Gunpei Yokoi

Developer BIO

Gunpei Yokoi (横井 軍平, September 10, 1941 – October 4, 1997) was born in Kyoto and graduated from the Doshisha University with a degree in electronics. Nintendo hired him in 1965 to maintain assembly-line machines that manufactured hanafuda cards. He worked as a planner and designer for Nintendo as far back as the 1970s, creating their first electronic toy, the Ultra Hand, and going on to create their lineup of Game & Watch games. He also was the producer of Metroid and Kid Icarus.

Yokoi is best known for designing the Game Boy, one of the most popular handheld systems in the world. He helped produce some of its most popular titles, including the Mario Land series and many first-generation titles. He also helped create the Virtual Boy, Nintendo's less popular console. Even though the Virtual Boy failed, he continued to contribute to Nintendo every now and then. Yokoi died in 1997 in a car accident, He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Japan, presented by Yuji Naka and accepted in his honor by his family.

Also Known As

• G. Yokoi
• Gumpei Yokoi

Websites

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Games Credited

• Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013), SEGA of America, Inc.
• GW Chef (2008), Mobile 1UP
• GW Fire (2008), Mobile 1UP
• GW Helmet (2008), Mobile 1UP
• GW Octopus (2008), Mobile 1UP
• GW Parachute (2008), Mobile 1UP
• Gunpey DS (2006), Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
• Densetsu no Stafi (2002), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shōjo (1998), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Game Boy Camera (included Games) (1998), Nintendo of America Inc.
• 3-D Tetris (1996), Nintendo of America Inc.
• Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (1996), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Galactic Pinball (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Kirby's Block Ball (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Mario Clash (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Mario's Tennis (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Panel de Pon (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Teleroboxer (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Tetris Attack (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Virtual Boy Wario Land (1995), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Super Metroid (1994), Nintendo of Europe GmbH
• Tetris & Dr. Mario (1994), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (1993), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge (1993), Nintendo of America Inc.
• Tetris 2 (1993), Nintendo of Europe GmbH
• Battle Clash (1992), Nintendo of America Inc.
• Kaeru no tame ni Kane wa Naru (1992), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• X (1992), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Yoshi's Cookie (1992), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Metroid II: Return of Samus (1991), Nintendo of America Inc.
• Balloon Kid (1990), Nintendo of Europe GmbH
• Dr. Mario (1990), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi (1990), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Solar Striker (1990), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Super Mario Land (1989), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Famicom Wars (1988), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Kid Icarus (1986), Nintendo Co., Ltd.
• Metroid (1986), Nintendo of America Inc.
• Wrecking Crew (1985), Nintendo Co., Ltd.