Satoru Iwata passes away

I thought this was a really nice thing for Simogo to do.

http://simogo.com/2015/07/13/thank-you-mr-iwata/

I really loved the outpouring of love for Iwata that happened across the interwebs earlier this week, one of the few moments where the majority of commenters or tweeters aren't being total asshats. Some great obituaries about him as well. It's just so sad that he passed away at such a young age, and it's even sadder that he never got to witness this outpouring of love before he passed away. The rare type of cancer he had only gave him a 2-15% chance of survival post operation last year, but he took things in their stride and was a great leader to the very end. I'm a big fan of where he was transitioning Nintendo towards.

Here's a small selection of great pieces worth reading:

Obituary: Satoru Iwata
Iwata the Game God
Iwata’s Balloon Fight Challenge
So what happens to Nintendo now?
The quotable Satoru Iwata: Nintendo’s late president, in his own words
Translation of an amazing blog post by Yoot Saito

I've seen a few people downplay Iwata's business and management skills (quick example: I thought it was a tad unfair for Scullion to suggest on BBC News that he went from programmer to CEO in an instant), but that's one of the large parts of why he was so great. As you know, he saved HAL from financial disaster, and he was producer on a variety of Nintendo titles back in the HAL days (one of the earliest I can think of is the work his team did on the western version of Dragon Warrior 1). His blue ocean strategy for Wii was almost certainly telling of a man who got economics, rather than business, though, as he had no formal business education -- the perfect candidate for a disruptor. And his handling of saving 3DS post a disastrous launch was certainly the best test of his leadership skills to date. It's just nice that unlike most people in these roles, he had the long term interests of both the company and the industry at heart, rather than short-term profits.

His death was unexpected as there's no immediately replacement, so I really hope Nintendo will be alright. Obviously the plans for NX and Mobile have been laid down, but Iwata clearly had great judgement. Being someone who knew about all sorts of industries -- he's always had a large respect for what Apple has done in their space -- meant he was best poised to make the right call on things and the direction Nintendo is going.

NX being a platform similar to iOS and Nintendo going "small and wide" with monetisation on Nintendo's mobile games are telling of someone who really "gets" what's happening around them. Someone without that kind of knowledge or grounding will just go in a direction that gets the best short-term profits. that is, to follow the conventional path.

Rob Crossley from CVG narrates Iwata's obituary. AND METEOS IS IN THERE!

So I just watched Iwata's 2005 GDC Keynote speech. It really is amazing to see the pure enthusiasm he had for games but also the level of insight he had into the industry. It also provides an interesting insight into his own career and it's just really touching to listen to him, especially the part when he describes the testing stage of Super Smash Bros.
The whole thing is, I think, a perfect image of who he was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMrj8gdUfCU

Be warned, you will cry.

As Balla has brought up who might replace Iwata

The odds on favourite seems to be Genyo Takeda, who I don't know much about, his Wiki doesn't tell us much but he does like hybrid.

Is Genyo Takeda you in disguise?

Mas: "IT'S ME SHIGSY!  IT WAS ME ALL ALONG SHIGSY!" (sells company to Sega)

I would buy SEGA

And let the analysts' speculation start. Reminds me how much I loathe Michael Pachter.

The man's funeral has just taken place, for Pete's sake. Let's leave it for a bit, shall we, analysts? If that is your real name!

In fairness they're probably already in the process of finding a successor but we shouldn't expect to hear anything for a while, it's a big decision after all. And even with all this change going on Pachter still has time to be an utter bum nugget, which is oddly comforting.

Analysts agree with Mas. Glad he's another programmer, but would he be willing to make a fool of himself in a Ninty Direct?

I don't have too many problems talking about this, unlike Zero - it's been a while since the man's passing. But let me know if people think differently.

And Pachter being a turd has nothing to do with Iwata's passing per se.

Michael Pachter on games is like Brian Sewell on art (and in fact everything as far as he's concerned), Darren Kerwin on Metroid, and Katie Hopkins on anything people will listen to her for - more than one person reacted to them at the same time, and all of a sudden they're an official "voice".

I don't really mind Pachter as to me, he must of been telling investors where to put there money in the right place at the right time to be where he is now as if he didn't then he wouldn't be anywhere.

Maybe it's just gone to his head a little bit, thinking he was right.

Info on Takeda and his History at Nintendo

Jimbob wrote:

Michael Pachter on games is like Brian Sewell on art (and in fact everything as far as he's concerned), Darren Kerwin on Metroid, and Katie Hopkins on anything people will listen to her for - more than one person reacted to them at the same time, and all of a sudden they're an official "voice".

Well this is awkward..

I probably shouldn't laugh, but...

Balladeer wrote:

I probably shouldn't laugh, but...

To be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Pachter and Katie Hopkins...i'm impressed! But for the record Jimbob, I am not the official voice of the Metroid community. I just air my thoughts and people respond to them. If people agree with what I have to say, then that's just a bonus.

Amazing

Well, a bona fide forum celebrity!

Wait a minute - does that mean Katie Hopkins or Pachter will be signing up soon?!

Well, I for one am glad Iwata died.

Katie Hopkins wrote:

Well, I for one am glad Iwata died.

Good lord. I'm not sure I quite get the humour on this forum yet, but that's not even funny

Urk! No, don't go Darren, we've only just met you, come baaaaaaaack!

Explaining the humour (as I see it):