Masaya Nakamura (businessman): Difference between revisions
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{{nihongo|'''Masaya Nakamura'''|中村 雅哉|extra=24 December 1925 – 22 January 2017}} was a Japanese businessman and founder of [[Namco]], the third largest video game developing entity in Japan. |
{{nihongo|'''Masaya Nakamura'''|中村 雅哉|extra=24 December 1925 – 22 January 2017}} was a Japanese businessman and founder of [[Namco]], the third largest video game developing entity in Japan. Nakamura stepped down as Namco's CEO in 2002 and took a ceremonial role in the company's management, three years before Namco merged with [[Bandai]], forming [[Bandai Namco]]. Nakamura was awarded by the [[government of Japan|Japanese government]] the "[[Order of the Rising Sun]], Gold Rays with Rosette" in 2007 for contributing to Japanese industry. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Nakamura also led Namco to manage a chain of now-defunct theme parks across Japan.<ref name="nytimes"/> After Namco bought the film studio [[Nikkatsu]] in 1993, Nakamura became involved in film production and was credited as executive producer on a number of Nikkatsu movies.<ref name=variety/> In 2002, Nakamura stepped down as CEO, taking on a more ceremonial role in the company's management.<ref name="nytimes"/> Namco later merged with rival [[Bandai]] to form [[Bandai Namco Holdings|Bandai Namco]] in 2005, with Nakamura retaining an honorary position in its entertainment arm, [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]].<ref name=jt/> At this point, Nakamura was Japan's 68th richest person.<ref name="nytimes"/> |
Nakamura also led Namco to manage a chain of now-defunct theme parks across Japan.<ref name="nytimes"/> After Namco bought the film studio [[Nikkatsu]] in 1993, Nakamura became involved in film production and was credited as executive producer on a number of Nikkatsu movies.<ref name=variety/> In 2002, Nakamura stepped down as CEO, taking on a more ceremonial role in the company's management.<ref name="nytimes"/> Namco later merged with rival [[Bandai]] to form [[Bandai Namco Holdings|Bandai Namco]] in 2005, with Nakamura retaining an honorary position in its entertainment arm, [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]].<ref name=jt/> At this point, Nakamura was Japan's 68th richest person.<ref name="nytimes"/> |
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The [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]] awarded Nakamura the |
The [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]] awarded Nakamura the "[[Order of the Rising Sun]], Gold Rays with Rosette" in their 2007 Spring Conferment of Decorations for his contribution to Japanese industry.<ref> [http://www.coinoptoday.com/newsflash/news/namco-usa_2007-07-11_nakamura.html NAMCO AMERICA INC – Masaya Nakamura receives prestigious award] coinopTODAY.com, 25 October 2007 (retrieved 2007-25-10)</ref> Nakamura was inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame in [[Ottumwa, Iowa]] at The Big Bang Gaming Extravaganza, which took place from 5–8 August 2010.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38799306 | title = 'Father of Pac-Man' Masaya Nakamura dies | date = 30 January 2017 | accessdate = 30 January 2017 | work = [[BBC]] }}</ref> Nakamura acknowledged his induction via a video feed. Pac-Man was also inducted and honored at a party celebrating his 30th birthday. Pac-Man was present in Ottumwa for the festivities.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38565057/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/iowa-towns-claim-gaming-fame-gets-cornier/#.WI-o_F_57IU | title = Iowa Town's Claim to Gamin Fame Gets Cornier | first = Winda | last = Benedetti | date = 5 August 2010 | accessdate = 30 January 2017 | work = [[NBC News]] }}</ref> |
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Nakamura died on 22 January 2017 at the age of 91. The announcement of his death was made by Bandai Namco on 30 January, requesting respect for his family's privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2017/01/namco-founder-masaya-nakamura-dies-91|title=Namco founder Masaya Nakamura dies at 91|work=Gematsu|first=Sal|last=Romano|date=30 January 2017|accessdate=30 January 2017}}</ref> His funeral and wake were held privately, but the company plans to offer a separate public memorial service for Nakamura.<ref name="wapost ap"/> |
Nakamura died on 22 January 2017 at the age of 91. The announcement of his death was made by Bandai Namco on 30 January, requesting respect for his family's privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2017/01/namco-founder-masaya-nakamura-dies-91|title=Namco founder Masaya Nakamura dies at 91|work=Gematsu|first=Sal|last=Romano|date=30 January 2017|accessdate=30 January 2017}}</ref> His funeral and wake were held privately, but the company plans to offer a separate public memorial service for Nakamura.<ref name="wapost ap"/> |
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Revision as of 22:52, 30 January 2017
Masaya Nakamura | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 December 1925 |
| Died | 22 January 2017 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
Masaya Nakamura (中村 雅哉, 24 December 1925 – 22 January 2017) was a Japanese businessman and founder of Namco, the third largest video game developing entity in Japan. Nakamura stepped down as Namco's CEO in 2002 and took a ceremonial role in the company's management, three years before Namco merged with Bandai, forming Bandai Namco. Nakamura was awarded by the Japanese government the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" in 2007 for contributing to Japanese industry.
Biography
Nakamura was born on 24 December 1925.[1] He graduated from Yokohama Institute of Technology in 1948 while studying ship-building.[2] He then founded Nakamura Manufacturing, a company which created kiddie rides for department stores, in 1955, in the wake of Japan's economic recovery from World War II.[1][3] In one such business deal, Nakamura secured a deal with the department store chain Mitsukoshi in the early 1960s to install a ride on the building's rooftop. The ride was very popular, and Mitsukoshi commissioned Nakamura's company to install similar rides across all their stores.[1] The company was later renamed Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company (or the initialism "NAMMCo!", from which Namco was derived) in 1977.[4][5]
The company soon expanded from mechanical amusement rides to arcade games in the 1970s. Some of the company's first arcade games used electromechanical projection technology such as F-1 (1976).[5] Nakamura saw potential in the rising video game sector and hired a number of software engineers to allow the company develop its own, as well as testing the games himself for their amusement value.[1] He also purchased Atari, Inc.'s failing Japan division from Nolan Bushnell for $500,000, beating rival Sega's offer of $80,000; the purchase allowed Nakamura's company to distribute Atari's games for a decade, and inspired the company to their own designs.[5] Popular games, such as Galaxian (1979) and Pac-Man (1980), were introduced during the late 70s and through the 80s. Pac-Man was developed by one of Nakamura's new hires, Toru Iwatani, with Nakamura having suggested the "Pac" name as a shortened form of pakku, the sound the character made while it ate dots and ghosts on the screen.[6] Pac-Man became the company's runaway hit, leading to several sequels including Ms. Pac-Man (1981). As of 2016, Pac-Man is the highest-grossing arcade game of all time, earning $3.5 billion by 1990 or $7.68 billion adjusted for 2016 inflation.[7] Nakamura said in a 1983 interview that though he did expect it to be successful, "I never thought it would be this big".[1] Nakamura is considered to be one of the first to identify the potential of "screen addiction" due to how much younger people would play Pac-Man and his company's other games.[1] Namco also invested in the handheld and console gaming market, which took off in the late 80s, with the success of Ridge Racer (1993) and Tekken (1994).[2] Because of his vision in developing arcade games, Nakamuara is often considered "the father of Pac-Man",[4] and credited as one of the instrumental people behind Japan's video game industry.[8]
Nakamura also led Namco to manage a chain of now-defunct theme parks across Japan.[1] After Namco bought the film studio Nikkatsu in 1993, Nakamura became involved in film production and was credited as executive producer on a number of Nikkatsu movies.[3] In 2002, Nakamura stepped down as CEO, taking on a more ceremonial role in the company's management.[1] Namco later merged with rival Bandai to form Bandai Namco in 2005, with Nakamura retaining an honorary position in its entertainment arm, Bandai Namco Entertainment.[2] At this point, Nakamura was Japan's 68th richest person.[1]
The Japanese government awarded Nakamura the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" in their 2007 Spring Conferment of Decorations for his contribution to Japanese industry.[9] Nakamura was inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame in Ottumwa, Iowa at The Big Bang Gaming Extravaganza, which took place from 5–8 August 2010.[10] Nakamura acknowledged his induction via a video feed. Pac-Man was also inducted and honored at a party celebrating his 30th birthday. Pac-Man was present in Ottumwa for the festivities.[11]
Nakamura died on 22 January 2017 at the age of 91. The announcement of his death was made by Bandai Namco on 30 January, requesting respect for his family's privacy.[12] His funeral and wake were held privately, but the company plans to offer a separate public memorial service for Nakamura.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sobel, Jonathan (30 January 2017). "Masaya Nakamura, Whose Company Created Pac-Man, Dies at 91". New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Kikuchi, Daisuke (30 January 2017). "'Father of Pac-Man,' Masaya Nakamura, dies at age 91". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ a b Frater, Patrick (30 January 2017). "'Pac-Man' Pioneer Masaya Nakamura, Founder of Namco, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ a b Good, Owen (30 January 2017). "Namco's founder and 'father of Pac-Man' dies at 91". Polygon. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Walton, Mark (30 January 2017). "Namco founder and "Father of Pac-Man" has died". Ars Technica. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ a b Kageyama, Yuri (30 January 2017). "Masaya Nakamura, founder of Pac-Man video-game company, dies at 91". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ Rignall, Jaz (1 January 2016). "Top 10 Highest-Grossing Arcade Games of All Time". US Gamer. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ Wattercutter, Angela (30 January 2017). "Masaya Nakamura—the 'Father of Pac-Man'—Dies at 91". Wired. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ NAMCO AMERICA INC – Masaya Nakamura receives prestigious award coinopTODAY.com, 25 October 2007 (retrieved 2007-25-10)
- ^ "'Father of Pac-Man' Masaya Nakamura dies". BBC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ Benedetti, Winda (5 August 2010). "Iowa Town's Claim to Gamin Fame Gets Cornier". NBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ Romano, Sal (30 January 2017). "Namco founder Masaya Nakamura dies at 91". Gematsu. Retrieved 30 January 2017.