GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata

I cried a lot today. I didn't think I would cry at all. Today I came to realize just how deeply my life is connected to Nintendo, and it's on a much deeper level than I ever thought.

Yesterday will be one of those days that forever lives on in my mind. Sadly, it's not for a good reason. As you all well know, we learned late yesterday that Mr. Iwata passed away due to health issues. We all knew he was struggling with his health during the year, but last we heard, things were certainly looking up. He had returned to a more regular work schedule and seemed to be looking better. The worries of his health were just fading away as things took a turn for the absolute worst. Yesterday we lost one of the gaming world's most important figures.

There are so, so many reasons why the entire gaming industry has come together to mourn Mr. Iwata's passing. Nintendo is a company that loves strive for new and unique ideas. They love to avoid the norm and carve their own path. They're not afraid to show who they are, nor are they worried about what others will think. They set out to create smiles and enjoy games as a medium that brings people together. Mr. Iwata was the absolute embodiment of that idea.

Nintendo is chock-full of employees that don't fit the standard image. They live and breathe the words they create. Mr. Iwata was absolutely no different. He really captured the hearts of Nintendo fans by putting on many playful presentations via Nintendo Direct. He wore all sorts of costumes to share new games with us. He had a faux fight with Reggie Fils-Aime to promote Smash Bros.. He just recently became a Jim Henson muppet to give us a unique take on E3. He was kind and caring in every presentation. He was humble and seemed so approachable. You could see his passion for Nintendo and games in general. He was, without a doubt, not your standard company president. He was a true Nintendo fan and reveled in it.

Mr. Iwata truly was the physical representation of what Nintendo is. He was the beating heart of the company. There's no denying that other employees like Shigeru Miyamoto are hugely important as well, but Mr. Iwata was the one piloting the ship. He went from game designer to company president and helped steer Nintendo to one of their most successful periods ever. He was not afraid to head into uncharted territory and continue the core values of Nintendo. Nintendo always strives to try new things and entertain gamers in ways they never thought of. That focus was unwavering, no matter what the gaming world was saying. Be different...be fearless...be courageous...strive to make people smile. Iwata stayed true to that through successes and failures, realizing just how important that mantra is. Nintendo is a very different company compared to the others out there, and Iwata was truly proud of that.

That's why Iwata's passing hit me so hard. I could have never imagined that I would cry at the passing of a Nintendo employee. I have certainly thought about it and how I would react. I imagined myself sad and depressed, but not moved to tears. Iwata's passing proved that wrong. I'm not ashamed to admit that I teared up multiple times during the day. Looking at all the tributes from the game industry, seeing all the wonderful comments people made. It's a lovely showing of kindness and appreciation, but all because of a truly sad event. Mr. Iwata WAS Nintendo...and losing him feels like part of Nintendo itself died. Such a wonderful man with equally wonderful values...and that goes for both inside and out of work.

Mr. Iwata is directly responsible for how I've made my living over the last 10 years. Without the work he did on games, without the time he spent running Nintendo, I would have never had the passion I did. From game dev to president, he was always giving me reasons to fall in love with Nintendo. He helped birth my passion that has far surpassed being a fan. Nintendo is a huge, HUGE part of my life. I love the games, I love the fans, I love all the people that create this content. I love the amazing community that has surrounded Nintendo with wonderful people that love to have fun. It's a sense of whimsy that I don't feel from anything else. That passion pushed me to start GoNintendo, which has been a major part of my life for 10+ years. Running GoNintendo has changed my life in all sorts of wonderful ways, but without Iwata's passion for Nintendo the company, I may have taken a completely different path. I always was grateful for what he had done, but now I see all that on a completely different level.

I never had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Iwata. I had met him a few times...exchanged a few quick words with him and that was it. As a Nintendo fan, those moments will forever stick with me. I went from being a fan to being in the same room with Nintendo's president. It's a mind-boggling experience that brings a huge smile to my face every single time I remember it. Even just exchanging a few words with the man himself made it very easy to see his gentle nature and deep-running passion. I'll never feel worthy of having those moments, but now they'll take on a completely different meaning for me.

I cried today for Mr. Iwata's passing. He's given millions and millions of people amazing memories and years' worth of smiles. He's created passion in the lives of so many. He did so many wonderful things for the world of gaming, but sadly we won't have anymore chances to share our appreciation with him. We can remember the man for how great he was and sing the praises of his accomplishments for years to come. He had a magical air about him and a sense of wonder that is pretty much unmatched. The entire world lost an unbelievable human being today. Some man not know the man's name or even know that he's passed, but somewhere throughout their lives, they received a smile that Iwata helped make possible. I weep for the man that created these magical experiences and was taken to us far too early and far too cruelly.

Mr. Iwata, thank you so much for all the work you put in at Nintendo. Thank you for making me proud of being a Nintendo fan. Thank you for playing a huge part in creating a passion inside me. That passion has given me wonderful memories, fantastic friends and even a way to make a living. Your work and dedication has found its way into so many avenues of my life. I wouldn't have had a fraction of the joy I've experienced without your contributions to entertainment. I will forever remember that and you as well. Wherever you are, I hope you know that you've touched millions upon millions of lives in truly important ways.

I wept for Mr. Iwata today. The world lost a truly good one today. Thank you for dedicating your life to making people smile. While myself and others may cry for you today, we do so because of the sheer joy you've given us. May you rest in peace, sir.