In light of that sad, shocking news, I decided to move things around a bit and instead publish this too-brief post about the man who has, along with Shigeru Miyamoto, personified Nintendo for the last 10 to 15 years.
All that's known about Iwata's untimely passing at the moment is what the company shared in a simple note on its Japanese website last night:
"Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth."
Iwata's career in the gaming world began long before he took the reins at Nintendo, of course. First he worked for HAL Laboratory and helped produce titles like Balloon Fight, Hoshi no Kirby (Kirby's Adventure) and EarthBound.
In 1993, 10 years after Iwata started at the Tokyo-based Nintendo affiliate, he was named its president.
Seven years later, he joined Nintendo to head up its corporate planning division, and in 2002, Iwata succeeded Hiroshi Yamauchi in the company's corner office.
With all of that said, I'd just like to reiterate the message that makes up this post's headline: rest in peace, Mr. Iwata. You will be missed, and you will be remembered.
4 comments:
I just keep getting all teary-eyed about this. It's stupid, because it's not like I KNEW the guy...but I just feel like I lost a friend. I hope whoever they name as his successor is even CLOSE to his level of amazing.
Also, I hope he goes...DIRECTLY...to Heaven. Rest in Peace, Iwata.
I actually got teary-eyed about it last night, too, Justin--in part because he's always seemed like such a nice man, and in part because he was so young and his death seemed so sudden (despite the fact that I was aware of his illness). Anyway, like you, I hope his replacement is even half as awesome as he was...
It was certainly a shock when I first saw the news!!
I didn't think it would happen. I thought at least he will retire, and go home etc
It's been interesting to see his quotes get posted as well as what he has done as a developer (compressed Pokemon ROM data so that they could fit in a 2nd region, debugged Smash Bros, programmed EarthBound).
I will miss his Directs :(
Always presented with warmth and humour! No one else from the big three even comes close.
Agree with everything you said here, Igor. I was shocked when I ventured onto FB the other night and expected to see random, pointless banter--only to come across a note about his death. How sad. I wish he could've had the future you envisioned for him (quiet, peaceful retirement)...
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