R.I.P Hiroshi Yamauchi

Nando · 09/19/2013, 10:10 AM

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/nintendo-video-game-pioneer-hiroshi-yamauchi-dies-85-4B11197349

"Former Nintendo Co Ltd President Hiroshi Yamauchi, who built the company into a video game giant from a maker of playing cards during more than half a century at the helm, died on Thursday of pneumonia, the company said. He was 85.

Yamauchi was the third-generation head of the family-run business, founded in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto in 1889 as a maker of playing cards, and served as president from 1949 until 2002. He was an executive adviser to the company at the time of his death.

Under his leadership, the company developed the Famicom home game console and the Game Boy handheld player..."

the NES gets played tonight!

esteban · 09/19/2013, 05:46 PM

At some point, he was one of the richest men in Japan.

But I don't care about that.

I heard that he personally guided the development of Balloon Fight. It was inspired by a vivid dream he had one night in the early 80's, possibly after watching an episode of Star Blazers and downing a dozen cans of Bud Dry.

Mzo · 09/19/2013, 06:58 PM

lol, I hope that Balloon Fight story is true.

He was the best yakuza thug boss a kiddie company ever had. I bet Gunpei Yokoi was waiting for him in ambush in the afterlife.

jlued686 · 09/19/2013, 07:17 PM

Dude was a bad ass mofo. RIP, man. Thanks for the memories.

ccovell · 09/19/2013, 07:19 PM

Quote from: esteban on 09/19/2013, 05:46 PMI heard that he personally guided the development of Balloon Fight. It was inspired by a vivid dream he had one night...

Surely, the dream was to get rich by copying Williams' JOUST wholesale...

esteban · 09/20/2013, 11:32 AM

Quote from: ccovell on 09/19/2013, 07:19 PM
Quote from: esteban on 09/19/2013, 05:46 PMI heard that he personally guided the development of Balloon Fight. It was inspired by a vivid dream he had one night...
Surely, the dream was to get rich by copying Williams' JOUST wholesale...

I agree (such great games!)...except Yamauchi preferred to refer to Balloon Fight as his homage to the American arcade. In other interviews, however, he claims that Balloon Fight was a mélange of major elements from the American arcade.

It's probably apocryphal, but some sources state that Yamauchi's mistress, when quizzed about the American influence on Nintendo during the 80's at a press event, simply put a finger to her lips and said, "Shhhh." She refused to answer any further questions as she quietly sipped tea and indulged in a creme brûlée.

OK, I'll stop now.

Nando · 09/20/2013, 01:19 PM

Quote from: ccovell on 09/19/2013, 07:19 PM
Quote from: esteban on 09/19/2013, 05:46 PMI heard that he personally guided the development of Balloon Fight. It was inspired by a vivid dream he had one night...
Surely, the dream was to get rich by copying Williams' JOUST wholesale...

and boy did that dream come true or what?

retroguy · 09/20/2013, 03:55 PM

A small tribute I made: