Satoru Iwata’s Pokemon Masterstroke Is Industry Genius. Seven years after his death.
It’s hard to believe that it has been seven years since Satoru Iwata, the gaming legend was killed. His legacy as the former president and CEO at Nintendo is immense. He worked on Super Smash Bros. and. To avoid losing employees, he also halved his pay. His most significant contribution to gaming (for many) was the inclusion in Pokemon Gold and Silver of the Kanto Region.
Game Freak ran into a brick wall while developing the second-generation Pokemon titles. The developers tried to incorporate the Kanto region with the new land of Johto but couldn’t fit it onto the Game Boy cartridge. Iwata intervened personally to ensure that the good things did not go away.
This veteran game designer created new compression tools that allowed Game Freak almost to double the size of the in-game world. Iwata and his fellow developers were amazed by this technological breakthrough, which allowed for adding two more regions.
This masterstroke gave players one of the most excellent features in any Pokemon game. You could even argue that including Kanto in Pokemon GSC was a significant moment in the franchise. It played a major role in the series’ impact on gamers.
Iwata was able to accomplish this impressive feat and all he had to say about the matter is, “I was willing to do whatever I could!”. That sums it all up. Satoru Iwata nearly took the Pokemon franchise to new heights, but he kept his humble side. The hardworking, skilled, and talented human being Satoru Iwata never lost sight of the larger picture. This vision is what helped to make Pokemon the success it is today.
These are just a few of the reasons Iwata is so beloved. They also explain why easter eggs exist in his honour, appearing in games such as The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild, and Pokémon Ultra Sun/Moon. His legacy in the gaming industry was unmatched, making him the most iconic Nintendo CEO…
