Nintendo president of over 12 years, Satoru Iwata, is remembered all over the world. The head of the Japanese tech giant is called a visionary by his colleagues in Nintendo's local and international branches.
Satoru Iwata has been the mind behind Nintendo's most popular devices. His innovations made the gaming company appeal to its audience and gain new supporters, even in the midst of mobile gaming's rising popularity. In the mid-2000's, Wii and Nintendo's handheld console, DS, were at the peak of their popularity and have been considered breakthroughs in gaming.
"He made Nintendo relevant again," said Julian Spillane, a developer for the company in Toronto. Iwata has had the goal of making the gaming company playable for all ages. Neil Randall, director of games at the University of Waterloo, said that Iwata's products focused on the playability for the general audience, something "that Sony and Microsoft were completely willing to abandon".
Among Iwata's creations for Nintendo is the popular Kirby character, a pink and round creature with trademark Japanese anime eyes, who goes into different adventures. The late president also brought popular characters, like the Super Mario Brothers, to the Nintendo gaming experience.
Iwata did not subscribe to conventional knowledge when it comes to gaming. When Wii was first pitched to the company, everyone doubted it was going to be successful. It looked nothing like the traditional game console gamers were accustomed to. It simply offered a different gaming experience, allowing one to play while his body is in motion, as if he were in the game. Wii sold out for three years straight, from 2006-2009.
As of this year, Wii has sold over 100 million units, while sold 150 million units around the world.
Mobile gaming is the trend now, and Nintendo will be bringing its games to smartphones. It still leaves much to be seen, without Iwata to pilot the company's newest developments.
Iwata was the first Nintendo president from outside of the founder's family line. He died on July 11, at aged 55. Supporters, and the company he led and energized for over a decade, continue to pay their tributes and respect for the gaming innovator.
