Heart of a Gamer

I remember the outpouring of grief over the 2015 death of Satoru Iwata, former CEO of Nintendo–so many touching homages to the man’s iconic work and public persona. When I learned that his writings had been collected and translated to English (by an old friend, no less), the book shot to the top of my reading list. I didn’t even bother to learn the premise.

This isn’t a book about Nintendo (though it includes some anecdotes) nor is it a book about management (though it includes some advice). With its reflections on humanity, talent, genius, and finding your calling, it’s more like a book on product design philosophy.

Although Iwata writes to a general audience, there’s no mistaking the inspiration from software/hardware development. His adage “anything a computer can do for you should be left to a computer,” resonates with my professional experience in the advocacy, design, and implementation of automated testing infrastructure. I’m grateful for this collection because while the Iwata’s technological wisdom is no secret, it isn’t as publicly discernible as his empathy or his sense of humor. More than that, because I sometimes doubt the stance, its expression from such a thoughtful leader is affirming.

On a deeper level, it seems to me that Iwata’s ruminations on discovery both come from and speak to a career in tech. Folks who practice this craft recognize automation as a tide that drives constant learning.¹ Sustaining this relationship with your work forces tough questions about motivation and meaning. Iwata’s most powerful words address those questions.

More than any GDC speech or Internet meme, Ask Iwata got me wishing for the chance to know and work with the man. That was a pipe dream even during his lifetime, so I’m glad for this more personal glimpse.

Being human means having potential.

- Satoru Iwata