Gunpei Yokoi

Gunpei Yokoi Former employee of Nintendo Company Limited, having worked mainly in the development department during his time with the company. Yokoi was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1941. He was a hobbyist who would moonlight on the weekends with his own projects that included building everything from toys to radios. After graduating from Doshisha, he officially joined Nintendo in 1965, initially working as a Maintenance Engineer before becoming Producer and General Manager of Research & Development 1 Division. ➥ Extended Profile Yokoi was an inventor of toys and gadgets, who managed to showcase a prototype of his first major hit, the Ultra Hand, to then president Hiroshi Yamauchi. From factory engineer to innovative inventor, Yokoi became the first auteur to represent the company. When Nintendo formed their first official game development division, Yokoi was given the title of General Manager and head producer that resulted in world wide successes like the Game & Watch and Game Boy. His development team also created famous franchises like Metroid, Kid Icarus, Famicom Wars, Dr. Mario and Wario Land. Unfortunately, Yokoi lost his life in a traffic car accident shortly after retiring from the company.

Work History Production Group Koto Laboratory Inc. December 1996 - December 1997 Developer Nintendo Co., Ltd. April 1965 - December 1996 BS, Faculty of Engineering Doshisha University Fall 1960 – Spring 1964

Notable Works Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (1996) - Producer Tetris 2 (SNES) (1994) - Producer Super Metroid (1993) - General Producer Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (1993) - Producer Tetris 2 (1993) - Producer Tetris 2 (1993) - Producer Metroid II: Return of Samus (1992) - Producer Fire Emblem Gaiden (1991) - Producer Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (1991) - Producer Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi (1990) - Producer Tetris (1989) - Producer Tetris (1989) - Producer Famicom Wars (1988) - Producer Metroid (NES, 1986) - Producer Gumshoe (1986) - Producer Vs. Wrecking Crew (1985) - Producer Wrecking Crew (1985) - Producer Gyromite (1985) - Producer R.O.B (1985) - Producer Balloon Fight (1985) - Producer Vs. Baloon Fight (1984) - Producer Duck Hunt (1984) - Producer Game & Watch: Snoopy (1983) - Producer Game & Watch: Donkey Kong (1982) - Producer Donkey Kong (1981) - Producer Radar Scope (1980) - Producer Beam Gun Custom (1971) - Designer Fascination (1974) - Producer Wild Gunman (1974) - Producer, Engineer Laser Clay Shooting System (1973) - Producer, Engineer Beam Gun SP (1970) - Designer Ultra Machine (1967) - Designer Ultra Hand (1966) - Designer

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INFOBOX
Profile: Gunpei Yokoi / 横井 軍平 / よこい ぐんぺい
Author: Kyoto Ninja
Source: Game Credits. Facebook Japan. Nintendo Japan Homepage. Kyoto Report Investigative Methods.
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