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A Mario dev burned the handmade diorama he used to pitch a Zelda game because Shigeru Miyamoto said no: “It was such a bad memory that I decided to let it die”
A former Mario developer reportedly destroyed a handmade diorama created to pitch a Zelda game after Shigeru Miyamoto rejected the proposal. The anecdote highlights the personal stakes behind game development pitches, including projects that never progress beyond an early concept.
The developer said the rejection became such a painful memory that they chose to burn the model and “let it die”. The article does not indicate that the proposed Zelda game entered production, suggesting it remained an unapproved idea rather than a cancelled Nintendo release.
In short
- A Zelda game pitch was rejected by Shigeru Miyamoto.
- Its creator later burned the handmade diorama.
- The proposal apparently never entered production.
Explained simply
Nintendo is the Japanese company behind the Mario and The Legend of Zelda games. Shigeru Miyamoto, a leading Nintendo game designer, helped create both series and has had a major role in shaping the company’s games.
Game ideas are often pitched inside a company before any development begins. A model or diorama can help show what a proposed game might look and feel like, but it does not mean the project has been approved or will be made.