Recently, the Japanese website 4Gamer asked several industry professional about who left an impression with them during 2015, and among the answers there were quite a few who named the late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

Capcom Producer Yoshinori Ono remembered several anecdotes, happened after the two had several chances to meet after the launch of the 3DS. How Iwata told stories about old gadgets, or about the era of old PC programmed in assembly. How Iwata responded courteously when Ono-san asked him to sign a cartridge of Balloon Fight he had brought from home.

He also reminisced on a return flight from San Francisco when they sat side by side on the plane, talking about games, movies and the entertainment system, and how he won't forget the memory of sharing Iwata-san's ideas and thoughtfulness.

Ono-san was shocked when he heard the news of Iwata-san's passing, and he will keep their conversations and the moments in which they dined together and had a chat engraved in his memory, holding them in mind for his life and work in the future.

Dead or Alive Producer Yosuke Hayashi also brought up Iwata-san, saying that he's saddened by the loss of a man who had the power to be a driving force of the gaming industry. Yet it's important to work so that people don't say that now that Iwata-san is no more with us the gaming industry has become boring. As a member of the gaming industry, he strongly believes that it's important to make the industry grow and lead it to the next stage.

Sony Japan Studio Producer Teruyuki Toriyama also joined in remembering Iwata-san, mentioning that he doesn't need to list his achievements as a genius programmer, as a manager and as a gamer at heart, because everyone knows them. He feels that it's regrettable that he left us so early and respectfully offered his condolence.

Lastly, Japan Studio Producer Kentaro Motomura mentioned that although he had never met him directly, he was shocked by the news of Iwata-san's passing, and he feels that the sad news of his passing are what had the most impact on the gaming industry in 2015.

One thing is for sure: Iwata-san will be missed by industry professionals and gamers alike. As 2015 comes to an end, we should take a moment to remember what he has done for us all.