Iwata had a profound effect at Nintendo, even in the initial stages of his career. He came to the company in 1983 and helped create some of the developer's legendary titles, such as EarthBound and the early Kirby series. He took charge of the firm's corporate planning in 2000, and in 2002 became the first person to lead Nintendo that wasn't part of the founding Yamauchi family.

His track record as the head of the firm is mixed, but memorable. He presided over most of the GameCube's less-than-stellar history and, of course, the struggling Wii U. However, he also led the company through the Wii's glory days, ushering in the era of motion-controlled gaming. Also, he helped cement Nintendo's dominance in dedicated handhelds through the DS and 3DS. And while Nintendo was reluctant to compete directly with the likes of Microsoft and Sony, the company was gradually adapting to the reality of a smartphone-dominated world with plans to develop mobile games.

It's also important to note Iwata's personal touch. For many, he was literally the face of the company -- if you've seen a Nintendo Direct event, the odds are that you saw him introduce the latest games in his polite, friendly style. And who can forget the "Iwata Asks" series? While there will certainly be others taking Iwata's place, there's no doubt that Nintendo will feel poorer without him talking about the latest Mario or Zelda news. We'll miss you, Iwata-san.