hiroshi-yamauchi
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Nintendo's contrarian streak saved us from a monstrous Pikachu
Pikachu now stands as the world's most famous electric rat, but had Nintendo been more inclined to accept outside advice, the little yellow cash cow may have been less "cuddly" and more "hideously terrifying." During the initial development of Pokemon, the company was repeatedly warned away from the series' now-trademark adorable aesthetic, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. "This cute yellow thing is not a monster, everyone told us," Iwata recalled. Concept art of a muscular, more vicious Pikachu was drafted, but Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo at the time, refused to change the initial design to make the creature a more traditional (pocket) monster. "When you adapt too much, you lose what's unique about you," noted Iwata. Despite his anecdote about the power of sticking to one's guns, Iwata told the Wall Street Journal that Nintendo has to make more of an effort to cater to stereotypically Western tastes if it hopes to survive the company's current dire financial straits. "We need to work even more closely with the U.S. team," Iwata said, noting that "[i]t's all about balance." [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Nintendo visionary Hiroshi Yamauchi passes at 85
Former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi, credited for turning Nintendo from a playing card company into... well, Nintendo, has died at the age of 85. Yamauchi was president of the company from 1949 until 2002, holding an executive advisory role until his passing. Yamauchi was responsible for turning Nintendo into the video game company it is today with the launch of the Famicom (NES) in 1983, overseeing every console until the GameCube and putting legit gaming devices in portable form with the Game Boy. Yamauchi made headlines during the height of the Wii for being Japan's richest man, with an estimated net worth of $7.8 billion. Although that's declined considerably in recent years, he remained the company's largest shareholder.
Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man who built Nintendo, dies aged 85
Hiroshi Yamauchi was Nintendo's third and arguably most important president. When he took the reins from his grandfather in 1949, the Japanese company specialized in the manufacture of playing cards for its home market -- first Japanese-style cards and then, under Yamauchi's guidance, Western-style ones too. By the time he handed over control to Satoru Iwata 53 years later, he'd overseen the creation of all Nintendo's game consoles up to the GameCube and become one of Japan's richest men -- in other words, not a bad innings for a man who passed away today at the ripe old age of 85.
Hiroshi Yamauchi rolling in gold coins
After coming third last year, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi is now the richest man in Japan, according to Forbes. Current estimates place Yamauchi's net worth at $7.8 billion, a figure that would see the 80-year-old place 40th in the equivalent U.S. list, and 149th in the world. You would think he'd have bought some new glasses by now.It's pretty obvious that Nintendo's recent success with the Wii and DS have inflated Yamauchi's fortune massively; though he left the company in May 2002, Yamauchi retained stock in Nintendo, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1889. "... Yamauchi's net worth soared $3 billion in the past year and has tripled since 2006, thanks mostly to booming sales of the Wii gaming device," notes Forbes."It's truly incredible," added Chris Greenhough, seventh richest blogger on the Wii Fanboy team.
Hiroshi Yamauchi is the richest man in Japan
Forbes has released their list of the 40 richest people in Japan, and a familiar name is at the top: Nintendo's former president (and current guy who receives a lot of money), Hiroshi Yamauchi. Yamauchi still owns a bunch of stock in Nintendo (the company founded by his great grandfather), and also probably retains the right to Satoru Iwata's lunch money whenever he sees Iwata in the hallway. You don't even need to make any sly references to the rumors of Yakuza connections to explain Yamauchi's remarkable $7.8 billion worth. The sales of the Wii and (especially) the DS more than adequately explain how Yamauchi could have become so wealthy. This seems like a pretty good indicator of Nintendo's success.
Ex-Nintendo chairman now Japan's third wealthiest
Hiroshi Yamauchi, former chairman of Nintendo's board of directors and the company's president prior to Satoru Iwata, is now the third wealthiest person in Japan, according to Forbes. Yamauchi reportedly has a net worth of $4.8 billion.On Forbes' list of the 40 richest Japanese, Yamauchi is noted for jumping up 11 spots, making him the list's biggest gainer. The reason cited for Yamauchi's increased worth is his shares in Nintendo; the company's stock has reportedly tripled in value since January 2006, thanks to the success of Nintendo DS and Wii.We know, you're expecting us to throw up a picture of Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto holding a DS that prints money. But we've got self control ... we'll just link to an article that already has the image instead.
