There is nothing I could say that others haven't said already, and even that couldn't do justice to Mr. Iwata.
For us in particular, us here, us gamers, we beg and plead and cry out for corporate heads, the businessmen up top, to hear us, to treat us fairly, to respect us, to value us... and 99% of the time, they never do. They don't care about us, about their games... they're just a means to an end, a means to make money. We're so used to be taken advantage of, exploited, and disrespected time and time again by powerful people in charge of the things we all love and adore.
... But not Iwata.
He loved games. He loved making games. He loved promoting games. He loved gamers. Games weren't a means to an end; games were everything. They brought everyone - of all ages, all races, all genders - joy, laughter, and pure fun. That's what he was about, and took pride in it.
Through the highs and the lows, he cared deeply. He wasn't some business suit up top telling others what to do; he was in the trenches of gaming, always pushing, always innovating. He interviewed other developers to share their secrets and their creativity. He was always cheerful, even when it had to hurt, and he was always humble...
... My last memory of Iwata was him publicly apologizing for letting anyone down during Nintendo Direct E3 2015... That is my final, tragic memory of him.
... But it's also a testament to him. Because in an age where Randy Pitchford openly ridicules and dismisses those that complained about Aliens: Colonial Marines, where Bobby Kotick once claimed he sought to remove the fun in game making, where corporate giants talk up games-as-a-service, Mr. Iwata forever remained humble, sincere, and did his best to actually serve us.
We lost a gaming pioneer. The whole industry, from top to bottom, lost a man who helped shape the whole entire gaming landscape.
Nothing I wrote could do him justice. He'll be sorely missed... but because of his love and passion for gaming and gamers, he shall never, ever be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Mr. Iwata. We'll see you again one day over that Rainbow Road.
