The idea of a Nintendo without president and CEO Satoru Iwata at this point is … well, bananas. But the company reported over the weekend that the man behind its return to greatness had passed away.
Iwata, a former HAL Laboratory employee, succeeded Nintendo’s Hiroshi Yamauchi to become president of the company in 2002, just after the 2001 launch of the GameCube. Since those troubled times when Nintendo uncharacteristically trailed the competition, he’s ushered in the era of the Wii, by far the best-selling console of its generation, and Nintendo DS, Nintendo’s unstoppable portable gaming powerhouse that’s stood up to an insanely competitive mobile gaming market.
On top of overseeing those huge accomplishments, undoubtedly turning Nintendo back from its brief losing streak, he was also a great game developer: He’s one of two developers, the other being Masahiro Sakurai, who were responsible for creating the Nintendo 64 Super Smash Bros. in their spare time. With Smash being my favorite—and in my opinion, the best—Nintendo series, and his other contributions with work on Earthbound and Kirby games, I can’t imagine where I’d be as a gamer without Satoru Iwata.
And I’m not alone. Iwata had become—through his work as well as his personality as it showed through during Nintendo presentations, Iwata Asks, and interviews—a pillar of the game development community and gamer community alike, and today, that entire community is mourning:
I already miss Iwata. pic.twitter.com/ZJSke6ckyl
— Ryan Brown ♥ (@Toadsanime) July 13, 2015
Sad day for Iwata-san’s family, friends, and gamers everywhere. His passion, creativity & leadership elevated our industry.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 13, 2015
— Aaron Greenberg (@aarongreenberg) July 13, 2015
And yes, actual flags at Nintendo are being flown at half mast:
任天堂本社前です。岩田社長が亡くなられたということで半旗が掲げられていました。マスコミの姿も無く、ひっそりとしています。改めてご冥福をお祈りいたします。 pic.twitter.com/mSP1Z93BCM
— NOCHI (@nochi0079) July 13, 2015
An incredibly sad start to the week. RIP Satoru Iwata. You had the respect of a world of gamers, including all of us at Rare. #ThankYouIwata
— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) July 13, 2015
What a terribly sad day. Iwata-San was such a gentleman. Huge loss for the industry. http://t.co/kkNvoU6Mlt
— Peter Moore (@petermooreEA) July 13, 2015
Thank you for everything, Mr. Iwata.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 13, 2015
After hearing about the news of Mr. Iwata, I’ve made a violin cover of the Super Mario 64 Credits Theme as tribute: http://t.co/eXaIw4Yn6T
— Daniel Jung (@LiquidKDJ) July 13, 2015
Nintendo President Satoru #Iwata, who launched Wii, dies of cancer at 55 http://t.co/DVR2aMt6jK pic.twitter.com/FsqZKKquKR
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) July 13, 2015
Thank you for everything, Mr. Iwata pic.twitter.com/txY1tqgpJs
— Red (@_MasterRED_) July 13, 2015
keep dancing, Iwata-san :( pic.twitter.com/3fmLYl8Lf0
— Layton Shumway (@theshums) July 12, 2015
On my way to The Mary Sue offices this morning, I passed this statue outside of The Church of St. Francis of Assisi as I do every morning. Today, along with the spare change usually stuffed into its outstretched hand, someone had placed a bunch of bright yellow bananas next to it. Gone, but never forgotten, Mr. Iwata.
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Published: Jul 13, 2015 10:57 am