BBC said:Hiroshi Yamauchi, the Japanese businessman credited with transforming Nintendo into a world-leading video games company, has died aged 85. Mr Yamauchi ran the firm for 53 years, and was its second-largest shareholder at the time of his death.
The company confirmed the news in an emailed statement. A spokesman said the firm was in mourning over the "loss of the former Nintendo president Mr Hiroshi Yamauchi, who sadly passed away this morning." Mr Yamauchi ran the company from 1949 until 2002. In that time, he took what was a small-time collectable trading card company and built it into one of the most recognisable - and successful - video games brands today.
Rob Crossley (CVG) said:"You cannot underestimate the influence the man had on the games industry, he spearheaded Nintendo as they moved into the arcade business, with hits such as Donkey Kong.
This man was the president of Nintendo during the NES, the SNES, the N64 and the Gamecube - the first two were transformative pieces of electronic entertainment."
BBC, via NeoGAF
Very sad news. No doubt many won't have heard of him, he wasn't as much of a public figure like Iwata likes to be, but he lived a long and fruitful life! From the NES to the Gamecube. Such a loss.