Satoru Iwata – The Kirby-loving Genius

Satoru Iwata was a fearless leader, a programming wizard, and a lover of all things Nintendo. Born on December 6, 1959, in Sapporo, Japan, Iwata became one of the most beloved figures in the gaming industry. He was known for his passion for video games and his giggly demeanor. He led Nintendo to create some of the most iconic games such as Zelda, Mario, and Kirby. But, there was one thing that Nintendo fans love more than his games, and that was Iwata’s sense of humor.

Iwata’s career at Nintendo began in the 1980s, where he worked as a programmer during the company’s golden era. He worked on games for the NES and the Super Nintendo console, such as “Kirby’s Dream Land” and “Super Smash Bros.” In 2002, he became the company’s president, taking over from Hiroshi Yamauchi, who himself became an iconic figure in gaming history.

One of the legends surrounding Iwata-sensei was that during his time in college, he created a game called “Poltergeist,” where the player would play as a ghost, moving around and scaring people. It is said that the game was so scary that Iwata had to tone it down so that people could play it without getting a heart attack.

Iwata’s sense of humor, however, was not restricted to his games. He was known for his outrageous quotes and speeches. In 2005, he famously claimed that “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.” In 2011, he criticized the idea of social games as “fun enough to play for ten minutes… then the fun just dies.” He loved to poke fun at his competitors, too. When Sony announced that the PS3 would cost \(599, Iwata poked fun at this fact saying that he had a prediction. "I might be wrong, but I think \)599 is probably too expensive.”

Sadly, Iwata-sensei passed away in July 2015 from a bile duct growth, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable games and heartwarming humor. Over the years, he had built a reputation as an influential figure in the gaming industry. He was a man who dedicated his life to making people happy through his games and his humor. So, even though he is no longer with us, his legend lives on, and his impact on the gaming industry will be felt forever.