Support NeoGAF

[Megalosaro]

Here is a pic I took on Saturday.

 

[y2dvd]

I haven't played any console games in a long while, but I'm gonna fire up my Wii U tonight to pay tribute.

 

[nordique]

I think my request got lost - was wondering if anyone can pin me as well, please?

 

[Salbug]

This is the second time for me, the first was Robin Williams.

Knowing someone that has brought you so much joy throughout your entire life is gone forever really hurts.

Thinking about it now... I haven't felt a sadness this intense for a highly-influential person since Steve Irwin's death. Just like Mr. Iwata, the crocodile hunter was a very memorable portion of my childhood.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Man, he aged 10 years in this last year Poor guy.

The change is very, very recent. Compare it to a picture like this, which has only been from the last 2 years or so;

I've known family members have cancer, and when the physical changes affect you, they do so very very quickly.

 

[Brofield]

Hip Tanaka's tribute on Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/hip_tanaka/dedicated-to-satoru-iwata

It's a Balloon Trip remix.

This is beautiful. This sounds like something he would hear as he reads the end credits to his own life.

Come on, Iwata, what's one more credit to play again?

 

[Storm Kyleis]

Have we had many quotes from business partners and third parties? Would like to see what Kamiya has to say about working with Iwata

Kamiya took part in a fantastic Iwata Asks.

http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/thewonderful101/0/0

He also tweeted "In my heart forever. http://twitpic.com/daizry "

There are many other quotes and tributes from pretty much everyone in the industry in the OP.

 

[Labombadog]

The next Nintendo Direct will be full of feels.

 

[HUELEN10]

I've known family members have cancer, and when the physical changes affect you, they do so very very quickly.

I'm afraid to ask, but do you think it's possible that he... Do you think he knew his time was coming to a close? With changes being quick and all...

 

[Broken Joystick]

Hip Tanaka's tribute on Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/hip_tanaka/dedicated-to-satoru-iwata

It's a Balloon Trip remix.

For anyone who doesn't know, Tanaka worked on Metroid, Kid Icarus, Super Mario Land, Tetris, Mother, Dr. Mario, and EarthBound.

 

[Muffdraul]

Thank you, Iwata. RIP =(

 

[vagabondarts]

Here is a pic I took on Saturday.

Great tribute, man. Love this!

 

[Arooguy]

I can't stop crying over this. First time that's happened to me with a non family member

I keep crying over it too. I'm reading this thread with a box of tissues. Going back and watching him at events helps me smile though. He seemed so passionate and had a great sense of humor.

 

[seady]

No wonder E3 these two years had been in video form.

Last year was pre-recorded video, this year was just some muppets that you don't even see his face.

 

[Boyzi]

Wow, I had no idea he was ill. RIP

 

[Clefargle]

Love this.

Wow, I think this is one of the only times I've ever seen a unanimous troll-free YouTube comment section. Iwata is bringing folks together still!

 

[MudoSkills]

Moving to see so many people here genuinely saddened by his untimely death.

RIP Mr Iwata. Forever in our carts.

 

[fluffydelusions]

Nintendo composer Hip Tanaka just posted an Iwata tribute Balloon Fight remix:

Edit: beaten
https://soundcloud.com/hip_tanaka/dedicated-to-satoru-iwata

 

[Dangerous1992]

This is beautiful. This sounds like something he would hear as he reads the end credits to his own life.

Come on, Iwata, what's one more credit to play again?

same, it's one of the saddest days for me in a long time

 

[Mengy]

I'm pretty sure Reggie knew what was going on with Iwata that's why he said he didn't apologize for the e3 direct. I knew deep down it must've hurt seeing the sick president want to apologize. Very sad that he had to apologize

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=168787684

Yeah, a lot of their E3 show this year makes sense now, especially after seeing that recent picture of Iwata.


This still sucks so much, I've never known a Nintendo without him there....

 

[jmdajr]

No wonder E3 these two years had been in video form.

Last year was pre-recorded video, this year was just some muppets that you don't even see his face.

Yeah the guy was going through some rough times. Awful to think about.

 

[GregLombardi]

Having a tough time trying to explain my grief to people "IRL". My wife kind of gets it but I think even she thinks it's odd that a middle aged man would be tearing up at the death of a Japanese man he didn't know that just happened to run some billion dollar international corporation.

Although I'm not part of the industry, my love and my passion for videogames is always something I've had to reconcile with the cynicism, the hostility and the toxicity that comes from being an enthusiast of any subculture. Saturo Iwata, regardless of (or even in spite of) his position at Nintendo, was a counter point to all of that. No matter who you are, your age, your race, colour or creed, gaming is something over which anyone and everyone should be able to connect and enjoy and love together. That was Saturo Iwata's message.

"Wii would like to play."

We really would.

Thank you, Mr Iwata.

I'm having a tough time trying to explain my grief to myself. I guess I just never expected to be hit this hard...though in retrospect it makes sense. I've been watching him since 2002, and his passing has shown me how much I looked up to the man. A true leader and visionary, and an awesome human. I think that's why I keep almost crying, as a part of me has died.

Great post btw.

 

[Chaos17]

No wonder E3 these two years had been in video form.

Last year was pre-recorded video, this year was just some muppets that you don't even see his face.

Meh... no, he wasn't ill during E3 last year as fas as we know.
It was disvocered after. He was in great shape at E3 2014.

 

[Terrell]

"That work will continue uninterrupted."

I love the sound of that. Iwata was such a strong leader, those who worked with him know his vision and efforts can't be deterred even after his passing. They'll make sure his legacy continues.

Man, to leave this world knowing others will carry on your vision and direction, as well as how many people you inspired must be a great way to go.

It's quite possibly the best way to go.

And I'm sure everyone knows his intentions, he didn't seem like a guarded man and always clearly communicated his desires and his vision.

Nintendo was richer for having him at the helm at all, no matter how short that time was.

 

[Dremark]

Have we had many quotes from business partners and third parties? Would like to see what Kamiya has to say about working with Iwata

Kamiya posted this on his twitter, it's the closest thing so far I'm aware of: https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/620399992302272512

 

[Neoxon]

Akuo made these.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I'm contemplating calling Reggie to see if there is a more formal way to pay my respects, but perhaps they are taking the day off?

Calling Reggie? What is this?

 

[Terrible_Majesty]

I love his confidence:

"We can keep working on [Earthbound] with what we currently have and finish it in two years, or you can throw it all away and let me rewrite it from scratch and end up with a better game in one. You decide." - Satoru Iwata

 

[DeuceGamer]

I have to wonder whether Reggie knew how bad Iwata's condition was and whether he had much time left.

It's great to see Nintendo continue standing strong.

Looking at the picture posted above I would think those that worked with Iwata would have at least had a lot of concern following his previous illness and surgery.

 

[Aostia]

The next Nintendo Direct will be full of feels.

absolutely...I hope they will host a Special Direct to honor him. I'd appreciate that

 

[arimanius]

Can't believe he's gone. Some of these tribute people are doing are great and heart warming.

 

[Zurick]

It's like a part of your childhood just being ripped away and nothing will ever fill that gap save for the memories.

 

[Brofield]

I'm afraid to ask, but do you think it's possible that he... Do you think he knew his time was coming to a close? With changes being quick and all...

He had to have known. Despite that, despite not choosing to spend more time with his family, or travel, or pursue some other personal interests, he worked to better Nintendo of all things. None of us deserved him.

As others on Twitter mentioned, this must why we had muppets: so we wouldn't have to see a sickly Iwata, so we could remember him as his youthful self. In a sense, Reggie and other higher ups had to have known as well, talking about a transitional period Nintendo is about to undergo during the E3 direct. I just don't think any of them expected it to happen so soon.

 

[Cheesecakebobby]

What a sad piece of news. I was in Akihabara having lunch with my gf when we heard. After, we were walking around and I took my 3ds out. Immediately a Japanese guy and girl saw us and asked for an interview for an Internet TV show or something. I told them how respected and well-liked Iwata-san was among foreign Nintendo fans, that it felt like a little part of my childhood died today. Hope his family have support at this time and also that Nintendo finds a suitable way to remember him.

 

[Wavering Radiant]

R.I.P. Mr. Iwata

..feeling really sick right now.. ;_;



(can someone make my avatar a ribbon?)

 

[HUELEN10]

I love his confidence:

Again, he was a leader in every sense of the word.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Was Iwatas illness ever disclosed? I just knew he was sick but didn't realize the true severity of it. This is so sad

 

[AlexMeloche]

Man, he aged 10 years in this last year Poor guy.

If you didn't say it was Iwata, I'm nost sure I would have recognized him.

 

[Aostia]

Reggie:

""Mr. Iwata is gone, but it will be years before his impact on both Nintendo and the full video game industry will be fully appreciated. He was a strong leader for our company, and his attributes were clear to most everyone: Intelligence, creativity, curiosity and sense of humor. But for those of us fortunate enough to work closely with him, what will be remembered most were his mentorship and, especially, his friendship. He was a wonderful man. He always challenged us to push forward…to try the new…to upset paradigms—and most of all, to engage, excite and endear our fans. That work will continue uninterrupted.""

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I'm afraid to ask, but do you think it's possible that he... Do you think he knew his time was coming to a close? With changes being quick and all...

The docs usually give a worse case scenario, and in both of my grandparents situations they ended up living a lot past their given dates. He wouldn't have been given an optimistic outlook, even though he got it succesfully removed once.

 

[Rösti]

Was Iwatas illness ever disclosed? I just knew he was sick but didn't realize the true severity of it. This is so sad

I believe it was cholangiocarcinoma: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000291.htm

 

[Dangerous1992]

could someone put a ribbon on my ava please?

 

[Copenap]

What a shocking news

Was Iwatas illness ever disclosed? I just knew he was sick but didn't realize the true severity of it. This is so sad

I read today that he disclosed the kind of illness last year in a letter to the shareholders, I never heard about it myself either though.

Edit: According to the FT it was a tumour in his bile duct.

 

[jbug617]

Has these been posted?
http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/12/89...video-game-industry-remembers-one-of-its-best

Shuhei Yoshida

"I always admired his personal, easy to understand commentary on games in development in his Nintendo Direct. He was an inspiration as a leader of one of the most influential companies in the game industry, who used to make games himself and has always been a gamer. I had a couple of times I had conversations with him at some international industry events, he was always friendly and nice to talk with. I was dreaming someday to have an open exchange of Tweets or to be on a same panel session with him to talk about industry and games we play. I even tweeted when I was leaving for E3 this year with #iwatter as I saw he started tweeting Nintendo E3 news with the hashtag. I have always respected Nintendo's games, how they are super accessible and polished for everyone to play and enjoy, and I understand Iwata-san was one of the key individuals to have kept that high quality standard across all Nintendo titles. I just wish he will rest in peace. Thank you for all your work for the better game industry

Phil Spencer

"Honestly I wasn't a huge Nintendo gamer growing up. I grew up on Atari 2600 and PC games. When I entered the 'industry' and learned what it meant to build games, grow franchises and really become part of the industry is when I learned what why Nintendo was special. Iwata-san has been President of Nintendo really for as long as we've been in the Xbox business. I think it was GDC 2005 when he stated '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.' It's a quote I think about daily as I make decision for Xbox. Nintendo has defined excellence, longevity and self-confidence in their own vision. In the times I've met Iwata-san I always took away someone who believed in the 'why' behind the games and platforms they built. I think this was born out of the fact that he was a gamer at heart."

They have more statements from industry people in the link

 

[KingBroly]

Was Iwatas illness ever disclosed? I just knew he was sick but didn't realize the true severity of it. This is so sad

Yes, he said he had a growth last year but he said it was found early and he was fortunate.

Either he had a relapse or he was putting on a good face about the whole thing for nearly a year.

 

[nordique]

I believe it was cholangiocarcinoma: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000291.htm

yeah - unfortunately this is a very grim cancer to be diagnosed with.

 

[Labombadog]

absolutely...I hope they will host a Special Direct to honor him. I'd appreciate that

I will shed so many tears...

 

[beanman25]

Waking up this morning and it feels like there is a hole in my heart.

Definitely going to be Earthbounding it up in his honor. I knew there was a reason why it's #1 all time for me!

Rest in Peace!!

 

[Heavy's Sandvich]

I love his confidence:

Where did you get this quote? Is there more about this?