Yokoi-san's family will accept the award during the Game Developers Choice Awards at this years GDC. Yuji Naka to present.
Game Boy Creator Gunpei Yokoi to Receive IGDA'S Lifetime Achievement Award At The 3rd Annual Game Developers Choice Awards
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - February 20, 2003 - The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) will recognize legendary game developer Gunpei Yokoi for the innovative work he produced during his career. Yokoi will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony on March 6 during CMP Media's Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Jose, Calif. Last year's recipient, Yuji Naka, will be presenting the award, which Yokoi's family will be accepting on his behalf.
"I am as deeply honored to be presenting this award as I was to receive it," said Yuji Naka, president and CEO, SONICTEAM, LTD., a SEGA development studio. "To have a life's work recognized by other game creators is the most meaningful honor one could receive."
In a career spanning nearly three decades, Yokoi is best known as the creator of the Nintendo Game Boy. Overwhelmingly popular since its launch, the Game Boy and its successors have sold more than 142 million units worldwide.
During his early years at Nintendo, Yokoi led the company's entry into the video game space, creating the Game & Watch -- a credit card-sized video game that introduced the cross-shaped directional pad. He went on to collaborate with Shigeru Miyamoto to design arcade classics such as "Donkey Kong," "Mario Brothers" and "Metroid."
In 1996, Yokoi founded Koto Laboratory, while continuing to consult for Nintendo. Tragically, Yokoi was killed in a traffic accident the following year.
"Gunpei Yokoi is the forefather of the portable video game industry," said Jason Della Rocca, program director, IGDA. "His innovation and creativity are sorely missed in our community. We're proud to recognize Yokoi-san and his work with the Lifetime Achievement Award."
The Game Developers Choice Awards Advisory Board selects the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The ceremony for the 3rd annual Game Developers Choice Awards, the premier accolades for peer-recognition in game development, is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. on March 6, 2003, at the GDC. Produced by the Gama Network, the GDC is the world's largest conference and exposition dedicated to video game development and related industries.
