Beyond My Wildest Expectations

About 4pm we decided to leave and go home. Even though I had played a lot of games I was really looking forward to and even the Gameboy Advance I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that I didn’t get Shigeru Miyamoto’s autograph. It seemed as though a lot of people were leaving for the train station across the road, to the extent where a middle aged ECTS businessman hooked up a megaphone next to the train station and asked people to cross the road where the stewards had positioned a few metal gates.

Mo and I bought our train tickets from the ticket machine and waited on the platform for the train to arrive, eager to get off our feet. Suddenly, out of absolutely nowhere I noticed Shigeru Miyamoto and his translator Yasuhiro Minagawa were right next to me, instantly thinking this was as close as the encounter would get I took my digital camera and took a picture of the two reading Japanese guides to London.

Our train pulled up 30 seconds later and I followed the two men onto the train making sure I was on the same carriage. I took another picture of them, as Mr. Miyamoto held his hands behind his head leaned his head back and closed his eyes, showing signs of a busy day. As we got to the next stop a lot of people got off and I managed to secure a seat opposite Shigeru Miyamoto. Everyone else on the train must of thought I was a complete idiot as I had the most huge grin on my face while starring at Mr. Miyamoto reading his Japanese guide to London.

The next stop was the switch for the main line so everybody had to get off and switch trains. Miyamoto waited for me to exit the train before him, acknowledging that I existed. Thinking Mr. Miyamoto was going to follow Mr. Minagawa I followed Mr. Mangawa and stopped when I realised he was leaving the station “where the hell is he going?” I asked Mo “I don’t know, but Miyamoto’s over there” Mo pointed behind us to a short Japanese man reading a train map sign.

Right, this was my chance to get my idol’s autograph but I had nothing to sign. I realised I had a perfectly good piece of card hanging around my kneck; my ECTS pass. I approached Mr. Miyamoto who was still reading the train map “excuse me, could I have your autograph?” I asked politely “sure!” he said with his quiet voice. He took my ECTS pass and slowly signed his name on the back of it and dated it September 3 2000 “hmmm… what’s your name?” he asked again with his quiet voice, he then flipped my ECTS pass over and looked at my name “ah… Andy!” he said as he wrote “To Andy” above his signature. He handed the pass back to me and I placed it safely inside its plastic holder “thankyou” I said and walked off as our train arrived.

Naturally I followed him into the train and sat 3 spaces next to him while Mo sat opposite me, there was noone else around us. Stupidly I acted very shy as I was in complete awe and grinning like an idiot, until Mr. Miyamoto broke the silence:

"Where are you from?”

"East London."

"Ah, are you a game developer?”

"No, I'm a journalist."

"Oh, did you go to the show?"

"Yes"

"Did you play Mario Kart Advance?”

"No, the crowds were too big!"

(Laughs) "We’ve just finished that!"

"Really?”

"Yeah, but we can make it better!" (Laughs)

"Have you finished Mario for Gamecube?”

"No." (Smiles)

"I played Majora's Mask, I thought it was very good!"

"Pardon?"

(Slower) "Majora's mask, I thought it was very good"

"Oh"

(Pause)

(Pulls out camera) "Can I have my picture taken with you?"

(Laughs) “Sure!"

I handed my camera to Mo and explained what to do however unfortunately I forgot to put the camera on fine quality and the picture came out somewhat blurry. Mr. Miyamoto came and sat next to me and we shook hands for the camera.

As soon as the picture was taken we arrived at Shigeru Miyamoto’s stop and he shook both Mo and my hand and he waved to me as the train pulled away. He got off at Edgeware station which I think is a fitting tribute as he makes cutting-edge ware.