“He was known as ‘the godfather of the console’, building the Japanese firm Nintendo from a playing cards manufacturer into one of the world’s most powerful computer games businesses. Now the gaming industry is paying tribute to the company’s former president, Hiroshi Yamauchi, who died on Thursday at 85. For a generation of gamers, Yamauchi’s Nintendo represented a golden era of mainstream gaming, dominated by classic titles like Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda and Metroid. A 1990 survey found the company’s mascot Mario, a moustachioed Italian plumber, was more recognisable to American children than Mickey Mouse.”
formerly http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/19/video-game-pioneer-and-former-nintendo-head-hiroshi-yamauchi-dies-at-85/
