Miyamoto voices his concerns about violent games

What Shigeru Miyamoto says, people usually listen to. When it refers to games at least, seeing as he's the creator of Mario and Zelda, perhaps they wouldn't if he was talking about the best way to shine up a dull chrome surface.

So his views on violent games - expressed in an interview with Channel 4 earlier this week, and picked up by Cubed3 - are quite interesting, and - most would probably agree - very sensible.

Miyamoto said on the programme: "I don't want to curb freedom of expression, but I am concerned that many developers focus just on excessive violence in order to stimulate people's mind. I believe that there are more ways of grabbing players' attention than violence alone.

"We need to eat in order to live, that's our first priority," he continues. "But entertainment and the enrichment of our souls must come in second place. Nintendo's mission is to improve and to take advantage of cheap technology to create reasonable and affordable entertainment."

It's a view that Nintendo would seem to be sharing with their star game-maker, since recent Nintendo consoles haven't outright shyed away from violent games - especially now GTA: Chinatown Wars is coming to DS in all its uncensored glory (well, presumably. The BBFC hasn't had its claws in it yet) - but they haven't been platforms for needlessly gratuitous ones either. Except maybe Manhunt 2 on Wii, depending on your view of that game.

Anyway, if Miyamoto has his way, we're guessing we won't be seeing The Punisher or Midway's Narc getting a re-release on a Nintendo platform any time soon.