GDC 2016 pays tribute to late Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata

Each year, a new Game Developers Conference is held to recognize the greats of the gaming industry—innovative hardware and daring software and, perhaps above all, the people behind them. GDC 2016 saw plenty of games awarded plenty of titles, but it’s the show’s human element that really shines. And few shone brighter than the show’s tribute to late Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata.

The short animation chronicles Iwata’s efforts during both the development and peak of the Wii and 3DS, and comes to us from a four-man team: animators David Hellman and Raber Umphenour, musician Shawne Benson and writer Chris Kohler.

Iwata passed away in July 2015 at the age of 55. His passing followed a string of health problems resulting from a bile duct growth, which not only kept Iwata from E3 2014 but also pushed him into surgery.

Even in sickness, Iwata held to his personal mantra:

“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.”

Iwata’s passing sparked a passionate outpouring from the Nintendo community. Fans petitioned for an amiibo created in his honor. Over 4,000 mourners attended his funeral. Then there’s the countless commemorative games and artworks. All that before Nintendo’s new president, Tatsumi Kimishima, was even selected.

Source: YouTube

Via: Gamespot