Satoru Iwata

Satoru Iwata
Satoru Iwata
Born	December 6, 1959 Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Died	July 11, 2015 (age 55)
First game	Super Billiards

Satoru Iwata ^{(JPJapanese: 岩田聡)} (December 6, 1959 - July 11th, 2015) was the 4th president of Nintendo from 2002 until his death in 2015.

Biography

While studying computer science at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Iwata was one of several unpaid interns at Commodore Japan, assisting the subsidiary's general manager with technical and software development tasks. Upon graduation, he joined HAL as a programmer and helped create major games such as Kirby's Dream Land. In 1993, Satoru was promoted as the president of HAL Laboratory. On April 24, 2013, Iwata announced at the year end shareholders meeting that he was taking the role of CEO of Nintendo of America, alongside his duties and Global President. Former NoA CEO Tatsumi Kimishima was given the roll of Nintendo Corporate Ltd. Managing Director. Satoru Iwata also hosted a set of interviews called Iwata Asks. Iwata also hosted most of the Nintendo Direct.

In July of 2015, Iwata died due to a bile duct growth. The news was reported in a statement from Nintendo of Japan.

Games

Video game	System	Role	Other info
Star Battle	Commodore Vic-20	Creator	Based on Galaxian, which Commodore had the license to, but only for Japan. It was taken off the market because of this, so it's a little tough to find.
Super Billiards	MSX	Creator	Satoru Iwata's role is unclear in this game. In the credits it simply says "by Satoru Iwata" and the two other men who were involved.
Rollerball	Nintendo Entertainment System	Producer	Satoru Iwata's first game as a producer.
Hole in One Professional	NES	Programmer	Was referred to as "S. Iwata".
Air Fortress	NES	Producer, technical adviser.
Othello	NES	Producer	Referred to as "S. Iwata".
Eggerland: Meikyuu no Fukkatsu	NES	Producer	Referred to as "S. Iwata".
Uchûkeibitai SDF	NES	Technical advisor
New Ghostbusters II	NES	Technical supervisor
NES Open Tournament Golf	NES	Main programmer	Iwata's first Nintendo game.
NCAA Basketball	Super Nintendo Entertainment System	Additional programming	This title was developed in America.
Arcana	SNES	Technical advisor
Vegas Stakes	SNES	Executive producer	Vegas Stakes came out after Iwata became president of HAl, explaining why this is the first game where he is the executive producer.
Kirby's Adventure	NES	Producer
Alcahest	SNES	Executive producer	Game published by Square.
Kirby's Dream Course	SNES	Producer
Earthbound	SNES	Programming director, programmer, co-producer
Adventures of Lolo	Game Boy	Executive producer
Kirby's Dream Land 2	Game Boy	Producer
Pokémon Red and Blue	Game Boy	Special thanks (U.S. version)
Kirby Super Star	SNES	Producer
Kirby's Dream Land 3	SNES	Chief producer
Kirby's Star Stacker	Game Boy	Chief producer
Super Smash Bros.	Nintendo 64	Producer
Pokémon Stadium	Nintendo 64	Producer	Coded the battle program in a week
Pokémon Snap	Nintendo 64	Producer
Pokémon Gold and Silver	Game Boy	Special thanks (US version)	Created the compression tools that allowed them to fit in Kanto
Pokémon Stadium 2	Nintendo 64	Producer
Pokémon Puzzle League	Nintendo 64	Special thanks
Pokémon Crystal	Game Boy Color	Producer
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble'	Game Boy Color	Special thanks
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards	Nintendo 64	Supervisor
Super Smash Bros. Melee	GameCube	Special thanks
Machop at Work	e-Reader	Executive producer	This is interestingly the first game where Satoru Iwata is executive producer as the president of Nintendo.
Kingler's Day	e-Reader	Executive producer
Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!	Game Boy Color	Executive producer	Satoru Iwata was the executive producer of this game along with his predecessor Hiroshi Yamauchi.
Animal Crossing	GameCube	Executive producer
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Super Mario Sunshine	GameCube	Executive producer
Star Fox Adventures	GameCube	Executive producer
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Metroid Prime	GameCube	Executive producer
Metroid Fusion	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Mario Party 4	GameCube	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker	GameCube	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Ice Climber-e	e-Reader	Executive producer
Game & Watch Gallery 4	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem	GameCube	Executive producer
Doshin the Giant	GameCube	Executive producer
Balloon Fight-e	e-Reader	Executive producer
Wario World	GameCube	Executive producer
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!	GameCube	Executive producer
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Pokémon Colosseum	GameCube	Executive producer
Pokémon Channel	GameCube	Executive producer
Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Party-e	e-Reader	Executive producer
Mario Party 5	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Mario Kart: Double Dash‼	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour	GameCube	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition	GameCube	Executive producer
Kirby Air Ride	GameCube	Executive producer
Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
GiFTPiA	GameCube	Executive producer
F-Zero GX	GameCube	Executive producer
F-Zero: GP Legend	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Donkey Kong Country	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Densetsu no Starfy 2	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
1080° Avalanche	GameCube	Executive producer
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
WarioWare Touched!	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
WarioWare Twisted!	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Super Mario 64 DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Ridge Racer DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Polarium	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Pokémon Emerald	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Pokémon Dash	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pikmin 2	GameCube	Executive producer
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door	GameCube	Executive producer
Metroid: Zero Mission	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario vs. Donkey Kong	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Mario Power Tennis	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Pinball Land	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Mario Party 6	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Golf: Advance Tour	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures	GameCube	Executive producer
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat	GameCube	Executive producer
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Densetsu no Starfy 3	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Daigasso! Band Brothers	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Custom Robo	GameCube	Executive producer
Yoshi Touch & Go	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Trace Memory	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Super Princess Peach	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Super Mario Strikers	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Kart DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario Party 7	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Party Advance	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Mario Superstar Baseball	GameCube	Executive producer
Mario Tennis: Power Tour	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Metroid Prime Pinball	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Nintendogs	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Pokémon Trozei!	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	GameCube	Executive producer
Polarium Advance	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Star Fox Assault	GameCube	Executive producer
Advance Wars: Dual Strike	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Animal Crossing: Wild World	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Battalion Wars	GameCube	Executive producer
Big Brain Academy	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Chibi-Robo!: Plug Into Adventure!	GameCube	Executive producer
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix	GameCube	Executive producer
DK: King of Swing	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Drill Dozer	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Dr. Mario & Puzzle League	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Electroplankton	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance	GameCube	Executive producer
Geist	GameCube	Executive producer
Jump Super Stars	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Kirby Canvas Curse	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Baten Kaitos Origins	GameCube	Executive producer
bit Generations: Boundish	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
bit Generations: Coloris	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
bit Generations: Dialhex	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Custom Robo Arena	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
bit Generations: Digidrive	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
bit Generations: Dotstream	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Elite Beat Agents	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Excite Truck	Wii	Executive producer
Freshly-Picked Tingle Rosy Rupeeland	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Jump Ultimate Stars	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Kirby: Squeak Squad	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess	GameCube, Wii	Executive producer
Magical Starsign	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Magnetica	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Metroid Prime Hunters	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mother 3	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
New Super Mario Bros.	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Odama	GameCube	Executive producer
bit Generations: Orbital	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon Ranger	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Rhythm Tengoku	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
bit Generations: Soundvoyager	Game Boy Advance	Executive producer
Star Fox Command	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Tetris DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
WarioWare: Smooth Moves	Wii	Executive producer
Wii Play	Wii	Executive producer
Wii Sports	Wii	Executive producer
Yoshi's Island DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree	Wii	Executive producer
Battalion Wars 2	Wii	Executive producer
Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
DK: Jungle Climber	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Endless Ocean	Wii	Executive producer
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn	Wii	Executive producer
Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Hotel Dusk: Room 215	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario Party 8	Wii	Executive producer
Mario Party DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games	Wii, Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario Strikers Charged	Wii	Executive producer
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption	Wii	Executive producer
My Word Coach	Nintendo DS	Thanks
Picross DS	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Planet Puzzle League	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Super Mario Galaxy	Wii	Executive producer
Super Paper Mario	Wii	Executive producer
Wario: Master of Disguise	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Wii Fit	Wii	Executive producer
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Animal Crossing: City Folk	Wii	Executive producer
CrossworDS	Nintendo DS]	Executive producer
Kirby Super Star Ultra	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
The Legendary Starfy	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Major League Baseball 2K8: Fantasy All-Stars	Nintendo DS	Special thanks
Mario Kart Wii	Wii	Executive producer
Mario Super Sluggers	Wii	Executive producer
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
New Play Control! Pikmin	Wii	Executive producer
Pokémon Platinum	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Soma Bringer	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Super Smash Bros. Brawl	Wii	Executive producer
Wario Land: Shake It!	Wii	Executive producer
Another Code: R - A Journey Into Lost Memories	Wii	Executive producer
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!	DSiWare	Executive producer
New Super Mario Bros. Wii	Wii	Executive producer
Paper Airplane Chase	DSiWare	Executive producer
3D Picross	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver	Nintendo DS	Executive producer
Punch-Out!!	Wii	Executive producer
Wii Sports Resort	Wii	Executive producer
Endless Ocean: Blue World	Wii	Executive producer
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor	Wii	Executive producer
Super Mario Galaxy 2	Wii	Executive producer
Art Style: Light Trax	WiiWare	Executive Producer
X-Scape	DSiWare	Executive Producer
Line Attack Heroes	WiiWare	Executive Producer
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon	Nintendo DS	Executive Producer
Fire Emblem: Shin Monshō no Nazo ~Hikari to Kage no Eiyū~	Nintendo DS	Executive Producer
Metroid: Other M	Wii	Executive Producer
Kirby's Epic Yarn	Wii	Executive Producer
Art Academy	Nintendo DS	Executive Producer
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!	Nintendo DS	Executive Producer
Donkey Kong Country Returns	Wii	Executive Producer
Fluidity	WiiWare	Executive Producer
Mario Sports Mix	Wii	Executive Producer
Pilotwings Resort	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Nintendogs + Cats	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Steel Diver	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Pokedex 3D	eShop	Executive Producer
Wii Play: Motion	Wii	Executive Producer
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Star Fox 64 3D	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition	DSiWare	Executive Producer
Flower and Animal 3D Encyclopedia	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Kirby's Return to Dream Land	Wii	Executive Producer
Pokemon Rumble Blast	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive!	eShop	Executive Producer
Super Mario 3D Land	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Super Fossil Fighters	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games	Wii /Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword	Wii	Executive Producer
Mario Kart 7	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Pushmo	eShop	Executive Producer
Kiki Trick	Wii	Executive Producer
Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword	eShop	Executive Producer
Rhythm Heaven Fever	Wii	Executive Producer
Dillon's Rolling Western	eShop	Executive Producer
Mario Party 9	Wii	Executive Producer
Kid Icarus: Uprising	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Xenoblade Chronicles	Wii	Executive Producer
Pandora's Tower	Wii	Executive Producer
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Mario Tennis Open	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Fatal Frame 2: Deep Crimson Butterflies	Wii	Executive Producer
Culdcept	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Pocket Football League Calciobit	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Pokedex 3D Pro	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
New Super Mario Bros. 2	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
The Last Story	Wii	Executive Producer
Kirby's Dream Collection	Wii	Executive Producer
Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone!	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Crosswords Plus	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Pokemon: Black 2 and White 2	Nintendo DS	Executive Producer
Style Savvy: Trendsetters	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive!	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Paper Mario: Sticker Star	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Nintendo Land	Wii U	Executive Producer
New Super Mario Bros. U	Wii U	Executive Producer
SiNG Party	Wii U	Executive Producer
Crashmo	eShop	Executive Producer
Tokyo Crash Mobs	eShop	Executive Producer
Fire Emblem: Awakening	Nintendo 3DS	Executive Producer
Xenoblade Chronicles X	Wii U	Executive Producer

Trivia

• For Pokémon Stadium, Iwata analyzed the original Pokemon games and developed the battle code in about a week without reference documents.
• For Pokémon Gold & Silver, Iwata generated compression tools that enabled the team to put Kanto in the game.
• For Super Smash Bros. Melee, while already being the General Manager of Corporate Planning at Nintendo, he spent the last couple weeks debugging the game so it would make it out to launch.
• Iwata did the localization programming for Dragon Warrior

Judging by this picture, Iwata was originally to star in some kind of dancing game along with Olimar and Villager (although the screenshot may be fake).