Satoru Iwata’s death has greatly affected the game industry, with heartfelt tributes and tearful eulogies appearing in every corner of the Internet. Nintendo’s President and CEO lost his battle with cancer a few days ago, and now fans are asking the consolemaker to honor him with an Amiibo figure.
The Change.org petition has nearly 15,000 signatures as of this writing. The creator of the petition included this note in support of his goal:
“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-san
Satoru Iwata’s importance to modern gamers is more than words could ever describe. After helping to create some of Nintendo’s biggest fanchises such as Pokemon, Earthbound and Super Smash Bros., Mr. Iwata’s legacy influences and inspires anyone who has ever picked up a Wiimote or 3DS stylus.
Mr. Iwata’s business knowledge and work ethic as Nintendo’s CEO will always be remembered. Being responsible for Nintendo’s most profitable times and taking responsibility for Nintendo’s financially turbulent times, Mr. Iwata has made several tough decisions based on a simple tenet: “Is this Nintendo?”
These are just a few reasons why we should honor Satoru Iwata with his very own amiibo. Even if the amiibo itself lacks in-game functionality, it serves as a small reminder of Iwata’s legacy and accomplishments.
Enough cannot be written about how important Satoru Iwata was to the game industry. Personally, I think an Amiibo figure would be a wonderful tribute to the man and I hope Nintendo seriously considers it.
