something. I suspect the same thing has gone on here.
Well, he did use Mr. Socko on the announcer...


OOOOoohhhhh...can we write to Jack Thompson about this?!!11!
 

Fire Daemon

Quoth the Daemon
Dec 18, 2007
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I agree with Khell. Wait for me to take over the world and create my regime before you decide who is the most influential person of the year.
 
Mar 30, 2008
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Whether he deserved it or not, I am happy he got it. When your sports team wins because of an obviously BS call by the ref, what do you do? You celebrate anyway.
 

babyblues

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Apr 22, 2008
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The_Logician19 said:
...

I see no reason why he shouldn't be, Considering that the Wii is hammering both the 360 and the PS3 with one hand and giving children puppies with the other hand.

What's more, if Shigeru Miyamoto doesn't deserve the honor of being the most influential person of 2008, who does and why?

Apologies Abound.
Because he's a GAME DESIGNER. He doesn't do anything meaningful for the world besides bring entertainment. That hardly makes him "influential". Looking at the list, I can name a few of people who deserve it more. Bono, Al Gore, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, and hell, even Bill Gates. There's more on the list but these are the names that stood out for me.

Here's why he shouldn't: Does he raise awareness for a cause? Does he work towards a goal to change the world for the better? Does he lead a country in a time of need? I certainly don't think so. It's been said in the thread already: He's the most influential in the Gaming Industry, probably, but certainly not in the entire world.
 

Rolling Thunder

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Dec 23, 2007
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Does not deserve it. You might as well give the award to Steven Spielberg- they are both entertainers, not hyper-important people.

My vote goes to..... Gordon Brown. Mainly becasue Putin won it last year, and Brown is calling a lot of the international shots recently (due to America's misfortunes, etc,etc) and he's a scot, so he is naturally eviland cunning.
 

Credge

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Apr 12, 2008
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babyblues said:
Because he's a GAME DESIGNER. He doesn't do anything meaningful for the world besides bring entertainment. That hardly makes him "influential".
Uhh? Entertainment easily influences more than any other form of... anything. Movies, music, arts, games, etc. You must also realize that his influence has an effect on more than just his industry and the people who are a part of it. In fact, the gaming industry takes from all of the different parts of entertainment.

Say Mario (or humm his theme song) to just about anyone on the planet and they'll instantly know what you are talking about. Even further, it will most likely put a smile on their face.

That is influence. Miyamoto speaks, the world listens. That is influence. Miyamoto works on a game, the world buys it. That is influence.
 

babyblues

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Apr 22, 2008
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Maybe. By that logic, though, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana could be MIP, easily.

Miyamoto speaks, the world listens? Maybe he should just tell the Middle East to just play nice with the rest of the world, and America to stop being so pushy. Or tell China to start regulating their products so we don't get any more lead-painted toys.

Facetiousness aside, I still don't think he's worthy of MIP. He doesn't do anything for the world. When he donates some of his millions to cancer research, feeding and clothing needy children, or heck even just voicing an opinion about what goes on in the rest of the world then yeah, I could see him being MIP. Yes, entertainment is important in today's world, but it doesn't mean anything in the long run.

But you know, whatever. It's just how I feel. I associate the MIP title with philanthropists, activists, and politicians.
 

Xanadu84

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Apr 9, 2008
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MIP from Time is basically whoever they think they can say is number 1, and generate the most magazines sold. This time around, they decided to pull in the gamer market, people who hate video games, and random confused people trying to figure out why they did this. The term, "Most Influential" is pretty loaded anyways: For who? In what? I don't think you can take it seriously. There pretty much writing Infotainment.

Didn't one year they say, "You"? Yeah, I don't think its worth taking seriously.