Date of Birth: December 6, 1959
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: July 11, 2015
Biography
Satoru Iwata was a renowned Japanese businessman and video game designer who served as the fourth president and CEO of Nintendo. Born in Sapporo, Japan, Iwata showed an early interest in technology and programming. He joined HAL Laboratory, Inc. in the 1980s and significantly contributed to several successful games, such as Kirby and EarthBound. In 2000, Iwata joined Nintendo and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the company’s president in 2002. Under his leadership, Nintendo saw the successful launch of the Nintendo DS and the Wii, which became some of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time. Iwata was known for his unique management style, often engaging directly with consumers and developers alike. His tenure was marked by innovation and a commitment to making gaming accessible to a wider audience. Sadly, Iwata passed away in 2015, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the gaming industry.
5 Interesting Facts about Satoru Iwata
1. Satoru Iwata was the first Nintendo president to come from outside the Yamauchi family.
2. He personally programmed parts of the Pokémon Gold and Silver games to optimize the code.
3. Iwata played a crucial role in the development of the GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Wii.
4. He famously cut his own salary in half during Nintendo’s financial struggles to avoid layoffs.
5. Iwata was known for his “Iwata Asks” interview series, where he conversed with game developers about their projects.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Satoru Iwata
1. “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.”
2. “Above all, video games are meant to just be one thing: Fun for everyone.”
3. “Trust your passion, believe in yourself, and follow it.”
4. “Video games are meant to be just one thing. Fun. Fun for everyone.”
5. “We do not run from risk. We run to it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Satoru Iwata’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Satoru Iwata did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Satoru Iwata – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoru_Iwata
2. [Satoru Iwata’s Legacy – Nintendo Official Website](https://www.nintendo.com/satoru-iwata/
3. [Remembering Satoru Iwata – IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/13/remembering-satoru-iwata
