Being the newest member at GamingRespawn, I didn’t think that this would be the first thing I write. Having thought about it long and hard, I found it necessary.
As many of you may know, the President of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, passed away on July 7th 2015 from a bile duct growth. Instead of repeating the information we already know about his death, I want to point out some of the major milestones and achievements that Iwata-San had.
Iwata himself said; ” On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” Iwata began his career as a programmer and developer, working for some time at HAL Laboratory. There he helped develop Nintendo classics like Balloon Fight, Smash Bros. and my favorite game of all time, Earthbound. In May of 2002, Iwata succeeded Hiroshi Yamauchi as president of Nintendo, the first president to not be related to the Yamauchi bloodline. Iwata managed to turn Nintendo around for the better at a time when Nintendo was not doing so well. It was under his leadership that the globally popular Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii were released. Even as president, he helped many games be developed from Nintendo’s most known franchises.
It is terrible that someone who brought so many people so many smiles would pass away at the young age of 55. Nintendo roughly translates to “leave luck to heaven” and right now that could not be any more appropriate. Heaven is very lucky to have received Satoru Iwata. This once, we “do understand”.
Rest In Peace and thank you, Mr. Iwata.