--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was striving to become an engineer, but…" description: "\"I was striving to become an engineer, but something happened that made me think, 'Maybe I can make games instead.'\" — Masahiro Sakurai" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg" --- # I was striving to become an engineer, but something… ![“I was striving to become an engineer, but something happened that made me think, 'Maybe I can make games instead.'” quote by Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg) > “I was striving to become an engineer, but something happened that made me think, 'Maybe I can make games instead.'” [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A career shift can arise when new passions surface, prompting a change in direction. **In simple terms:** Passion can redirect career goals. Key Takeaway Explore new interests before committing. Themes career change self‑discovery creativity Mood reflective hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - choosing a major - game development - career counseling - personal growth Key Concepts identity purpose risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What hidden interests could reshape your path? - How do you balance practicality with passion? A Different Perspective Changing fields may involve loss of prior investment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer/) [Engineer Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer-happened-1585633/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Games Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-instead-1585634/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Make Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-games-651248/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Striving Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving-engineer-1585635/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [The more I learned about games, the more frustrated I became because the games weren't very good. I could tell a good game from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoshi-tajiri/the-more-i-learned-about-games-the-more-frustrated-i-became-because/) [Satoshi Tajiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoshi-tajiri/) > [When we started EA in 1982, our goal was to make games as big a media as visual entertainment or movies. That was how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bing-gordon/when-we-started-ea-in-1982-our-goal-was-to-make-games-as-big-a-media/) [Bing Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bing-gordon/) > [Being an only child, I was alone a lot and I had to make up games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/being-an-only-child-i-was-alone-a-lot-and-i-had-to-make-up-games/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [I'm in the business to make games - I love entertaining people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pitchford/i-m-in-the-business-to-make-games-i-love-entertaining-people/) [Randy Pitchford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pitchford/) > [When I started, I wanted probably to make games that were inspired by films that I liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/when-i-started-i-wanted-probably-to-make-games-that-were-inspired-by/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [I'm not fighting for the right to do whatever we want without any restriction. We need to be careful of the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/i-m-not-fighting-for-the-right-to-do-whatever-we-want-without-any/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [We tried to just convince big publishers like EA or other people to make games like 'Cloud'... It's just almost impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/we-tried-to-just-convince-big-publishers-like-ea-or-other-people-to/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I don't use simple words. I make games and puzzles with my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-don-t-use-simple-words-i-make-games-and-puzzles-with-my-songs/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [We try to make games we want to make for the sake of making fun games and not necessarily to make a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-persson/we-try-to-make-games-we-want-to-make-for-the-sake-of-making-fun-games/) [Markus Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-persson/) > [Our goal is always to make games that can move people, that are designed for everybody so the whole family should be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/our-goal-is-always-to-make-games-that-can-move-people-that-are/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [We're always trying to improve and to make our games better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morhaime/we-re-always-trying-to-improve-and-to-make-our-games-better/) [Michael Morhaime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morhaime/) > [We're growing into an entertainment medium as opposed to 'We make games. We make Mario jump.' We no longer have to focus so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-barlog/we-re-growing-into-an-entertainment-medium-as-opposed-to-we-make/) [Cory Barlog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-barlog/) > [I don't want to criticize any other designers, but I have to say that many of the people involved in this industry - directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-miyamoto/i-don-t-want-to-criticize-any-other-designers-but-i-have-to-say-that/) [Shigeru Miyamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-miyamoto/) > [I am conscious of that when I make these games: I try to make a game that has beautiful open spaces, gaps, room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetaka-miyazaki/i-am-conscious-of-that-when-i-make-these-games-i-try-to-make-a-game/) [Hidetaka Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetaka-miyazaki/) > [When I look back I can tell that after I started having a family, I certainly wanted to make games that could be played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-miyamoto/when-i-look-back-i-can-tell-that-after-i-started-having-a-family-i/) [Shigeru Miyamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-miyamoto/) ## More by Masahiro Sakurai > [It was a pleasure working with Q Entertainment. I don't focus on working with one company but rather with multiple companies, and I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/it-was-a-pleasure-working-with-q-entertainment-i-don-t-focus-on/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [A game's concept is one of its most important assets. I feel that we must aim to satisfy both beginners and experts, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/a-game-s-concept-is-one-of-its-most-important-assets-i-feel-that-we/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [Using a mouse, keyboard or gamepad make my arm tired, so I can't use them in a continual manner. The only device I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/using-a-mouse-keyboard-or-gamepad-make-my-arm-tired-so-i-can-t-use/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [Even if it's a sequel, lots of people have to give their all to make a game, but some people think the sequel process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/even-if-it-s-a-sequel-lots-of-people-have-to-give-their-all-to-make-a/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [If tournament popularity was the most important consideration, then I think we would create a Smash Bros game that included a multitude of fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/if-tournament-popularity-was-the-most-important-consideration-then-i/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [I went out of my way to play games I didn't like or find interesting. Those ended up being a lot more informative for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-went-out-of-my-way-to-play-games-i-didn-t-like-or-find-interesting/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [You never know what's going to happen in this world. I'll just keep my mouth shut. That's a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-in-this-world-i-ll-just-keep-my/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [In terms of quantity, we've probably already reached the limit of what's feasible. I think a change of direction may be what's needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/in-terms-of-quantity-we-ve-probably-already-reached-the-limit-of-what/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [Before there was even an official naming of the 3DS, or before it was even decided that there would be 3-D capabilities, Mr. Iwata…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/before-there-was-even-an-official-naming-of-the-3ds-or-before-it-was/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [In the past, I worked for HAL, and when working there, I had limitations and had restrictions on what I could create. They wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/in-the-past-i-worked-for-hal-and-when-working-there-i-had-limitations/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [Providing accurate portrayals of characters is something I want to pay ample attention to. If I don’t stick to that thought, then we’d have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/providing-accurate-portrayals-of-characters-is-something-i-want-to/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > ['Smash Bros.' features a slew of modes as well, but we didn't create them all under the idea that we want gamers to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/smash-bros-features-a-slew-of-modes-as-well-but-we-didn-t-create-them/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [The pain goes away, but your work always remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/the-pain-goes-away-but-your-work-always-remains/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [I've never made a game for a high-definition platform. That's definitely something I'm interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-ve-never-made-a-game-for-a-high-definition-platform-that-s/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) > [At the current time we have no plans. I consider my job at this point, and my main responsibility, to make the Wii U…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/at-the-current-time-we-have-no-plans-i-consider-my-job-at-this-point/) [Masahiro Sakurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) [Explore all 30 Masahiro Sakurai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/) ## More Engineer quotes > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“I like to think of myself more as an outcome engineer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-like-to-think-of-myself-more-as-an-outcome-engineer/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [I farm - there is something visceral about being attached to the land. I am a recording engineer. I do my own laundry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lerner/i-farm-there-is-something-visceral-about-being-attached-to-the-land-i/) [Sandra Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lerner/) > [When I do my music, I don't even go to the studio. It's just me and my engineer in a dark room somewhere, recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-wave/when-i-do-my-music-i-don-t-even-go-to-the-studio-it-s-just-me-and-my/) [Rod Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-wave/) > [“It was the engineer who determined what problems to investigate, designed the experiments, and defined the assignments for the mathematicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/it-was-the-engineer-who-determined-what-problems-to-investigate/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [I'm an artistic person and a creator. I'm not a scientific. I'm not an engineer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-laliberte/i-m-an-artistic-person-and-a-creator-i-m-not-a-scientific-i-m-not-an/) [Guy Laliberte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-laliberte/) > [I'm an engineer by trade, and what engineers do is they go and build, and they don't think a lot about storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/i-m-an-engineer-by-trade-and-what-engineers-do-is-they-go-and-build/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [I was a kind of a one-man army. I could solder circuits together, I could turn out things on the lathe, I could work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-allen/i-was-a-kind-of-a-one-man-army-i-could-solder-circuits-together-i/) [James Van Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-allen/) > [I never knew what an engineer did for a living when I was a kid. I still don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-never-knew-what-an-engineer-did-for-a-living-when-i-was-a-kid-i/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Snowden is an orderly thinker, with an engineer's approach to problem-solving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/snowden-is-an-orderly-thinker-with-an-engineer-s-approach-to-problem/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [You don't have to be a nerd or a programmer or a network engineer to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-nerd-or-a-programmer-or-a-network-engineer-to/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I'm an artist and an engineer, which is, increasingly, a more common kind of hybrid. But I still fall into this weird crack where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golan-levin/i-m-an-artist-and-an-engineer-which-is-increasingly-a-more-common/) [Golan Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golan-levin/) > [I'm an engineer. I see myself as a toolmaker and the musicians are my customers... They use my tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moog/i-m-an-engineer-i-see-myself-as-a-toolmaker-and-the-musicians-are-my/) [Robert Moog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moog/) > [ A lawyer’s either a social engineer or … a parasite on society … A social engineer \[is\] a highly skilled, perceptive, sensitive lawyer who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hamilton-houston/a-lawyer-s-either-a-social-engineer-or-a-parasite-on-society-a-social/) [Charles Hamilton Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hamilton-houston/) > [“If we are not apt to steer our life and engineer our individuality, we become preys of the pecking order or panting cardboard characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-are-not-apt-to-steer-our-life-and-engineer-our-individuality-we/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) [Browse all 328 Engineer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was striving to become an engineer, but something happened that made me think, 'Maybe I can make games instead.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Masahiro Sakurai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but-something-happened-that-made/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Engineer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but-something-happened-that-made/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/masahiro-sakurai-21077_engineer_i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but_1748749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was striving to become an engineer, but something happened that made me think, 'Maybe I can make games…” — Masahiro Sakurai", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Masahiro Sakurai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahiro-sakurai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was striving to become an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but-something-happened-that-made/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahiro-sakurai/i-was-striving-to-become-an-engineer-but-something-happened-that-made/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```