It has been revealed that NES and SNES lead architect Masayuki Uemura passed away on December 6th at the age of 78.
The Famicom – the system that would become the NES in the west – was the brainchild of Uemura, who joined Nintendo as an engineer from Sharp in 1972 at a time when it was tentatively exploring the possibilities of electronic entertainment. One of his first roles was to help with Nintendo's range of location-based light-gun games.
When Nintendo R&D2 was created, Uemura was placed in charge and he was instrumental in the development of Nintendo's 'Color TV-Game' systems – the company's first tentative foray into the realm of domestic video games. These were very basic gaming systems that had relatively crude built-in titles.
Uemura began work on the Famicom in 1981, following a demand from Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi that he create a device capable of playing arcade games on a TV, but with games that came on interchangeable cartridges. Combined sales of the Famicom and its western counterpart, the NES, total 61.91 million units – 20 million of those were in Japan alone.
R&D2 would not only produce the Famicom but also its equally-beloved successor, the SNES / Super Famicom. He was also involved with the development of the Japan-only Famicom Disk System and Super Famicom Satellaview, as well as the iconic NES Zapper.
It wasn't just hardware that Uemura had a hand in; during his time with the company, he also served as producer on several titles, including Ice Climber, Clu Clu Land and a trilogy of sports titles: Soccer, Baseball and Golf.
Uemura retired from Nintendo in 2004 and became a professor at the Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, and the organisation broke the sad news of his passing today.
Speaking to Nintendo Life in 2020 during a rare visit to the UK, Uemura discussed one of the highlights of his career:
The best time that I remember was when we completed developing [the] Famicom. Back then, we didn’t know if it was going to be popular or not, but the fact that we are able to complete the product was very satisfactory. That was the first mission; to make sure to complete developing the device and I did it, so I was happy.
Speaking on Twitter, Smash Bros. and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai had this to say:
It has been announced that Masayuki Uemura, the creator of the Family Computer, has passed away. I pray for your soul... NES is the game console that I was most influenced by. Without this, it wouldn't be there.
It's no exaggeration to suggest that Nintendo – and the wider world of video gaming – would be very different today had we not benefited from Uemura's immense contributions. Everyone at Nintendo Life would like to extend their heartfelt thoughts to Uemura's friends and family.
[source rcgs.jp]
Comments 63
Thank you for the wonderful memories I had with the NES!
A legend, may he rest in peace.
Till all are one.
Loved the SNES, rest in eternal peace you legend!
Both NES and SNES uses the same formula: usage of very reliable and very widespread components, as opposed as the new and cutting edge thing. Maybe he had a saying on that strategy.
Nintendo did this again with other consoles like the Wii and the Switch.
It is an amazing concept that give customers a very reliable and durable product. Tech-kid hate it tho.
What a legend, and his lovely picture on the right is the most Japanese picture I've ever seen.
Thank you for everything
This is really sad news to hear. He created 2 very important consoles which created the Nintendo we know today. His legacy will live on forever. RIP.
I wish to thank him for everything he has done for the gaming community and touching our lives, without even knowing us. I still think this is something so baffling.
We don't know in person, however, your creation was a part of my childhood memories growing up. For that I say R.I.P till we all meet again.
I owe this legend countless fantastic hours and memories with these two great video game consoles, may he rest in peace!
The architect behind the magic of my childhood, thank you Mr Uemura! Say hi to Mr Iwata & Mr Yokoi from me x
Godspeed, fierce warrior. The world thanks you for the joy you brought millions.
It's impossible to describe the impact that little Famiclone I got for my 6th birthday had on me...Safe to say, Mr. Uemura left a lasting legacy!
December 6th is also Satoru Iwata's birthday. Coincidences are weird.
Gosh, helped changed the world really, didn't he? May he rest in peace.
Rest in peace, mister Uemura. And thank you for the nes and lovely snes.
Thank you Mr. Uemura. Without your work, there will maybe no video games today.
RIP and thank you for two wonderful consoles.
What a Legend, what a Legacy. Created the two most iconic games consoles ever!!! RIP 🙏
The man leaves the surly bonds of earth with a legacy that he will be remembered by.
Despite being my first console, I must admit I have trouble going back to the NES, despite it giving me many hours of joy back in the day. However the SNES and its games are timeless to me and to this day I continue to make my way through titles I missed either through original carts or rereleases / ports.
You accomplished great things Masayuki-san, you can rest now.
How sad. So glad he did what he did, thank you for two of the greatest video game systems ever. It is also sad to think that there are so
Many ungrateful Nintendo haters that would not have any of their little Sony machines if it was not for Nintendo. It Was the Nintendo Playstation after all. RIP SIR.
R.I.P Uemura, you brought so much memories to my childhood with both the NES a SNES, goodspeed to him! 😁😁👍
NES is the greatest console, in my mind. The man made the door to an absolute treasure room.
Who knows where the industry would be today without his contributions. I hope he was very proud of what he managed to accomplish.
@abdias Well said my man. Well said!
What sad news. That being said, his work will live with several generations of mankind till the day they die!!! RIP my man, thanks for the NES & the Christmas I got it as a kid!! Woooooooooooooo!!!
Would like to pay my respects thank you for so many SNES memories which I still play today with SNES mini. All the wonderful hours of joy that you have brought to myself and other players globally . What a legacy to have rip xxxxx
A luminary who brought so much happiness to generations of kids (and grownups) around the world.
Rest In Peace ❤️
The NES was my first ever interactive gaming experience and was the gateway for a lifetime of fun and joy. Thank you Mr Masayuki Uemura. RIP King
Rest in peace Legend. Gave so much joy to so many.
Thank you, Mr. Uemura. For everything. Rest in peace.
Uemura san your legacy live trough countless generations, we will never forget you contribution to the game industry as a whole.
Thats sad. RIP
Rest In Peace good sir. You are one of the people most responsible for the countless hours of joy brought to T.V.s throughout the world.
RIP Uemura-San 😓
Thank you for the immeasurable contributions to many of our childhoods.
Domo arigato, Uemura-san.
Thank you Sir! Appreciate all the countless hours of fun and joy your inventions provided me (and many others) in my childhood.
You brought joy to so many and inspired many.
RIP😔
Thank you for your insight and foresight, Uemura-san. ^^
Sad to hear. Both were the first two video game consoles I ever got to experience.
May he rest in peace.
I don't own a NES but the SNES was my childhood and actually helped me through some tough times so to hear it's creator has passed away is so sad.
Rest in Peace, Masayuki Uemura.
Rest in peace and thanks for the fabulous legacy.
Also, Ice Climber is one of my favorite Nes game off all time.
RIP ,to a gaming Legend ..
Mr Uemura, we thank you for your work without yo we wouldn’t be here today
Rest in peace Mr. Uemura-san! Hopefully you helped celebrate Mr Iwata-san on his birthday as well! Thank you for everything! And happy belated birthday in heaven Mr. Iwata-san!
RIP legend, your legacy now lives on in NSO.
A true legend. If it wasn’t for him, the world would sure be a lot less fun.
We have lost an icon of the gaming industry. Rest in piece good sir.
Thank you for the great times. RIP!
As a lifelong Nintendo fan I can't remember if I've even heard this man's name. It goes to show the engineering side of the industry doesn't get enough credit, relative to the game dev or business/marketing sides.
Uemura's name should be up there with Yamauchi, Miyamoto and Iwata. Really monumental impact.
Masayuki Uemura did not just build the foundation of the modern Nintendo's gaming empire with the NES and SNES, his contributions built the foundation of modern gaming as we know it.
Even today, regardless of if you play Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox, you still see the foundation he laid. This is most obvious with the controllers, which all owe their basic button layout to the SNES.
Thank you Mr. Uemura for all you did for gaming to help put smiles of the faces of millions of players over the years, regardless of if they played Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, or Xbox.
Dang. The guy who made my favorite childhood memories is gone. Now I really do feel old. My two favorite game systems ever were created by this man. Rest in peace.
The NES saved the videogame industry from the infamous Videogame Crash. Sad to hear about this, but thank you for the memories we will all cherish forever.
Uemura and Miyamoto, together, are responsible for much of the best things in the world for the past 35 some years. Sad news, indeed.
Thank you Uemura San, for all the fun gaming memories
Sad. Rest in peace.
Thanks for everything. Rest in peace.
You're awesome. You molded the imagination of my childhood mind. Im now an engineer, and still a fan. Hope you'll be there in the respawn point. Thank you and rest in paradise 😇.
A true Godfather of gaming. Thank you for everything. Sleep well.
RIP and thank you for two phenomenal systems and great memories for me and my friends.
...and time takes another hero. His genius changed the lives of so many.
RIP to a true engineering legend whose vision helped change the world to a funner place. I think the impact of his and his team’s designs to the world are incalculable.
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