What an utterly unique man as an industry executive. Out of all of the big players, the EAs and Activisions and Microsofts and Square Enixes, Iwata was the man at the top of a titan that most genuinely cared not just about games, and not just about playing games, but about making games. Its not just that he came from a programming background. He was in the business of making games because he genuinely loved the work his company did. That's not something you often get at the very top of the company.
Yep. Someone with a deep background as a gamer, an artist, a programmer, and a businessman. Someone who had such a genuine passion for both Nintendo and gaming as a whole. Someone who exemplified leadership qualities and character. Someone who managed to be such a positive spokesperson for his company.
Iwata made his share of mistakes, and I'm sure he felt he had
a lot of unfinished work before he passed. But thanks to his accomplishments, Nintendo rose above a couple stagnant generations, and developed the buffer to survive the rough waters it now finds itself in. The Wii U/3DS generation is a low point in significant ways, but it's also been amazing to watch Nintendo adapt to its new, troubled position. Throughout, Iwata projected calm and optimism, and lead Nintendo's efforts to make the best of a bad situation while maintaining its identity. It's resulted in a surprisingly robust first party lineup, the rise of Amiibo, some of the most innovative marketing shifts among game publishers, no shortage of excitement for Nintendo's core fanbase, and proof that profitability was still possible in this new context.
He was an amazing man. Such a unique leader. Probably one of the best who has ever graced the gaming industry.