Nintendo's Former President, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Has Passed Away

[Kugyince]

Nintendo has announced that the third President of the company, Hiroshi Yamauchi, has passed away — he was 85 years old.

Born in Kyoto, Japan — where Nintendo's headquarters are based — Yamauchi-san took over the Presidency of Nintendo at a young age, in 1949, when his grandfather and predecessor suffered from ill-health. At that stage Nintendo was a trading card company, yet under his leadership the company began to embrace the potential of electronic entertainment in the 1980s. It was under Yamauchi-san that Nintendo produced its early arcade products, and of course the President elected to entrust a young Shigeru Miyamoto to produce an arcade which would become the iconic Donkey Kong — a game that transformed the company's early fortunes in the industry.

In the following decades Nintendo would establish itself as the largest video game console manufacturer in the world, with the NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64 and GameCube, as well as the series of portable Game Boy systems. After such an extended period at the helm of the company and having overseen its rapid expansion in the video game industry, Yamauchi-san stepped down on 31st May 2002 to be succeeded by Nintendo's current President — Satoru Iwata.

Hiroshi Yamauchi was then the chairman of the board of directors until 29th June 2005, and remained the company's biggest shareholder beyond that date. Our condolences to his family.

BBC News
Nikkei

[Barra]

Sad to hear.

Yamauchi was back then, and still to this day, a major influence on the video game industry.

We are sorry for the loss.

[Slime Slayer]

So wait a minute... does this mean Nintendo will be publicly traded now?

R.I.P.

[RU Joe]

This is sad, at least for myself since video games have been one of my favorite things; I even remember seeing the Nintendo hand - held 'Tiger electronics' - style liquid crystal display games.
{how many kids nowadays would even know what L.C.D. is?}
Anyone else played the 'Octopus game'?




I sure spent a lot of quarters playing Space Firebird » Coin Op , one of Nintendo's early arcade games.
{Never realizing that it was a Nintendo game until I joined RU.}

I first heard about the N.E.S. while sitting in class one day and wondered what the kids were so exited about, but it wasn't until much later I would actually play one.
{and did those R.P.G.'s ever draw me in!}

As a final thought, I wonder what Hiroshi Yamauchi thought of modern video games?
I for one hope he understood the joy these games bring into people's lives and was proud to be such an important part of it.

Rest in peace, Hiroshi Yamauchi.

[Seahawk]

どもありがとう、やまうちさん. ..
So many games. Make sure you chat up some good ideas with Mr. Yokoi.

Originally Posted by stevencassidy13

So wait a minute... does this mean Nintendo will be publicly traded now?

Nintendo is already publicly traded. Yamauchi was just the biggest shareholder. His shares will probably pass on to his oldest daughter, Yoko, who is married to Minoru Arakawa.

[Jason L. Davis]

So sad to hear! My condolences to the ENTIRE Nintendo family. He sure was an influence and really helped video gaming take off into oblivion! He will be sorely missed!

[samejamesbond]

One of the first games I ever played in my life was Oil Panic on the Game
and Watch, a system he helped create. He was so vital in the growth and
popularity of video games and I may never have played the games I did
without his influence.

He will be missed.

[CrispyChicken]

RIP Hiroshi Yamauchi, you'll be missed!

[DrunkN]

I always saw him as a bit of a jerk, but it can't be denied that he had a big hand in revitalizing the market after the game crash. Pretty efficient business man.

[Inkubus]

Resting in Peace and Joy for all Eternity, Hiroshi Yamauchi. You shall live on in the hearts of those who hold a game controller.

[Tails]

Rip