There have been recent reports that Satoru Okada, a prominent figure within Nintendo, has retired from the company. Nintendo has now confirmed to us that he has indeed left the company, but that he did so way back in January 2010 — it was certainly a quiet departure.
While Okada-san may not be immediately recognisable for many, he held a hugely influential and important role within the company. He worked closely with Gunpei Yokoi on the original Game Boy, credited as the Director of that development; when Yokoi-san left in the mid'-'90s Nintendo established The Research & Engineering Department to head up development of portable systems. Satoru Okada was the general manager of that department.
Okada-san therefore oversaw development of Nintendo's portable systems, credited as Director on the projects; a vital role considering the continued and reliable success that the company has enjoyed in the portable space. He led the development of the original Game Boy series and served as producer for the Game Boy Advance iteration, but most importantly drove forward the design and production of the Nintendo DS. When you consider how vitally important handheld system sales are to Nintendo's ongoing financial stability, and particularly the phenomenal impact of the DS family of systems, it's clear that Okada-san is due a lot of credit.
The news that he actually departed in early 2010 is perhaps not a surprise, as the 3DS project was led by Kazunori Koshiishi, with the well-known figure Hideki Konno also heavily involved. Okada-san has not been credited with involvement on any portable hardware since the DSi XL in 2009; also of interest, The Research & Engineering Department that he led was eventually merged into the Nintendo Integrated Research & Development department during the company's restructuring in early 2013.
Beyond hardware, Okada-san was involved in some game development in the 8-bit era, in particular, directing classics such as Metroid and Super Mario Land.
Satoru Okada should always be remembered for his important work in leading the teams that brought us many of Nintendo's most iconic portable systems, even if his departure was ultimately rather low-key.
Comments 24
Jeez that is a quiet departure. To find out 4 years later.
There are so many Satorus at Nintendo xD
@BigH88 Indeed, a little weird considering his prominence in the company. All we were told was what I put in the article - he left in early 2010 and hasn't done any work for Nintendo since.
Maybe his quiet departure was to try prevent any concerns over Nintendo's then soon to release 3DS?
Huh, no wonder the original 3DS was so flimsy then.
Look at that, actual journalism, confirming facts, detailing details... rather than just wrongly repeating misreports!
Doesn't Nintendo atleast honor their employees? If Yokoi's death wasn't enough, then what is?
I'm sure he asked to have little to no fuss made about his retirement. Fair enough!
Maybe we knew nothing of it because he secretly joined Apple and made the iPad...
Thank you for your work at such an amazing company! Relax in piece!
So this is why the 3DS' top screen gets scratched. And the paint peels. And general build shoddiness.
Wonder why he left...
Ah, so the new department that has combined the console and portable efforts into one organization is called: Nintendo Integrated Research & Development:
NIRD
@FragRed
I'd say that's as good a reason as any. Makes sense he'd retire after the work had transitioned but you don't want to make a big deal about how a key player in the success of the DS has left right as you are releasing the unproven 3DS. A wise move.
Hopefully he retired happily and honorably. Thanks for all you did Satoru Okada!
It took four years for anyone to realize he was gone. It's okay. He doesn't mind. Really. It doesn't bother him.
Ok?
The guy who made two of the most amazing Nintendo handheld lines left? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well,... uh... oh, that's... that's a very quiet departure. By the article title on the main page, I thought it was gonna say he passed.
Hmm .. maybe he already completed his quest in his life , such as supporting and making original designs , therefore he had done a very remarkable job
I know this is a little late but .." We salute you Sir Satoru Okada"
The delay in announcement may have something to do with Nintendo's confidentiality agreement it has with it's staff.
This guy probably knew loads of Nintendo secrets about what it was working on. If they had announced it on the day with fanfare, he would be hounded by all sorts of people and press to reveal those secrets.
I hope his succesor creates a HD resolution 3DS XXL.
That's probably why the designs have gone downhill. I mean: The 3DS looks very nice, but is also very square. It doesn't feel as good in your hands as the original DS, even if the original DS wasn't a beauty. But the 3DS also has not that good shoulder-buttons, and a rim that makes a stain on the upper-screen. Its not the best design.
@AVahne Original 3DS flimsy? I got mine on launch day and have played it daily ever since. This thing is as solid as a brick out-house. Say what you will about the design/aesthetics of it, that's totally subjective, but for me the build quality isn't in question. Then again, I've always taken good care of all my stuff, and try not to beat it to hell.
@MC808
Mine (late 2011) hasn't broken, other than the circle pad tearing up (supa-glued it back on) and the plastic covering peeling off the (terrible) d-pad, and I've dropped it several times. However, I've been able to squeeze it with the plastic actually giving a little. That hasn't happened before with any of my other portables, and that scares me. It's like the plastic is too thin.
@AVahne That would concern me as well.
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