There
aren't many games companies where I know the names of the executives
or have any real impression of them as people.
I
knew the name of Satoru Iwata, the man who once said “Video games
are meant to be just one thing. Fun. Fun for everyone.”. He was the
man who, as president of Nintendo when the WiiU failed to make sales
targets, took a massive pay cut so they wouldn't have to make cuts
lower down the corporate structure. I've seen this man in adverts
where he's played by a muppet who slowly turns into a Starfox
character (alongside muppets of two other Nintendo executives) and,
of course, there's this...
I
don't agree with every decision he or Nintendo have made in the last
few years but this isn't a rant, this is what humble tribute I can
pay to this man who believed in fun over all at a time when other
games publishers and developers have driven the industry into
something horribly resembling a crash trying to me grim and adult
about things. The fact that he and his company have clearly and
demonstrably prioritised customer enjoyment as the justification for
taking our money, even in these self-consciously grim times, is no
small thing.
This
man's life's work brought joy to millions and I don't think there can
be much greater a tribute than that.
Rest
well, Mister Iwata, we understand and may you forever be remembered
with bananas in your hand.
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