Remembering Gunpei Yokoi
Gunpei Yokoi passed away ten years ago to this date. He was a brilliant creator, enigineer, and innovator in the gaming industry whose influence is felt throughout the gaming world.
Although you may not be familiar with his name, Yokoi single handedly revolutionized handheld gaming by inventing the Game and Watch series of LCD games that launched Nintendo’s profits into the stratosphere and cemented his position at the company after a long string of successful toys. He invented the “control-cross” directional pad for the Game and Watch series of 54 titles that has become standardized on nearly all console controllers thereafter.
Mr. Yokoi was a mentor to Shigeru Miyamoto, who collaborated on Donkey Kong. He also created Kid Icarus, and the original Metroid. Perhaps his greatest success with Nintendo was the invention of the original Game Boy.
Many people had not even picked up a handheld game before the GameBoy, but when Tetris hit, everybody had to have the new hot item. When Tetris was released in the States in the fall of 1989, either you had it, or you lusted for one. There was no in between.
After he ended his partnership with Nintendo, he courageously went on to develop his own handheld system, the Wonderswan. He never got to see the final release in 1999, for he was the victim of a tragic car accident that took his life on October 4th 1997. Yokoi-san was 56 years old.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gunpei Yokoi’s family and friends on this day. He will be missed.
Toots
Posted to Video Games on 4 October 2007
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: bandai, gameboy, gunpei yokoi, nintendo, wonderswan
1997 was a grim, grim year. Damn, 56 is no age to die.
(By the way, you made an error, you wrote "that took his live on October 4th 1997") I think you know that it should be life.
His partnership with Nintendo ended after he designed the failure known as the Virtual Boy.
one of the best. i was very saddened when i heard the news 10 years ago. ... wow ... cant believe its been ten years. my gamertag on Live is a nod to him and his genius. ^_^ you are missed.