The Escapist honors Gunpei Yokoi

Posted Mar 7, 2007 at 1:26AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Wii, Nintendo DS Tags: Famicom, Gunpei Yokoi, Koji Kondo, Perrin Kaplan, Super Mario

Gunpei Yokoi of the Game Boy fame - Image 1

Whenever the name "Nintendo" is heard, it calls to mind such big-time names as Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma and Koji Kondo, Reggie Fils-Aime and Perrin Kaplan. But few even remember Gunpei Yokoi, who deserves as much reverence as the above named superstars.

The Escapist pays tribute to the achievements of Gunpei Yokoi outside of the myth that he is but a Nintendo creation. Gunpei Yokoi is credited for the invention of the D-Pad, Game and Watch, R.O.B., Game Boy, Virtual Boy, a dozen or so children's toys and the creation of Super Mario, Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus and Metroid franchises.

Yokoi's childhood remains untold. His discovery came in 1970 when, working as a janitor for Nintendo, Nintendo's president at that time noticed Yokoi's creation of an extending hand toy. The company marketed this device, which quickly sold more than a million units, saved the company and had Yokoi promoted as researcher.

Yokoi went on to produce other hits for the company, such as the Game and Watch, the Famicom Robot and, working with young Miyamoto at that time, Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers. In 1993, he developed Virtual Boy, a gadget which did not sell. Yokoi was personally crushed by the flop of Virtual Boy and finally resigned from Nintendo.

Yokoi did try to put up his own company and a fresh start for himself, but an accident in 1997 ended his life at the age of 56. The Escapist Magazine honors him ten years after the year of his death, saying:

Gunpei is nothing short of an inspiration. He is proof that the best legacy is not a name place in the history books, but rather the gift of joy, be it to one person or 100 million people around the world.

Via The Escapist Magazine

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The Escapist honors Gunpei Yokoi

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