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Nintendo President Missing E3

by Neal Ronaghan - June 5, 2014, 2:43 pm EDT
Total comments: 25 Source: Polygon

Due to health concerns, Satoru Iwata will not be traveling to Los Angeles for E3.

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's Global President, will not be appearing at this year's E3, according to Nintendo. The reason is health related, as his physician is advising him not to travel overseas right now.

"Please understand that it is business as usual for Mr. Iwata, and he continues his normal duties as president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. while he remains in Japan," a Nintendo representative said. "As always, he will be actively involved in all of Nintendo's activities at the show."

In the recent past, Iwata has been a big part of Nintendo's E3 presentations and shows, ever since his first appearance at E3 2003 in his role as Nintendo's president. Usually he is part of an investor presentation and Q&A at E3, but Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime is taking over for him in his absence. It is likely that Iwata will still play a role in the Nintendo Digital Event.

Talkback

broodwarsJune 05, 2014

I hope he feels better soon, but good riddance to him not being at the show. We can have an E3 showing without his stilted English and "please understands" now. Congrats on Bill Trinnen for successfully orchestrating this Hit.  :P

Mop it upJune 05, 2014

"Mr Iwata couldn't be here today, please understand." -Reggie

KhushrenadaJune 05, 2014

Quote from: broodwars

I hope he feels better soon, but good riddance to him not being at the show. We can have an E3 showing without his stilted English and "please understands" now. Congrats on Bill Trinnen for successfully orchestrating this Hit.  :P:

You may not like it but I've always enjoyed the stilted English flavor of different Japanese individuals coming to speak and present a bit at the show. It just futher makes the Nintendo conferences stand out from the others. The polite, quirky Japanese people coming to present their projects and hoping you like the fine product they've been carefully crafting away on appeals to me more than the bravado and hucksters from the other events. And I'm afraid I'm not on the Bill Trinnen train either as he always strikes me as nervous and unsure.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, June 05, 2014

Seeing some people on other sites talking about Iwata stepping down in a topic about his health disgusts me heavily. There's a time and place for that, and the term "human garbage" pops up in my mind about these people.

His body was not ready.

Mop it upJune 05, 2014

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

His body was not ready.

/thread

AVJune 05, 2014

meh. He doesn't have to be physically present, he can be in the video it's not a big deal.

GrabMyBoomstickJune 05, 2014

I'm genuinely curious if the Nintendo rep used the "Please understand" statement in an ironic manner. 

Luigi DudeJune 05, 2014

Quote from: AV

meh. He doesn't have to be physically present, he can be in the video it's not a big deal.

Yeah, all the video's in the big Direct should have been filmed already in Japan so I imagine we'll still see him present all the new games in that. 

Quote from: GrabMyBoomstick

I'm genuinely curious if the Nintendo rep used the "Please understand" statement in an ironic manner.

I feel ashamed that 'Please Understand' memes are what came to mind first here as well.

In all seriousness, though, I do hope this isn't anything TOO serious. I have a lot of respect for Iwata as both a developer and as the most charismatic salaryman who doesn't fluently speak english.

Heck, I have an idea! If he's still able to do the pre-produced video, maybe they'll conduct the Q&A sessions he's supposed to have attended via Wii U chat  and we end up getting more mangled Reggie Japanese as well?

PhilPhillip Stortzum, June 05, 2014

Screw that and all obnoxious memes grossly overused by people thinking they are clever and by people who cannot come up with their own humor.

To be fair. the original press statement confirming Iwata's absence said "Please understand".

If only I could be like Iwata and skip out on E3... but I hope this was just him being out of the blast radius of a bunch of bombs getting dropped.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, June 05, 2014

Quote from: Shaymin

To be fair. the original press statement confirming Iwata's absence said "Please understand".

If only I could be like Iwata and skip out on E3... but I hope this was just him being out of the blast radius of a bunch of bombs getting dropped.

I know, I know, but I needed an excuse to pimp my anti-meme platform.  :-X

yoshi1001June 05, 2014

To be serious for a moment, overseas travel can be very risky if you are/get sick. Iwata would have other people with him, but even so you do not want to risk getting seriously ill in another country and end up in a situation where you may have difficulty figuring out where/how to get help or explaining what's wrong.

marvel_moviefan_2012June 05, 2014

I wrote a paper on memes as failed fads in an English writing class, I got an A on it if anyone is interested in reading it. I open by talking about Mortal Kombat and Smosh.  I like Iwata he has done a lot for the company and I hope this isn't anything too serious.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, June 05, 2014

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be something really serious. If it was truly serious, then he most likely wouldn't be continuing his duties as CEO, albeit he would go to E3 if he was well. Heck, when Hiroshi Yamauchi was CEO, I don't think he ever attended E3, so this isn't really that big of a deal to me. Hope he gets better soon, as being sick is never fun. Well, unless you were a kid and that meant you could stay home from school and play video games all day...

marvel_moviefan_2012June 05, 2014

Quote from: Phil

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be something really serious. If it was truly serious, then he most likely wouldn't be continuing his duties as CEO, albeit he would go to E3 if he was well. Heck, when Hiroshi Yamauchi was CEO, I don't think he ever attended E3, so this isn't really that big of a deal to me. Hope he gets better soon, as being sick is never fun. Well, unless you were a kid and that meant you could stay home from school and play video games all day...

I had something wrong with my kidneys when I was a kid and I got to miss a couple of weeks of school and my parents rented me A Nightmare on Elm Street for NES. That was the game I got to play for a week. Actually it was five days I think, they took it back at the end and brought home some submarine game I never can remember the name of.

broodwarsJune 05, 2014

Quote from: Shaymin

To be fair. the original press statement confirming Iwata's absence said "Please understand".

If only I could be like Iwata and skip out on E3... but I hope this was just him being out of the blast radius of a bunch of bombs getting dropped.

Well, if Iwata's going to be on the Nintendo Digital Event thing with some new Wii U game announcements, I'm pretty sure he'll be right front and center as "bombs" are dropped.

Triforce HermitJune 06, 2014

I don't like Iwata at all, but I hope he recovers.

Guys, I'd be pretty shocked if the Nintendo Direct hasn't already been filmed & edited, so I imagine most people will get their expected dosage of Iwata.

CericJune 06, 2014

If Iwata feels well enough to work but, isn't cleared to travel I'm sure he will have a tele-presence at some of the bigger events for Nintendo.  I expect him to be virtually present at some of the Q&A's and also talking with the more business side of E3.

Though this does show how resilient Nintendo's plan is for this year, bar the Best Buy part.

ShyGuyJune 06, 2014

More like 'E3 Missing Nintendo President'

Ian SaneJune 06, 2014

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Phil

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be something really serious. If it was truly serious, then he most likely wouldn't be continuing his duties as CEO, albeit he would go to E3 if he was well. Heck, when Hiroshi Yamauchi was CEO, I don't think he ever attended E3, so this isn't really that big of a deal to me. Hope he gets better soon, as being sick is never fun. Well, unless you were a kid and that meant you could stay home from school and play video games all day...

I had something wrong with my kidneys when I was a kid and I got to miss a couple of weeks of school and my parents rented me A Nightmare on Elm Street for NES. That was the game I got to play for a week. Actually it was five days I think, they took it back at the end and brought home some submarine game I never can remember the name of.

Was the sub game Sqoon?

marvel_moviefan_2012June 06, 2014

Quote from: Ian

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Phil

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be something really serious. If it was truly serious, then he most likely wouldn't be continuing his duties as CEO, albeit he would go to E3 if he was well. Heck, when Hiroshi Yamauchi was CEO, I don't think he ever attended E3, so this isn't really that big of a deal to me. Hope he gets better soon, as being sick is never fun. Well, unless you were a kid and that meant you could stay home from school and play video games all day...

I am not sure I will google that and get back to you.

I had something wrong with my kidneys when I was a kid and I got to miss a couple of weeks of school and my parents rented me A Nightmare on Elm Street for NES. That was the game I got to play for a week. Actually it was five days I think, they took it back at the end and brought home some submarine game I never can remember the name of.

Was the sub game Sqoon?

ShyGuyJune 06, 2014

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Ian

Quote from: marvel_moviefan_2012

Quote from: Phil

I'm glad it doesn't seem to be something really serious. If it was truly serious, then he most likely wouldn't be continuing his duties as CEO, albeit he would go to E3 if he was well. Heck, when Hiroshi Yamauchi was CEO, I don't think he ever attended E3, so this isn't really that big of a deal to me. Hope he gets better soon, as being sick is never fun. Well, unless you were a kid and that meant you could stay home from school and play video games all day...

I am not sure I will google that and get back to you.

I had something wrong with my kidneys when I was a kid and I got to miss a couple of weeks of school and my parents rented me A Nightmare on Elm Street for NES. That was the game I got to play for a week. Actually it was five days I think, they took it back at the end and brought home some submarine game I never can remember the name of.

Was the sub game Sqoon?

I bet it was Silent Service for the NES!

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