I can not believe what I’m typing at this second.
But it’s true, straight from Nintendo’s website via a PDF file, Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata, who was the successor to Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002 (who also recently passed on back on September 19 2013), has passed away on July 11th after battling an illness involving a “bile duct growth”.
Last year, Iwata was found to have had a growth in his body that he underwent surgery for back over a year ago, as said on Polygon in the link from then:
“In general, it is said that a bile duct growth can be difficult-to-treat, partly because of the difficulty of detecting it early. In my case, luckily, it was detected very early and I had no symptoms,” Iwata wrote. “I was counseled that removal at an early stage would be the desirable medical option. Therefore I had surgery last week, and I came through it well, as predicted.”
This is also shocking due to Iwata having been present at the shareholders meeting just weeks ago on June 26th. As far as I knew, there was no sign of anything severe. 🙁
As for what does this have to do with Sonic? Iwata was among other things, the one who gave the world-exclusive announcement of the 3-game exclusivity deal of Sonic back on May 17th 2013 in a Nintendo Direct, a series of presentations of which he was the creator of.
Regardless, Iwata was a huge part of leading Nintendo into their greatest successes with the Nintendo DS and later the Wii, and always had a motto of putting quality and his workers above all else. He even took a personal pay cut, twice, when things were looking down.
On behalf of Sonic Stadium, I thank you Satoru Iwata for helping make Nintendo what it is today, and helping bring so many great games to us, and may you rest in peace :'( I’m still in utter shock. 🙁
This is so depressing, I was having a good day ;-;
I feel like I have lost a friend. I want to cry so bad… This is just so painful and sudden…
Rest in Peace, Iwata.
See you next time….
Lets hope whoever runs nintendo next doesnt mess up
How can you think about that? A great man has just DIED. Care to be nice for a second, Matt?
): (
It’s like an end of an era
I’m still in complete shock… When a friend told me, I thought he was joking. Then another friend sent the pdf file and I just went into complete shock… I want to cry but I can’t. It doesn’t feel like the president of a company passed, it feels like I’ve lost a friend. I can only imagine what Miyamoto, Reggie, Sakurai and all the others are going through right now… I send my condolences to each and every one of the people who knew him personally, I won’t say professionally because I believe no one had a purely business relationship with him.
may he rest in peace .
he looked like a really nice polite person he will be missed
RIP, Iwata – condolences to his family (the Iwatas and Nintendo) for this sad lose:(
My heart just dropped and I instantly went numb. This is just terrible. Thank you SO much Iwata-san for everything. I’m going to miss you dearly.
Why does cancer have to be so EVIL???
Now my heart strings are tugged twice as hard… I just got done watching Miyazaki’s last movie “The Wind Rises” for the first time, and that was a bitter sweet movie from a legendary animator, and then I find out the CEO of Nintendo passed away…
Oh man Satoru Iwata I remember you playing Mario Kart 8 on Wii U online Regional two days ago with me met Satoru Iwata for the first time at night time. Is that he was playing as Villager in Mario Kart 8 having a lot of fun with Iwata so much fun but yeah sadly he die on July 11th, 2015 this year, well Satoru Iwata was a great guy of his life in the world to us!
I may not have realized it as a kid, but thanks to him I have had some of the greatest experiences of my life up to this point. If I had an extra life or a continue, I’d gladly give it to him right now, but that is not the world we live in now is it. 🙁 There’s only so much I can say, and I think that may go for all of us. At the end of nearly every game I’ve played, you’ve thanked us for playing, but now, I/We Thank You Mr. Iwata. I thank you for everything you’ve done to make our lives happier. It is monumentally appreciated. Take care everyone, and stay safe. Remember Mr. Iwata for the next few weeks. He deserves a lot more than what he got. *sigh of closure*
Absolutely terrible news! 🙁
Rest in peace, you will be missed. I don’t know what Nintendo will do with out you ?
We continue to lose many great people around the world yet extremely horrible people around the world continue to live and ruin the lives of others for their own gain/pleasure. Iwata obviously lies in the first group. Damn this world.
Wow, this really is shocking news. He was a very likable person.
Rest in piece Satoru.
Fare the well, Iwata-dono. You’re as much of a Nintendo icon as the characters you help give life. You shall be missed.
Why does 2015 continue to take great people from us? Rest in peace Iwata-san. May your legacy inspire many others. :'(
I can’t believe it.
RIP
I should’ve been the guy that cared the least about Nintendo, yet i still feel a huge loss without Mr. Iwata.
Rest In Peace Mr.Iwata, may your legacy be unforgotten.
*sputters in disbelief, flops down on bed with iPad in hand, starts typing*
He was an icon in the gaming world, a genius.
And he’s dead. Dead.
Rest in peace. You and your amazing contributions to everyone will never be forgotten. Goodbye for now.
Thank you. Thank you for all you’ve done. He was a great person, and truly Nintendo’s brightest president. RIP
All I can say to this is “*takes deep breath* FUCK YOU CANCER”?
On his business card, he was a company president.
In his mind, he was a game developer.
In his heart, he was a gamer.
In our hearts, he will live on.
Well, damn, that was unexpected… :'(
But, man, look at all his accomplishments during his time on Earth! He lead and inspired, gained a high position at one of the greatest gaming companies of all time, never lost himself to greed or forgot his inner gamer, and remained respected and beloved to the very end and beyond. Man, what a life!
Wasn’t exactly expecting to see this here but, yes, we lost a great man and a greater mind. He will be missed.
Man i am crying! T_T I lost my Grandma and Grandpa for a couple of months ago also to cancer and it still feels and now i get to hear this!! It make me sad all over again! T_T
Rest in Peace, Iwata. You will be greatly missed!! T_T
I need to blow my nose now…
For those of you who are not bothered about Iwata’s death, I want you to look at all your games consoles. If it were not for Iwata, those consoles probably would not be there…
rest in peace CEO hope you have peace and shared many memories in heaven