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| image credits to reddit user: edavid21 |
I was at my desk at work today when I heard that Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man who put Nintendo on the map, passed away. He was among the founding fathers of the video game industry. It's difficult to cope with the loss of industry pioneers like Yamauchi. We're still a very young industry, as events like this make starkly apparent.
Just a few months ago, we lost Giant Bomb co-founder Ryan Davis. Before that, the body of Achievement Hunter contributor and Ex-Rooster Teeth member Knuckles Dawson was found in Vancouver after having been missing for over a month, and Andrew Scott Reisse, co-creator of the Oculus Rift was struck and killed by a car. We've experienced a great deal of death in a short period of time.
I was not fortunate enough to know any of these people personally, so I will leave eulogy to those better suited to an address of that sort. All I feel qualified to say is that I am saddened by their absence.
Many people hold to a belief that the games we play make us inured to violence and devoid of feeling. I see quite the opposite. We are grieving. In three months time, we have lost some of our industries best and brightest personalities, innovators, organizers and pioneers.
How do we cope? How best do we say goodbye? It's something I've been struggling with, and unfortunately, I don't have an answer. I'm still in shock.
We are a strong community. I have seen us come together over many things in the past, and already today I have seen some incredible sentiments shared by people moved and affected by the games that Hiroshi Yamauchi helped bring into our homes. I am always encouraged by the wealth of support and kindness shown by fellow gamers. The images created and sentiments shared by others in the community are a magnificent tribute to the legacy left behind by all those we have lost.
I've been told the best way to deal with loss is not to grieve the death, but celebrate the life. I suppose that each of us touched by these events will find their own way to deal with it. It is apparent though, that there are thousands if not millions out there that feel exactly as you or I do. If you feel up to celebrating the life of Yamauchi, or any of the others we've lost this year, play a few games with friends. Take part in the things they loved and poured their hearts into. Maybe leave an open space in your party.
