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Ask Iwata
Una recopilación de las sabias palabras del CEO de Nintendo más querido.
Este libro es una recopilación de las palabras y reflexiones de Satoru Iwata, publicadas originalmente por Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun en su página web. Además, una parte del texto también fue extraída de “Ask Iwata” (Iwata pregunta), una sección de la página web oficial de Nintendo.
A pesar de desempeñar el papel de presidente, el señor Iwata rara vez hablaba de sí mismo cuando interactuaba con los medios. Únicamente cogía un micrófono para hablar en beneficio de la empresa o de algún proyecto, pero siempre manteniéndose a sí mismo en un segundo plano.
Sin embargo, como muchos de nosotros sabemos, el señor Iwata era una persona sumamente honesta y coherente. Si observamos los distintos comentarios de las diferentes ocasiones en las que habló en público, como presidente y como desarrollador, sus palabras siempre surgían de forma natural, espontánea y desde el corazón, entre su propia percepción y sus experiencias.
Este libro es la recopilación de todo ese conocimiento; de las sabías palabras del señor Iwata, en distintos medios y momentos.
También se incluye una entrevista especial a Shigeru Miyamoto de Nintendo, quien conocía a Iwata mejor que nadie.
Este libro es una recopilación de las palabras y reflexiones de Satoru Iwata, publicadas originalmente por Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun en su página web. Además, una parte del texto también fue extraída de “Ask Iwata” (Iwata pregunta), una sección de la página web oficial de Nintendo.
A pesar de desempeñar el papel de presidente, el señor Iwata rara vez hablaba de sí mismo cuando interactuaba con los medios. Únicamente cogía un micrófono para hablar en beneficio de la empresa o de algún proyecto, pero siempre manteniéndose a sí mismo en un segundo plano.
Sin embargo, como muchos de nosotros sabemos, el señor Iwata era una persona sumamente honesta y coherente. Si observamos los distintos comentarios de las diferentes ocasiones en las que habló en público, como presidente y como desarrollador, sus palabras siempre surgían de forma natural, espontánea y desde el corazón, entre su propia percepción y sus experiencias.
Este libro es la recopilación de todo ese conocimiento; de las sabías palabras del señor Iwata, en distintos medios y momentos.
También se incluye una entrevista especial a Shigeru Miyamoto de Nintendo, quien conocía a Iwata mejor que nadie.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
March 8, 2021
A short business book filled with observations and philosophies of former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. This is definitely a book for those who love Nintendo, know a lot about its history and products, and want to get a high level look at how the sausage is made. While I thought some of Iwata's work philosophies were interesting (especially being driven by a goal to help people have fun and his policy of 1 on 1 meetings with all staff over time) ultimately I didn't have enough depth of knowledge of Nintendo's products or history to understand why some decisions or ideas were momentous.
*Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2021
Americans, and perhaps people in general, have a habit of worshipping at the altar of companies. Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Blizzard, pro sports organizations, record companies, movie studios, mega publishers—we put all our eggs in baskets held by people who will happily dash those eggs upon the ground if it means earning an extra dollar in profit for the year.
Nintendo's late CEO, Satoru Iwata, who passed away in 2015, personified the opposite of corporate greed. I'm not saying his predecessor, the late Hiroshi Yamauchi, or Iwata's successor, whose name I confess I can't recall off the top of my head, personified the opposite. Only that Iwata made it easy to love Nintendo, to root for them, because he seemed intent on defying what we have come to expect form CEOs.
ASK IWATA, part memoir and part journal-like account of what he learned over a life spent bringing happiness to others by making games, is as thoughtful and straightforward as the man himself. His prose is simple, making it easy to digest his ideas and experiences. The lessons he imparts, at least one per chapter and often more, never come across as preachy. He was a man determined to learn from his experiences, and he enjoyed passing his wisdom on to others in the hopes it might benefit them somehow, somewhere, someday.
The pearls of wisdom he collected here with the help of friends who collected these writings and published them posthumously are truly pearls. Highlight every word, and you'll feel like there's still more to discover. They pertain to technology, games, and management specifically, but are applicable nearly everywhere. Some of my favorites, in no particular order:
• College solidified his understanding of computers, but he learned the most by taking initiative to teach himself.
• Whether he agreed with a direction or not, he never hesitated to "step up to the plate," as he put it, if he felt he was the best person suited to a job.
• He insisted on one-on-one interviews with every developer at the companies he managed (HAL Laboratory and Nintendo) in order to learn the perspectives of those he managed. Through these interviews, he not only gained understanding of what his developers needed, but he learned the importance of gathering data and using it to shape his priorities and influence his decision-making.
• He was small and sickly as a child, which led to bullying. Those experiences taught him what it was like to be weak. Later in life, as the CEO of one of the most successful companies in the world, he never lost perspective of what people below him needed and wanted.
• The best projects, usually facilitated through excellent management, are those where developers see something wrong or that could be improved, and volunteer to work on it.
• His mantra as a leader was, "We'll figure it out."
• There are only so many hours in a day, which for Iwata meant prioritizing where to spend his limited time and energy.
That only scratches the surface. The book's later chapters are written by those who were closest to him, and demonstrate how Iwata's kindness, friendship, and leadership affected those who knew him. Both chapters, written by influential developers, nearly brought me to tears. It was clear these men valued Iwata's friendship and advice, and that they missed their friend even more than people like me, who never knew him but felt as if they did.
I saw a lot of myself in Iwata. Now, I see even more. I suspect every creative person can say the same.
Nintendo's late CEO, Satoru Iwata, who passed away in 2015, personified the opposite of corporate greed. I'm not saying his predecessor, the late Hiroshi Yamauchi, or Iwata's successor, whose name I confess I can't recall off the top of my head, personified the opposite. Only that Iwata made it easy to love Nintendo, to root for them, because he seemed intent on defying what we have come to expect form CEOs.
ASK IWATA, part memoir and part journal-like account of what he learned over a life spent bringing happiness to others by making games, is as thoughtful and straightforward as the man himself. His prose is simple, making it easy to digest his ideas and experiences. The lessons he imparts, at least one per chapter and often more, never come across as preachy. He was a man determined to learn from his experiences, and he enjoyed passing his wisdom on to others in the hopes it might benefit them somehow, somewhere, someday.
The pearls of wisdom he collected here with the help of friends who collected these writings and published them posthumously are truly pearls. Highlight every word, and you'll feel like there's still more to discover. They pertain to technology, games, and management specifically, but are applicable nearly everywhere. Some of my favorites, in no particular order:
• College solidified his understanding of computers, but he learned the most by taking initiative to teach himself.
• Whether he agreed with a direction or not, he never hesitated to "step up to the plate," as he put it, if he felt he was the best person suited to a job.
• He insisted on one-on-one interviews with every developer at the companies he managed (HAL Laboratory and Nintendo) in order to learn the perspectives of those he managed. Through these interviews, he not only gained understanding of what his developers needed, but he learned the importance of gathering data and using it to shape his priorities and influence his decision-making.
• He was small and sickly as a child, which led to bullying. Those experiences taught him what it was like to be weak. Later in life, as the CEO of one of the most successful companies in the world, he never lost perspective of what people below him needed and wanted.
• The best projects, usually facilitated through excellent management, are those where developers see something wrong or that could be improved, and volunteer to work on it.
• His mantra as a leader was, "We'll figure it out."
• There are only so many hours in a day, which for Iwata meant prioritizing where to spend his limited time and energy.
That only scratches the surface. The book's later chapters are written by those who were closest to him, and demonstrate how Iwata's kindness, friendship, and leadership affected those who knew him. Both chapters, written by influential developers, nearly brought me to tears. It was clear these men valued Iwata's friendship and advice, and that they missed their friend even more than people like me, who never knew him but felt as if they did.
I saw a lot of myself in Iwata. Now, I see even more. I suspect every creative person can say the same.
April 25, 2021
Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
As the front cover proclaims, “Words of wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s legendary CEO.” Actually, if we're being technical, the book also contains words *about* Iwata from some of the folks who knew him well, like legendary game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto.
I’ll admit that, while I’ve played some Nintendo games over the years, as well as owned some of their gaming systems, I’m certainly no hardcore fanatic. Prior to learning of this book, Iwata’s name was completely unfamiliar to me. While I certainly knew, on some level, that Nintendo had a CEO, it never occurred to me to wonder what that person was like, or how much influence they may have had over the content of the company's products.
That said, Iwata seems like he was an interesting guy. His programming background seems to have given him a unique perspective on how to run a company. He certainly seems to have been loved and respected by many.
Considering how little I knew about the subject, I’m impressed with how engrossing this book was. Recommended!
As the front cover proclaims, “Words of wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s legendary CEO.” Actually, if we're being technical, the book also contains words *about* Iwata from some of the folks who knew him well, like legendary game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto.
I’ll admit that, while I’ve played some Nintendo games over the years, as well as owned some of their gaming systems, I’m certainly no hardcore fanatic. Prior to learning of this book, Iwata’s name was completely unfamiliar to me. While I certainly knew, on some level, that Nintendo had a CEO, it never occurred to me to wonder what that person was like, or how much influence they may have had over the content of the company's products.
That said, Iwata seems like he was an interesting guy. His programming background seems to have given him a unique perspective on how to run a company. He certainly seems to have been loved and respected by many.
Considering how little I knew about the subject, I’m impressed with how engrossing this book was. Recommended!
July 28, 2021
7/10
I spent most of the book enjoying what I was reading but somewhat ‘frustrated’ because it feels as an amalgamation of existing materials, not fully delivering on any of its potentialities - it’s not really a(n auto)biography, even less so a management book, and it’s probably not the best place to learn about Nintendo either.
Yet, after finishing it, and especially after reading Miyamoto and Itoi’s testimonials, I couldn’t feel anything but sympathy for Iwata, and ultimately some sadness for someone I didn’t even know existed until a couple of days ago.
I spent most of the book enjoying what I was reading but somewhat ‘frustrated’ because it feels as an amalgamation of existing materials, not fully delivering on any of its potentialities - it’s not really a(n auto)biography, even less so a management book, and it’s probably not the best place to learn about Nintendo either.
Yet, after finishing it, and especially after reading Miyamoto and Itoi’s testimonials, I couldn’t feel anything but sympathy for Iwata, and ultimately some sadness for someone I didn’t even know existed until a couple of days ago.
April 11, 2025
داشت تلاش میکرد شبیه استیو جابز باشه ولی یه نسخه ضعیف و کپی شده بود. اصلا به آدم انگیزه نمیداد. بنظرم معمولی بود.
May 17, 2021
There’s a reason he didn’t give many interviews. He didn’t have much to say. Might be more interesting stuff in the later interviews with other people at the end of the book, but i didn’t make it.
September 25, 2021
Really insightful and wholesome.
Gives us an unique perspective of Iwata.
Loved it
Gives us an unique perspective of Iwata.
Loved it
April 18, 2022
Sin duda un libro que debe leer todo fan de la Gran N, y los que no lo son tanto tambien.
Voy a intentar justificar sobretodo al segundo grupo, ya que este libro para el primer grupo este libro deberia ser un must.
Primero, lo que debo decir es que pocas empresas en el mundo, sus valores estan tan anquilosados a sus raices, que sobreviben a sus fundadores, ejemplos de como cambiaron empresas una vez que desaparecen sus origenes de la ecuacion tenemos muchos, apple y Steve Jobs, blizzard... Y mas ejemplos, pero nintendo forma ese selecto grupo de empresas donde da igual quien este, supieron mantener su core values casi inamobible, a la vez que navegaban este turvio mar de cambios que es la sociedad.
Asi que ya desde esa prespectiva, este libro da una gran vision de como los valores son importantes, pero a la vez saber avanzar para mejorarlos.
Luego esta la imagen de Iwata en si, que creo que tiene gran valor y se le considera poco sobretodo en occidente lo que consiguio. Pensemos que hasta su llegada, Nintendo era una empresa muy muy familiar, creo que el fue el sucesor del tercer o el segundo miembro de la familia que cogia una empresa, avanzada si... pero con un arraigo japo-familiar muy grande, y sin cambiar mucho lo cambio todo. Nombrar los ejemplos que pone, de creer siempre que haria el resto como referencia o el cambio que supuso llamar al mando de Wii "remote".
Esto es desde el punto de vista didactico tenemos los valores de nintendo, y la figura de Iwata que transforma esa empresa japo-familiar en algo con mas renombre si cabe, que el que le dio haber construido la NES, anos despues de que los cartuchos de E.T. fuesen enterrados en nuevo mexico.
En cuanto al punto de vista de tecnica, la verdad es que es muy ameno, y al carecer del conocimiento sobre las fuentes originales de las que parte, no puedo nombrar si el resumen esta bien o mal hecho, pero si puedo decir que de principio a fin es muy a meno, y directo al grano.
Solamente me queda decir que pena que Iwata nos dejara tan pronto en un mes de julio, sinceramente una pena, y luego de leer este libro aun mas.
Voy a intentar justificar sobretodo al segundo grupo, ya que este libro para el primer grupo este libro deberia ser un must.
Primero, lo que debo decir es que pocas empresas en el mundo, sus valores estan tan anquilosados a sus raices, que sobreviben a sus fundadores, ejemplos de como cambiaron empresas una vez que desaparecen sus origenes de la ecuacion tenemos muchos, apple y Steve Jobs, blizzard... Y mas ejemplos, pero nintendo forma ese selecto grupo de empresas donde da igual quien este, supieron mantener su core values casi inamobible, a la vez que navegaban este turvio mar de cambios que es la sociedad.
Asi que ya desde esa prespectiva, este libro da una gran vision de como los valores son importantes, pero a la vez saber avanzar para mejorarlos.
Luego esta la imagen de Iwata en si, que creo que tiene gran valor y se le considera poco sobretodo en occidente lo que consiguio. Pensemos que hasta su llegada, Nintendo era una empresa muy muy familiar, creo que el fue el sucesor del tercer o el segundo miembro de la familia que cogia una empresa, avanzada si... pero con un arraigo japo-familiar muy grande, y sin cambiar mucho lo cambio todo. Nombrar los ejemplos que pone, de creer siempre que haria el resto como referencia o el cambio que supuso llamar al mando de Wii "remote".
Esto es desde el punto de vista didactico tenemos los valores de nintendo, y la figura de Iwata que transforma esa empresa japo-familiar en algo con mas renombre si cabe, que el que le dio haber construido la NES, anos despues de que los cartuchos de E.T. fuesen enterrados en nuevo mexico.
En cuanto al punto de vista de tecnica, la verdad es que es muy ameno, y al carecer del conocimiento sobre las fuentes originales de las que parte, no puedo nombrar si el resumen esta bien o mal hecho, pero si puedo decir que de principio a fin es muy a meno, y directo al grano.
Solamente me queda decir que pena que Iwata nos dejara tan pronto en un mes de julio, sinceramente una pena, y luego de leer este libro aun mas.
June 19, 2021
Closer to a 3.5 but I'm comfortable giving it the extra half-star in tribute to Iwata's incredible influence. A brisk and revealing insight into one of the greatest figures of their industry, no doubt tinged with melancholy throughout but simultaneously committed to sharing Iwata's dedication to happiness in his work. I'm delighted a material object exists solely to memorialize Iwata's words of wisdom and contribution to this medium I love so dearly. Although, this is not a book solely for people who play video games or invested in Iwata's leadership of Nintendo in the 2000s. Whilst it's filled with curious details about the development of the DS/Wii or the troubled production of Earthbound, Ask Iwata is just as compelling as a guide to wellbeing and mental health in the workplace. As someone who only recently started in game development, there's a mountain of quotes and pockets of wisdom here that affected me, particularly in approaching personal strengths and weaknesses and collaborating. The structure is straightforward but the content is anything but. This put a smile on my face and I know Iwata would've loved that.
First Goodreads review, hooray!
First Goodreads review, hooray!
June 15, 2024
This was a short but very pleasant read about the thoughts and experiences of the late Satoru Iwata, and as a long-time Nintendo fan, I had a great time learning more about the admirable president, and getting a bit more information about the behind-the-scenes of HAL Laboratory and Nintendo.
I won’t lie, they almost got me teary-eyed at the end when they spoke more about him post-passing, and about what a good president and father he was, but it had a beautiful ending to wrap up the story of a man who just wanted to make people happy.
I won’t lie, they almost got me teary-eyed at the end when they spoke more about him post-passing, and about what a good president and father he was, but it had a beautiful ending to wrap up the story of a man who just wanted to make people happy.
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August 1, 2023An easy read I love to return to. Ask Iwata shares tidbits of knowledge from the late Satoru Iwata, former President of Nintendo. Although the amount of things he wrote was short, each chapter imparts a surprising amount of wisdom from a humble man.
This is a must-read for any Nintendo fan. And for anyone who may not be very interested in the video game industry, I continue to find great lessons from this book on how to be a great team member, a great leader, and a great person.
This is a must-read for any Nintendo fan. And for anyone who may not be very interested in the video game industry, I continue to find great lessons from this book on how to be a great team member, a great leader, and a great person.
September 8, 2021
Part-biography, part-hagiography, and maybe even a small part self-help too, Ask Iwata is broadly tells the story of Satoru Iwata's career. It's clearly a book cut together from various sources, including accounts of others who knew Iwata. It's full of all sorts of interesting tidbits from Nintendo's history: anecdotes about developing for the Nintendo 64, the origin story of the Nintendo DS, and the various decisions in hardware design which ultimately led to the Nintendo Wii.
That said, this book also presents Satoru Iwata as an almost sage-like figure. A man who never became angry, who was ever-prescient, and was an example to all others around him. Maybe that's all true - I don't know (I've never worked for, or with, him) - but for any reader looking for a fully-fleshed out human character, you will not find that in this book. This is a celebration of Iwata, not a study of his character.
That said, this book also presents Satoru Iwata as an almost sage-like figure. A man who never became angry, who was ever-prescient, and was an example to all others around him. Maybe that's all true - I don't know (I've never worked for, or with, him) - but for any reader looking for a fully-fleshed out human character, you will not find that in this book. This is a celebration of Iwata, not a study of his character.
July 12, 2023
Amazing man, remembrance section at the end slaps you on the back and you still feel it 10 mins later
April 19, 2021
There’s now way for me to even approach objectively reviewing this book. Ever since my brother got me and my sister an N64, Nintendo has been a huge part of my life. From playing Ocarina of Time, to playing Super Smash Bros Melee in High Shcool, or camping with my buddy to get Wiis day one. I love Nintendo, and most of that is probably due to the way Satoru Iwata lead this company.
The majority of the book is excerpts from essays Iwata wrote on a Japanese business blog. They are generally good lessons, some maybe a bit plain. His leadership style, and attitudes are something sorely missing in contemporary business. People would be wise to follow his methods, and they paid off. He had a big picture view with employees, costumers, and his companies that is deeply positive.
The little tidbits of development details of various games is cool too.
The reason I can’t rationally evaluate this book is the final chunk. It’s thoughts from Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi about Iwata. They are deeply personal, and hard not to be moved by. It’s clear the world is a poorer place without Iwata, and it’s tragic he died so young, and from such a cruel form of cancer.
It’s got good advice for everyone, and for anyone who enjoyed a Nintendo game, it’s hard not to be moved by the man’s legacy and impact. If only there were more people like him. I can only hope he is watching down on the success of Nintendo now with his usual chipper demeanor.
My only complaint is there was excerpts from when they were struggling with Wii U or 3DS. I think it would have been good to show how he managed adversity.
The majority of the book is excerpts from essays Iwata wrote on a Japanese business blog. They are generally good lessons, some maybe a bit plain. His leadership style, and attitudes are something sorely missing in contemporary business. People would be wise to follow his methods, and they paid off. He had a big picture view with employees, costumers, and his companies that is deeply positive.
The little tidbits of development details of various games is cool too.
The reason I can’t rationally evaluate this book is the final chunk. It’s thoughts from Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi about Iwata. They are deeply personal, and hard not to be moved by. It’s clear the world is a poorer place without Iwata, and it’s tragic he died so young, and from such a cruel form of cancer.
It’s got good advice for everyone, and for anyone who enjoyed a Nintendo game, it’s hard not to be moved by the man’s legacy and impact. If only there were more people like him. I can only hope he is watching down on the success of Nintendo now with his usual chipper demeanor.
My only complaint is there was excerpts from when they were struggling with Wii U or 3DS. I think it would have been good to show how he managed adversity.
January 30, 2025
Een interessant boek voor elke Nintendo-fan. Het boek is een verzameling van interviews en gesprekken met Saturo Iwata, een van de grootste namen achter het succes van Nintendo.
Het is interessant om over zijn opvattingen en filosofie te lezen, maar ondanks dat de schrijver goed zijn best doet er een coherent geheel van te maken, leest het toch een beetje rommelig. Het leest makkelijk weg omdat je het grootste gedeelte van het boek leest vanuit het perspectief van Iwata, maar ondanks dat blijft helaas weinig écht hangen.
Jammer dat je geen halve sterren kunt geven, want slechts 3 doet het boek te kort, dus bij deze: 3,5*
Het is interessant om over zijn opvattingen en filosofie te lezen, maar ondanks dat de schrijver goed zijn best doet er een coherent geheel van te maken, leest het toch een beetje rommelig. Het leest makkelijk weg omdat je het grootste gedeelte van het boek leest vanuit het perspectief van Iwata, maar ondanks dat blijft helaas weinig écht hangen.
Jammer dat je geen halve sterren kunt geven, want slechts 3 doet het boek te kort, dus bij deze: 3,5*
September 27, 2024
All hagiographies aren’t complete without saintly deeds and eye-witness testimony of the miracles performed at the eleventh hour. There are certainly plenty of those here, and I can easily see how someone might dismiss the advice and stories as a collection of platitudes. And yet, for me, what I got out of this book was an earnestly desperate need to believe that Satoru was every little bit as good natured, talented and high spirited as they describe him here. For, even if he wasn’t quite like this, someone else should be; And if he really was, well, then it’s only natural he should have all this love poured upon him, as it’s simply the world reflecting all that he gave back at him.
May 11, 2021
A quick read that feels like a stream-of-consciousness. I really enjoyed the brief time with the book and a look behind the scenes of the late Iwata. There was very little to dislike here even if the book has very little structure. It feels somewhat like a philosophy book without the theory involved.
All-in-all, I'd recommend the read.
All-in-all, I'd recommend the read.
April 15, 2021
Talent involves the ability to find rewards. In my view, talent isn’t about achieving results so much as deriving pleasure from results that you’ve achieved. When somebody has tapped into their stores of talent, the cycle of discovery and reward is up and running.
September 27, 2024
It hurt a bit to read what his close friends and coworkers had to say about him at the end of the book. Rest in peace, Iwata.
February 11, 2022
A posthumous book from/about recently (2015) deceased Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata. I'd heard good things about it. They were wrong! There are a few little snippets of heart or interesting details about game development, but mostly it reads like a very boring and banal business leadership book. Even the section written by his friends and colleagues after his death is surprisingly dull and unemotional. There are a few interesting little anecdotes about game stuff or the early days of Japanese game development that were interesting to me, but, since they were originally written for Nintendo's website or a Japanese gaming magazine, they are understandably pretty sanitized and surface-level stories, no juicy dirt or complex explorations. From all accounts Iwata was a kind man, and he died too young. But...not a great book. Oh well!
May 15, 2021
I didn’t know much about Iwata going into this book. It was a gift from a friend with a mutual love for Nintendo games. It was a really enjoyable read. By the end, I had a strange feeling. It was as if I had made a new friend that was already gone. It was bittersweet, but there was more to it than that.
Iwata seemed to have a profound impact on the philosophy at Nintendo. There’s a real emphasis on innovation, and as the person who oversaw the development of the Wii and the DS, his influence is apparent. His work on Super Smash Bros and Pokémon Snap had a significant impact on my childhood. I have so many memories of those games, and I will always be grateful for the impact he had on my earliest gaming memories.
Iwata seemed to have a profound impact on the philosophy at Nintendo. There’s a real emphasis on innovation, and as the person who oversaw the development of the Wii and the DS, his influence is apparent. His work on Super Smash Bros and Pokémon Snap had a significant impact on my childhood. I have so many memories of those games, and I will always be grateful for the impact he had on my earliest gaming memories.
September 30, 2023
2.5 stars, I guess? I hoped that my feelings would change over the weeks since I finished this, but I'm still pretty disappointed. The first third or so is mostly pat observations and advice with little detail or insight. I like to think that Iwata would've been more selective about the content had he lived long enough to write a proper memoir (which this is not). The selections in the rest of the book do make specific reference to Iwata's work, but it remains largely shallow and uninteresting. I enjoyed the pieces from Iwata's coworkers written in his remembrance, but those are relatively short and come only at the very end. Iwata seems like he was a great creative mind, a brilliant programmer, and an exemplary boss, but I don't think this does his legacy justice.
March 15, 2022
Cómo y porqué llegó Iwata a ser presidente de Nintendo, con detalles que los fans de la compañía agradecemos, pero también con experiencias y tips que diría sirven para cualquier entorno laboral. Un grande que supo impulsar su propio talento y el de otros genios con los que trabajó mano a mano, como Shigeru Miyamoto.
January 24, 2023
Mostly small insights on a dearly beloved man. The tribute from Shigesato Itoi is probably worth the admission alone. I wish Iwata had enough time to write a proper memoir, but this is a nice collection in its stead.
August 27, 2023
What a delightful read that was!
As a lifelong fan of Nintendo and working in the videogame industry for many years, the late head of Nintendo, Mr. Iwata, was not unknown to me. But all the details of who he was and how he shaped Nintendo were not something I was familiar with at all. In addition, having left the game industry and now being more business management focussed in my career, I was very curious to see what wise words the CEO of my childhood favourite company would have to say.
And I was absolutely delighted to find that his primary motivation, or overarching theme that directed everything that he did, can be summed up in just one, simple word: Happiness.
For example, he was absolutely adamant that the controller for the Wii be called the Wii Remote, not a controller. He thought it would be easier for non-gamers and entire families to approach, and thus, more people would have fun!
There were a few other, fun tidbits of design decisions and interesting thought processes that Iwata had, making the book a wholesome and delightful read. The only thing that would make the book better was if it was longer!
Here are some of my favourite quotes:
“My mission is to bring happiness to our customers who play the games and to our employees who make them through our products.”
He would interview each of his employees and start with the same question: “Are you happy doing what you're doing?”
“Management depends on an ability to minimise your personal agenda.”
“The taste of success brings resistance to change.”
“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?’”
“I am far more interested in what makes people happy than doing things the right way.”
As a lifelong fan of Nintendo and working in the videogame industry for many years, the late head of Nintendo, Mr. Iwata, was not unknown to me. But all the details of who he was and how he shaped Nintendo were not something I was familiar with at all. In addition, having left the game industry and now being more business management focussed in my career, I was very curious to see what wise words the CEO of my childhood favourite company would have to say.
And I was absolutely delighted to find that his primary motivation, or overarching theme that directed everything that he did, can be summed up in just one, simple word: Happiness.
For example, he was absolutely adamant that the controller for the Wii be called the Wii Remote, not a controller. He thought it would be easier for non-gamers and entire families to approach, and thus, more people would have fun!
There were a few other, fun tidbits of design decisions and interesting thought processes that Iwata had, making the book a wholesome and delightful read. The only thing that would make the book better was if it was longer!
Here are some of my favourite quotes:
“My mission is to bring happiness to our customers who play the games and to our employees who make them through our products.”
He would interview each of his employees and start with the same question: “Are you happy doing what you're doing?”
“Management depends on an ability to minimise your personal agenda.”
“The taste of success brings resistance to change.”
“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?’”
“I am far more interested in what makes people happy than doing things the right way.”
April 8, 2021
A compilation of motivational addresses on diverse subjects such as leadership, development, designer and work philosophies from Satoru Iwata, one of the most beloved figures in the gaming industry. The late Satoru Iwata was a former Global President and CEO of Nintendo and an accomplished programmer who prioritized humility and people-first approach. This book isn't an in-depth biography on Satoru Iwata's life but a compilation on his reflection and observation throughout his career from Iwata Asks column on the Nintendo website in featuring interviews with key contributors to Nintendo Games such as Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi, the creator of Earthbound.
Growing up, Nintendo was a huge part of my life and re-visiting these iconic games gave me such a nostalgic feel. I really enjoyed the in-depth development and designing process in creating some of these beloved games. What makes Satoru Iwata such an innovative leader was his fearless approach in risk-taking. He embraced the challenge to always create something new rather than compete in an existing market. The purpose of taking radical new directions moved boundaries in welcoming new players and continuing connecting with current players. He is the exemplary figure in what a respected leader is and should be aiming for. His words of wisdom were inspirational and lessons that are universal for all of us to gain. Satoru Iwata is the kind of boss and colleague I would dream of working for and with. He is a rare gem and it was unfortunate to have lost him way too soon. Ask Iwata is a celebration for the late Nintendo's legendary CEO Satoru Iwata's life and his wisdoms. This is a tribute to the man of patience, courage and determination who was universally respected and admired that positively impacted the gaming industry forever.
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Growing up, Nintendo was a huge part of my life and re-visiting these iconic games gave me such a nostalgic feel. I really enjoyed the in-depth development and designing process in creating some of these beloved games. What makes Satoru Iwata such an innovative leader was his fearless approach in risk-taking. He embraced the challenge to always create something new rather than compete in an existing market. The purpose of taking radical new directions moved boundaries in welcoming new players and continuing connecting with current players. He is the exemplary figure in what a respected leader is and should be aiming for. His words of wisdom were inspirational and lessons that are universal for all of us to gain. Satoru Iwata is the kind of boss and colleague I would dream of working for and with. He is a rare gem and it was unfortunate to have lost him way too soon. Ask Iwata is a celebration for the late Nintendo's legendary CEO Satoru Iwata's life and his wisdoms. This is a tribute to the man of patience, courage and determination who was universally respected and admired that positively impacted the gaming industry forever.
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2022
This is one of those books that no matter what sort of day you’ve had, you’re smiling with every single page turn. A genuinely comforting book about an amazing man and his insight into business, video games, and the world.
Last year, I had read a couple books in the vein of business and leadership to try and bolster my own work ethic as “boss” of the theater. But this book left such a deeper impression than any of them combined. Firsthand accounts or messages from one of the most beloved business people ever and associated with one of the biggest companies (especially in video games) in the world, are told in a loving manner of true compassion and belief in helping others out. Iwata’s view of the workplace with backgrounds in programming helped make him a pure joy to work with and this book shares his thoughts, methods, and ideas behind what made him that way. And best thing is, they aren’t hard things to do either. Super simple little things that when done properly end up creating better synergy and workplace happiness across everyone. I couldn’t help but take notes or screenshots of passages to put to heart and try out myself in the future.
It was also amazing to read just about people and businesses that have thrived and excelled at working so well in a time where lately, especially in the video game industry, companies are being dragged in the dirt for hidden or secretive business practices or improper behavior amongst coworkers. Reading this book was like a glowing example of that not every major company is run by assholes who don’t care. This puts faith back into humanity in the workplace, setting a standard that should be the standard everywhere.
But to also not bog the reader down too heavily with business talk or the ongoing camaraderie of Iwata, Miyamoto, and Itoi, there are some actual video game bits of knowledge and trivia sprinkled. From the development of Earthbound, Super Smash Bros., and the DS and Wii, to learning about the true origin of Yoshi and why he is a dinosaur shaped the way he is. You just couldn’t put this book down as every page bestowed another new piece for you to eat up and feel good about.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, and regardless if you can beat Dark Souls on one life or think Solitaire is the hardest game you can play, PLEASE read this book. Even if you don’t take anything said within it to heart, I promise you’ll walk away every time you set it down or when finished with it feeling good with a warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside you.
Last year, I had read a couple books in the vein of business and leadership to try and bolster my own work ethic as “boss” of the theater. But this book left such a deeper impression than any of them combined. Firsthand accounts or messages from one of the most beloved business people ever and associated with one of the biggest companies (especially in video games) in the world, are told in a loving manner of true compassion and belief in helping others out. Iwata’s view of the workplace with backgrounds in programming helped make him a pure joy to work with and this book shares his thoughts, methods, and ideas behind what made him that way. And best thing is, they aren’t hard things to do either. Super simple little things that when done properly end up creating better synergy and workplace happiness across everyone. I couldn’t help but take notes or screenshots of passages to put to heart and try out myself in the future.
It was also amazing to read just about people and businesses that have thrived and excelled at working so well in a time where lately, especially in the video game industry, companies are being dragged in the dirt for hidden or secretive business practices or improper behavior amongst coworkers. Reading this book was like a glowing example of that not every major company is run by assholes who don’t care. This puts faith back into humanity in the workplace, setting a standard that should be the standard everywhere.
But to also not bog the reader down too heavily with business talk or the ongoing camaraderie of Iwata, Miyamoto, and Itoi, there are some actual video game bits of knowledge and trivia sprinkled. From the development of Earthbound, Super Smash Bros., and the DS and Wii, to learning about the true origin of Yoshi and why he is a dinosaur shaped the way he is. You just couldn’t put this book down as every page bestowed another new piece for you to eat up and feel good about.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, and regardless if you can beat Dark Souls on one life or think Solitaire is the hardest game you can play, PLEASE read this book. Even if you don’t take anything said within it to heart, I promise you’ll walk away every time you set it down or when finished with it feeling good with a warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside you.
April 15, 2022
I found all of this to be super helpful and very inspirational! This gives you insight into business practices however, it is much more than that. It really gives you advice how a company or organization should be run when have someone in charge who actually takes the time and has the passion for the work they are trying to put out to the world, and that was the type of person Satoru Iwata. This really gave fascinating insight into what it really means to be a leader and showed me what I should look for within my job right now. But it also inspired me to keep doing what I am doing and don't let the nay sayers get to me, which I have to admit is getting harder to do each and every day. Iwata's gave me the push to try even more.
July 19, 2021
Pros:
* The autobiographical sections, such as the ones covering Iwata’s childhood with a programmable calculator in Hokkaido, and his college years in Tokyo when he first met the HAL gang, are moving and immensely interesting
* Good English translation
* Miyamoto’s part is interesting too - fun to read his words as a long time fan
Cons:
* The ‘corporate wisdom’ / ‘business advice’ sections were totally uninteresting to me. Same as always: Advise based on subjective opinions and anecdotal evidence, from someone who happened to be successful. Loads of sentences that attempt to appear profound but in reality hold very little substance. I wish there was less of this and instead just even more autobiographical stories.
* The autobiographical sections, such as the ones covering Iwata’s childhood with a programmable calculator in Hokkaido, and his college years in Tokyo when he first met the HAL gang, are moving and immensely interesting
* Good English translation
* Miyamoto’s part is interesting too - fun to read his words as a long time fan
Cons:
* The ‘corporate wisdom’ / ‘business advice’ sections were totally uninteresting to me. Same as always: Advise based on subjective opinions and anecdotal evidence, from someone who happened to be successful. Loads of sentences that attempt to appear profound but in reality hold very little substance. I wish there was less of this and instead just even more autobiographical stories.
August 28, 2021
If you appreciate or are familiar with Satoru Iwata as a person and understand his basic philosophies/motivations in life, you will love this book. Close colleagues and friends Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Shigesato Itoi speak about Iwata's ways of approaching problems, work mentality and pursuit of making people in every aspect of his life happy.
As Iwata was a private person, and many of those around him are not people very vocal about personal matters, the format of having friends and past teammates speak on their shared experiences and Iwata's drive in work, as well as passion while not on the clock, is the most desirable homage fans could ask for -- keeping true to the person that he was while contributing to the legacy he leaves behind to inspire future generations such as myself.
As Iwata was a private person, and many of those around him are not people very vocal about personal matters, the format of having friends and past teammates speak on their shared experiences and Iwata's drive in work, as well as passion while not on the clock, is the most desirable homage fans could ask for -- keeping true to the person that he was while contributing to the legacy he leaves behind to inspire future generations such as myself.
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