Metroid Database.com

This day marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Gunpei Yokoi, the legendary game designer and engineer who created the Metroid series along with a host of other amazing games and devices. He died in a tragic automobile accident on October 4, 1997; he would be 66 today.

Gunpei Yokoi is famous not only for his games but also for helping develop and popularize technology like the D-Pad, light gun, and the Game Boy, which have changed the way we play. He was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony in 2003 for all the amazing things he accomplished in his eventful life.

From the Ultra Hand and the Game Boy to Metroid and the Wonder Swan, Gunpei Yokoi made us smile and laugh, helping us enjoy our world. And yes, there are even many who love his Virtual Boy! To bring so much joy to others is truly one of the greatest things that anyone can accomplish in their lifetime.

Gunpei Yokoi's legacy lives on in every game of Metroid we play and in every incarnation of Game Boy or Wonderswan we pick up. He helped make games what they are today and for that we are forever grateful. Somewhere out there, I hope he can see us playing the games he helped make and their legacies, and is warmed by each of our smiles, laughs, and joys he helped give to us. Though the man has gone, his spirit and legend live forever in his games and in our hearts.

So long, game boy; there was never anyone else quite like you. We think of you with every mission.

This is dedicated to the family and friends of Gunpei Yokoi.

List of Inventions and Gameology

Devices
Ultra Hand (1970)
Ultra Machine (a baseball pitching device)
Love Tester
Ten Billion Barrel puzzle
Nintendo Beam Gun
Game & Watch (helping popularize the D-Pad; 1980-1991)
Robot Operating Buddy (R.O.B.)
Gameboy (1989)
Virtual Boy (1995)
WonderSwan (1999)

Arcade
Donkey Kong (1981)
Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)
Mario Bros. (1983)

NES
Dr. Mario (1990)
Kid Icarus (1986)
Metroid (1986)
Yoshi's Cookie (1992)

Game Boy
Balloon Kid (1990)
Dr. Mario (1990)
Kaero no tame ni Kane wa Naru (1992)
Kirby's Block Ball (1996)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991)
Solar Striker (1990)
Super Mario Land (1989)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994)
Yoshi's Cookie (1992)

SNES
Battle Clash (1992)
Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (1996)
Famicom Tantei Kurabu Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo (1998)
Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge (1993)
Panel de Pon
Super Metroid (1994)
Tetris Attack (1995)
Yoshi's Cookie (1992)

Virtual Boy
3D Tetris (1996)
Galactic Pinball (1996)
Mario's Tennis (1995)
Teleroboxer (1995)

Nintendo DS and PSP (Posthumously)
Gunpey (2007)

Until next time...
Captain Commando