Why it matters that Nintendo put Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto on Apple’s stage

One of the most accomplished and well-regarded game designers in the history of the world just made a pitch for his new app today during Apple’s annual iPhone conference. Here’s why that matters more than an update to the Apple Watch or even an iPhone 7.

Shigeru Miyamoto announced that Super Mario Run, an auto-scrolling platforming game for mobile, is coming to iOS devices first in December. In response, Nintendo’s stock price has skyrocketed more than 29 percent. Nintendo’s app will have the portly plumber sprinting and hopping through familiar Mario levels, and you’ll compete for high scores against your friends. But while Super Mario Run is the most by-the-numbers Mario smartphone port that Nintendo could have possibly produced, seeing Miyamoto onstage was enough to make this feel like one of the most momentous reveals for the beloved Italian hero ever.