Today, December 6, 2024, the 65th birthday de Satoru Iwata.
The darling former president of Nintendo in Japan He died in July 2015 due to a bile duct tumor, leaving an indelible legacy in the video game industry.
Shortly after, he was succeeded by Tatsumi Kimishima, but Iwata remains a unique and irreplaceable figure in the history of video games and Nintendo.
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Iwata He touched the hearts of many fans for his passion for video games, his ability to spread smiles and his peculiar humor.
History of Satoru Iwata before Nintendo
Satoru Iwata He started his career as a programmer in HAL Laboratory in 1980.
In 1983 he became software production coordinator, strengthening ties with Nintendo.
In 1993, he assumed the position of president of HAL, also collaborating on titles such as Pokémon Gold and Silver y Super Smash Bros.
Iwata officially joined Nintendo in the year 2000 and He was appointed president in 2002after the retirement of Hiroshi Yamauchi.
A unique philosophy
Satoru Iwata had a very special philosophy that propelled the Nintendo success. Iwata He believed that video games should not only entertain, but also connect emotionally with players.
One of the most memorable ideas was that games did not need universal praise to be successful, but rather the challenge was finding the balance between positive and negative reactions.
Community Responses
Throughout social media, fans and developers have reminded Iwata on your anniversary:
On this day, 20 years ago, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata skipped Japan’s DS launch day events — instead, he traveled to Tohoku University to meet with famed ndollarscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima and pitch to him the game that would become “Brain Age.” A legendary meeting of the minds!
— Lucas M. Thomas (@lucasmthomas.bsky.social) 2024-12-03T03:30:54.785Z
Some even pay tribute to him in other games, such as The Binding of Isaac:
Playing Issac and did my daily run and got jumpscared by being Satoru Iwata’s birthday, so you play as him today! pic.twitter.com/0yz9nrboor
— violetzoroark.bsky.social (@VioletZoroark) December 6, 2024
Nintendo He also dedicated tributes to him in titles such as Pokémon UltraSol and UltraLuna, Star Fox Zero or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
And not only that, Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Kirby y Super Smash Brosalso paid tribute to Iwata with an emotional video on his YouTube channel, remembering his legacy as a mentor and friend.
You can see the video below:
Iwata marked the beginning of a golden era for the company and continues to be an inspiration for the video game industry.
His legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and the gaming community, who celebrate his 65 years, even after his death.
What is your favorite moment of Iwata? Share it with us!
