Few people have left such a deep impact on the gaming industry as Satoru Iwata. The former CEO of Nintendo had an aura that commanded respect from his peers while remaining as lovable as ever. This gaming luminary left his mark on Nintendo, and his stellar legacy continues to motivate budding game developers. And nowhere is Iwata’s deep passion and love for gaming better on display than this rare photograph.
#WhatAGameDevLooksLike ❤ pic.twitter.com/om84xf9sKg
— Nintendo Memories (@NintendoMemo) March 22, 2022
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From massive hardware launches to the meteoric success of the game franchises, he has had an intriguing journey in the gaming world and has helped create some of the industry’s biggest milestones. But with that said, fans would be hard-pressed to gather that from his calm, unassuming face.
Former Nintendo CEO’s picture takes over the internet
For the uninitiated, Satoru Iwata is a man whose work influenced the lives of many across the globe, even becoming a gaming icon. A coding wizard combined with a business-savvy leader, his colleagues remember Iwata fondly. Significantly, this includes Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi.
In ‘Ask Iwata’, a collection of his philosophy and insights, both his colleagues reminisced about their time with the legend. Miyamoto notes in all their time spent together, Iwata never got irritated with him despite how strongly they may disagree.
“He never put on airs, or acted angry just for show,” Itoi said. “He really was a decent guy, you know?”
Under his able leadership, Nintendo developed the DS and Wii consoles. He also launched the famous “blue ocean” initiative, a strategy meant to “create a market where there initially was none”. Essentially, to bring gaming to a different fold of people than the traditional gaming audience.
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This approach is reflected in titles like Wii Sports, which became a smash hit with the elderly population. Additionally, titles like Brain Age and Nintendogs led to the DS becoming the second best-selling console ever.
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With such a rich and storied history, it’s no wonder the former Nintendo president still lives in the hearts of many. And this rare photograph captures his charm and love for gaming beautifully. What do you think of Iwata?
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Tell us in the comments below.