Satoru Iwata would have turned 57 years old today

[Akhe]

Today is the day that the late Satoru Iwata would’ve celebrated his birthday. Iwata contributed at HAL include EarthBound and the Kirby series. He assisted in the development of the Pokémon and Super Smash Bros. series. Iwata joined Nintendo as the head of its corporate-planning division in 2000 and succeeded Yamauchi as the company's president in May 2002.
Iwata died at the age of 55 from its complications on July 11 2015. (03 day before my birthday =/ )

Godspeed, Iwata! Rip legend you always will be missed!

"On my business card, I'm a corporate president. In my mind, I'm a game developer but in my heart, I'm a gamer"
Satoru Iwata

The Life of Satoru Iwata - Gaming Historian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE

Satoru Iwata Game Developers Choice Awards Tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YG9INjO91Y

 

[pizzacat]

Playing balloon fight and making fanart in his honor

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Incidentally, I bought Legends of Localizations 2 about Earthbound. Wonder how long his part will be in that book.

 

[Orbis]

One of the greats. Still hurts.

 

[-shadow-]

I remember reading the topic title on GAF and thinking it was the most tasteless troll move ever. Took only few seconds after that to know the details. Such a weird idea that Nintendo Direct has pretty much died with him and the Iwata Asks also. They had become such a routine thing every once in a while. The Switch will be his final legacy, here's hoping it'll end up being an amazing one, the guy deserves it.

 

[Trojan]

RIP Iwata

 

[Richie]

What really crushes me is that he had to leave with the bad blood toward the disappointing E3 2015 Digital Event as his last memory of the community. Cloud/Bayo in Smash, Pokémon Go, BOTW's E3, the Switch's reveal, just to name some things with overwhelmingly positive reception that he didn't get to see.

I'm far, FAR from a religious guy, but in these moments it is a comforting thought to imagine he indeed gets to see all the love the fans send him and all the praise his ideas are getting...from another place.

 

[Mookie1515]

I'll never forget him.

 

[GDGF]

Happy birthday, Iwata.

 

[TheDinoman]

What really crushes me is that he had to leave with the bad blood toward the disappointing E3 2015 Digital Event as his last memory of the community. Cloud in Smash, Pokémon Go, the Switch's positive reception, all missed.

I just feel really bad that he went out during Nintendo's darker years, what with the 3DS struggling at first (and not exactly recreating the DS's success even after) and the Wii U being a total flop.

These last five or so years have been kind of miserable for Nintendo, in-spite of releasing a lot of great games. It'd be pretty sad if Iwata died thinking he was a failure for what had happened to Nintendo at that point. I just hope the Switch can turn things around.

 

[Tom Nook]

I first heard the news on a youtube video with a thumbnail of "RIP IWATA". I watched the video and the person was in tears. "FUCK NO" I still don't believe it. Googled his name and it had tons of news articles on his passing.

Absolutely devastated. RIP

 

[messiaen]

Be right back, just got hit with the feels.

 

[Grisby]

What a great guy, and what a great face for the company. RIP buddy.

 

[DecoReturns]

Iwata vs Reggie still makes me laugh.

Can't believe they agree to that

 

[Sub Boss]

SRIP mr. Iwata.

SWITCH actually looks very Iwata ish

 

[Galafar]

Happy birthday Mr. Iwata! May your last creation be a huge success.

 

[Papasmurf531]

Still heart wrenching to know that he is not around </3

 

[Lunafreya Nox Fleuret]

Still incredibly sad he isn't around.

 

[13ruce]

RIP Iwata, felt pretty sad when he died he was a good and humble man and a gamer. Best CEO ever imo.

 

[Galang]

. This is still so sad and surreal

 

[archreaper93]

Iwata was one of those celebrity deaths that hit me hard (along with Robin Williams, and to a lesser extent Michael Jackson).

R.I.P.

 

[Plumpbiscuit]

I still remember the day the original GAF thread was made about his passing and seeing all the reactions in real time.

 

[Debirudog]

Here's hoping the Switch would be a positive mark on his legacy.

 

[-shadow-]

Iwata vs Reggie still makes me laugh.

Can't believe they agree to that

Despite people calling Nintendo out for having some real terrible humour. Other people in the industry simply would never do this. It's what made him unique in the sense that he managed to put himself out there both as a serious CEO but also a jolly goofball. We'll probably never see someone like him again &#128557;

 

[Always-honest]

Legend

 

[L95]

Still miss the dude <3

Happy birthday

 

[Gaku1503]

Rest in peace, Satoru.

 

[Booker.DeWitt]

you will be missed forever

 

[Aostia]

One of the greats. Still hurts.

Totally this

 

[gogojira]

Happy Birthday, Iwata. Thanks for all the memories.

 

[sixteen-bit]

RIP to the best.

 

[kinggroin]

Never changed my avatar. Never will.

 

[Vargavinter]

Wait? Iwata's birthday is on the same day my father passed? ;(

 

[Neptonic]

One of my favorite tributes to Iwata:
Smiles and Tears at the Crossroads by BotanicSage

 

[JonnyDBrit]

I remember reading the topic title on GAF and thinking it was the most tasteless troll move ever. Took only few seconds after that to know the details. Such a weird idea that Nintendo Direct has pretty much died with him and the Iwata Asks also. They had become such a routine thing every once in a while. The Switch will be his final legacy, here's hoping it'll end up being an amazing one, the guy deserves it.

I truly think one of the things Iwata valued most, even if he wasn't always good at it, was communication with the customer. Without him - if not in part because of his death - the focus right now is much more on ensuring smooth sailing of the company, even if it means minimising that communication. The Iwata Asks especially had to be a pet project that relied on both Iwata's experience, clout, and connections within the industry as both a dev and company President, and that's just not easy to replace.

I think the loss just becomes more poignant as time passes.

 

[psyfi]

Tons of respect, dude remains an industry legend.

 

[SuperSah]

He may be gone, but he forever remains a part of our childhoods and memory.

Forever living in our hearts, Iwata.

 

[ChoklitCow]

Forever respect those who transcend what they do as a profession. Sucks he was taken too soon.

 

[NeOak]

:'(

 

[Firecrest]

Man, the wounds are still so fresh...

Happy Birthday, Iwata. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us with the Switch.

 

[Macrotus]

It makes me think again, such a young age to pass away...
56 was really too early...

 

[mr_nexus]

I still miss him. Nintendo Directs just aren't the same without him.

 

[Retromelon]

The sadness yet lingers. Gone too soon

 

[metalslimer]

I miss Iwata asks a lot. Still read some of the old ones every once in a while

 

[Akhe]

Wait? Iwata's birthday is on the same day my father passed? ;(

I'm sad to hear about your father. Stay strong.

 

[SmackAttack]

One of the greats. Still hurts.

Have to agree. Every time I see a thread or hear him mentioned, I still feel that sadness when I remember he's gone.

;_;7

 

[thecouncil]

I think about him every day. I love him.

 

[potatohead]

Rip to a giant

 

[ScientificPizza]

 

[Megalosaro]

Incidentally, I bought Legends of Localizations 2 about Earthbound. Wonder how long his part will be in that book.

He has a few mentions in there, but not much. Since the book is about the localization, it's minimal.