Entrepreneurs / Investors

70 Memorable Quotes by Satoru Iwata (NINTENDO)

December 2, 2023December 2, 2023

Top 10 Most Famous Satoru Iwata Quotes (BEST)

On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer. — On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.

Video games are meant to be just one thing. Fun. Fun for everyone!

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For young players, classic games are brand new. For older players, they bring back memories and make you feel good.

Entertainment is there to improve people's quality of life. After your basic needs, there's entertainment. — Entertainment is there to improve people’s quality of life. After your basic needs, there’s entertainment.

We want to create a kind of cycle where casual gamers are gradually growing up to become passionate players. — We want to create a kind of cycle where casual gamers are gradually growing up to become passionate players.

Although many believe that technology automatically enables more realistic expression, I believe that is just not correct.

We are trying to capture the widest possible audience, all around the world.

No part of my experience has turned out to be a waste of time. — No part of my experience has turned out to be a waste of time.

If we stay in one place, we will become outdated.

We believe we know what makes a good game better than anyone else. — We believe we know what makes a good game better than anyone else.

19 Thought-Provoking Satoru Iwata Quotes

“Some argue that our success is short-lived and temporary. So, we now need to make efforts to constantly expand the player base by offering services and titles that can appeal, not only to those who have never played games, but also to those who play them hard.”
Satoru Iwata

Even a small amount of power can have a great effect when concentrated on a certain area.

Please understand, I am not trying to say technology is unimportant. But if we are just focusing on technology, we will not succeed. — Please understand, I am not trying to say technology is unimportant. But if we are just focusing on technology, we will not succeed.

“I believe that if we don’t make moves to get people who don’t play games to understand them, then the position of video games in society will never improve. Society’s image of games will remain largely negative, including that stuff about playing games all the time badly damaging you or rotting your brain or whatever.”
Satoru Iwata

Only a handful of characters can last for one, two, or three decades.

If we continue down the same path as we have in the past, people may become tired of gaming.

“Apart from “What made you join the company,” there’s another question I like to ask: “Out of all the work you’ve done so far, what was the most interesting thing? And what was the most painful?” This is all about them, too—making it easy to respond, and above all giving you a sense of who they are.”
Satoru Iwata

Engineering is not quite as important as imagination. — Engineering is not quite as important as imagination.

Sometimes, ideas are like good wine in that they just need time.

“The more frustrated someone is, the more important it becomes to listen to them. Unless you make a point of this, anything you try to say goes in one ear and out the other. If you interrupt them midsentence and say, “It’s more like this,” it’s only natural for them to think, “This person has absolutely no clue what I’m saying.”
Satoru Iwata

The term 'innovative' or 'innovation' is often vague or ambiguous. But in our definition, innovation means to make something which people think impossible possible. — The term ‘innovative’ or ‘innovation’ is often vague or ambiguous. But in our definition, innovation means to make something which people think impossible possible.

Trust your passion. Believe in your dream. — Trust your passion. Believe in your dream.

“And so, when the whole group can earn praise without working insanely hard, things get better and better on their own, creating a virtuous cycle where the work only gets stronger.”
Satoru Iwata

The digital world is one that has sort of a unique characteristic, where it's a place in which it's very easy for the value of content to fall. — The digital world is one that has sort of a unique characteristic, where it’s a place in which it’s very easy for the value of content to fall.

Thinking differently and holding strongly to your strategy can disrupt an entire industry, and in a good way.

I think inside every adult is the heart of a child. We convince ourselves that we have to act more like adults.

I'm about making games, and I'm about playing games. Last night I played Super Mario bros. That's my game. — I’m about making games, and I’m about playing games. Last night I played Super Mario bros. That’s my game.

I think distance has a way of letting facts obscure a situation. Those close at hand, however, have access to a much rawer set of emotions.

When people receive feedback about what they’ve done, they feel more motivated the next time around.

6 Wise Satoru Iwata Quotes on Game Development

“We consider ourselves, above all else, as a gaming company. We believe other companies (in the console marketplace) see themselves primarily as technology companies.”
Satoru Iwata

I sincerely doubt employees who fear they may be laid will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world.

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Of course, it is valuable to devise an offshoot of a current idea. But it is invaluable to come up with a brand-new idea of what a game can be.

“In order to expand the gaming population, it is taken for granted that we need to offer games to satisfy veteran gamers. At the same time, I believe that we need to make a new proposal, so that those who do not play games can say, ‘I can do it’ and, ‘I want to touch it.’.”
Satoru Iwata

No one else can match the environment we're creating for expanding the game experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic. — No one else can match the environment we’re creating for expanding the game experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic.

The job of a programmer is to produce good work.

9 Satoru Iwata Quotes about Nintendo

“If you do the same thing as others, it will wear you out. Nintendo is not good at competing so we always have to challenge the status quo by making something new, rather than competing in an existing market.”
Satoru Iwata

I've never once been embarrassed that children have supported Nintendo. I'm proud of it. That's because children judge products based on instinct. — I’ve never once been embarrassed that children have supported Nintendo. I’m proud of it. That’s because children judge products based on instinct.

If you want our world-known names, you can't have them unless you own the Nintendo machine. — If you want our world-known names, you can’t have them unless you own the Nintendo machine.

“We are producing something people can live without. But we need to keep thinking what would make our products a priority purchase even if they are not a necessity. If we stop doing that, no matter how successful Nintendo is at the moment, things will start going wrong in no time.”
Satoru Iwata

Small developers can compete on creativity not on scale or staff size. Nintendo is willing to help bring these ideas to life.

Nintendo's mission is to try to make people happy, to try to make people smile. — Nintendo’s mission is to try to make people happy, to try to make people smile.

“We’ve been thinking very carefully about how can we possibly communicate the real value and the attraction of Nintendo 3DS. The conclusion was that there is no other way than to let as many people as possible to actually see it.”
Satoru Iwata

Nintendo is a company of Kyoto craftsmen, and what we don't want to do is, if we know we can make something better, we don't want to leave that behind. — Nintendo is a company of Kyoto craftsmen, and what we don’t want to do is, if we know we can make something better, we don’t want to leave that behind.

Small developers can compete on creativity, not on the scale or staff size. Nintendo is willing to help to bring these ideas to life.

3 Satoru Iwata Quotes about Players

We do not run from risk. We run to it. We are taking the risk to move beyond the boundaries of the game industry to reach new players and current players. — We do not run from risk. We run to it. We are taking the risk to move beyond the boundaries of the game industry to reach new players and current players.

Our mission is to revive the gaming industry by increasing our user base.

Needless to say, nobody is born an avid gamer.

3 Satoru Iwata Quotes about Entertainment

“The entire Nintendo group will carry on the spirit of Mr. Yamauchi by honoring, in our approach to entertainment, the sense of value he has taught us – that there is merit in doing what is different – and at the same time, by changing Nintendo in accordance with changing times.”
Satoru Iwata

One thing about the entertainment industry - it's not something that people need to survive. — One thing about the entertainment industry – it’s not something that people need to survive.

“Like any other entertainment medium, we must create an emotional response in order to succeed. Laughter, fear, joy, affection, surprise, and – most of all – accomplishment. In the end, triggering these feelings from our players is the true judgment of our work. This is the bottom line measurement of success.”
Satoru Iwata

6 Satoru Iwata Quotes about Customers

“At the moment, most customers do not wish to pay the extra money for connection to the Internet, and for some customers, connection procedures to the Internet are still not easy.”
Satoru Iwata

Customers do not want online games.

People will buy hardware just to buy a single game if the game is really compelling.

“Consumers will purchase high quality products even if they are expensive, or in other words, even if there are slightly reasonable discount offers, consumers will not purchase products unless they truly understand and are satisfied with the quality. Also, product appeal must be properly communicated to consumers, but advertisements that are pushed on consumers are gradually losing their effect, and we have to take the approach that encourages consumers to retrieve information at their own will.”
Satoru Iwata

If you maintain the status quo, you wind up fighting for survival, and gradually your fan base disappears. That’s the one direction I’m always trying to avoid.

“At the moment, most customers do not wish to pay the extra money for connection to the Internet, and for some customers, connection procedures to the Internet are still not easy.”
Satoru Iwata

3 Satoru Iwata Quotes on Businesses

“In our business, too often people with a fresh idea don’t have a chance. I believe if Tetris were presented today, here is what the producer would be told: Go back give me more levels give me better graphics give me cinematics and you’re probably going to need a movie license to sell that idea to the public.”
Satoru Iwata

Having strong momentum is very important for game platform businesses. Once momentum is lost, great power is needed to change that trend. — Having strong momentum is very important for game platform businesses. Once momentum is lost, great power is needed to change that trend.

“The profitable part of the online business is very likely several years away. Entering the business because it’s the hot topic of the day doesn’t make a profitable business nor satisfied customers. That’s why it will be a part of Nintendo’s strategy, not the mainstay, as other companies are attempting to do. There still are too many barriers for any company to greatly depend on it.”
Satoru Iwata

5 Satoru Iwata Quotes on Game Controllers

“Today, if you don’t understand the controller, you’re not able to enjoy video games. We expect the Revolution controller to become the standard in video game controls.”
Satoru Iwata

Perhaps those who have quit gaming or have never played games look at the game controller and think it's too difficult. — Perhaps those who have quit gaming or have never played games look at the game controller and think it’s too difficult.

“In order to realize the goal of creating a new starting line that anyone can instinctively understand we have come up with a design that differs greatly from any of today’s controllers. We have also made bold innovations in play style as well.”
Satoru Iwata

“I’ve never been able to control a first-person shooter, but as soon as I used the Revolution controller, I found it very easy to control the game. So, I think that’s a genre that’s particularly well suited for the controller.”
Satoru Iwata

“Throughout the history of game development, the game control mechanism has become more and more sophisticated. Perhaps those who have quit gaming or who have never played games look at the game controller and think it’s too difficult to play, even before they dare to touch it.”
Satoru Iwata

3 Satoru Iwata Quotes about Wii

“Except for its backward compatibility with existing Wii software and accessories, we have so far failed to make propositions worthy of Wii U’s position as a successor to the Wii system.”
Satoru Iwata

In the time period before Wii was called Wii and we still referred to it as Revolution, no one thought it was going to succeed.

Regardless of age, gender, or game experience, anyone can understand Wii.

3 Satoru Iwata Quotes That Will Make You Think

“What’s interesting about the ‘Smash Bros.’ games, is that the ‘Smash Bros.’ games do not represent the Nintendo characters fighting against one another: they actually represent toys of Nintendo characters getting into an imaginary battle amongst themselves.”
Satoru Iwata

As human beings, unless we have someone to compliment our work and enjoy what we’ve created, we’re not apt to go out on a limb.

“Decision-making means gathering and analyzing information and managing priorities, and that as you discover your priorities, you should see where they take you as you work through your decisions.”
Satoru Iwata

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(MUST READ) Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s Legendary CEO

Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's Legendary CEO — Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s Legendary CEO

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Memorable Quotes by Satoru Iwata (NINTENDO) - Gracious Quotes

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