Masayuki Uemura: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Japanese engineer, video game producer, and professor (1943–2021)}}

| name = Masayuki Uemura

| image = Masayuki_Uemura.jpg

| caption = Uemura in 1985, testing the [[Famicom]]

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|06|20|df=y}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|12|6|1943|06|20|df=y}}

| alma_mater = [[Chiba Institute of Technology]]<ref name="imidas">{{cite web|url=https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-102-02-11.html|title=「ファミコン生みの親」、大学教授に|language=Japanese|date=November 2002|website=imidas|accessdate=May 1, May 2021}}</ref>

| occupation = General Manager at [[Nintendo R&D2]]<br/>Professor at [[Ritsumeikan University]]

{{nihongo|'''Masayuki Uemura'''|上村雅之|Uemura Masayuki|extra=20 June 1943 – 6 December 2021}} was a Japanese engineer, video game producer, and professor. He was known for his work as an employee of [[Nintendo]] from 1971 to 2004, most notably for serving as a key factor in the development of the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System.]].

A former employee of [[Sharp Corporation]], Uemura joined Nintendo in 1971<ref name="jmaf">{{cite web|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/2015/achievement/19saa02_UEMURA_Masayuki/|title=UEMURA Masayuki|website=Japan Media Arts Festival Archive|accessdate=May 1, May 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204205135/http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/en/festival/2015/achievement/19saa02_UEMURA_Masayuki/|archivedate=4 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=上村雅之さん 大いに語る。 ファミリーコンピュータ インタビュー（後編）（2013年10月号より）|url=https://www.ndw.jp/post-714/|access-date=9 December 2021-12-09|website=Nintendo DREAM WEB|date=21 July 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> working with [[Gunpei Yokoi]] and [[Genyo Takeda]] on [[solar cell]] technology for the [[Laser Clay Shooting System]] arcade game.<ref name="7 things">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/18/9554885/nintendo-entertainment-system-famicom-history-masayuki-uemura|title=7 things I learned from the designer of the NES|website=[[The Verge]]|date=18 October 18, 2015|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021|last=O'Kane|first=Sean}}</ref><ref name="gun game">{{cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/02/the-gun-game-that-nearly-broke-nintendo/|title=The Gun Game That Nearly Broke Nintendo|website=[[Kotaku Australia]]|date=3 February 3, 2015|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="slovakia">{{cite web|url=https://actaludologica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/05-UEMURA-MAGO-%E2%80%93-AL-1-2018.pdf|title=THE "FATHER" OF THE NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IN SLOVAKIA FOR THE FIRST TIME- Interview with Masayuki UEMURA|publisher=Acta Ludologica|date=2008|last=Mago|first=Zdenko|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="yokoi">{{cite web|url=https://www.nsidr.com/archive/profile-gunpei-yokoi|title=Profile: Gunpei Yokoi|website=nsidr|date=23 October 23, 2000|last=Grajqevci|first=Jeton|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref> After becoming General Manager of [[Nintendo R&D2]], Uemura served as the lead architect for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] game consoles.<ref name="gameindustry">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-11-19-nintendo-has-always-been-like-that-we-are-like-indies|title="Nintendo has always been like that, we are like indies"|website=[[gameindustry.biz]]|date=24 November 24, 2015|last=Brightman|first=James|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="nlife interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/12/feature_nes_creator_masayuki_uemura_on_building_the_console_that_made_nintendo_a_household_name|title=Feature: NES Creator Masayuki Uemura On Building The Console That Made Nintendo A Household Name|website=[[Nintendo Life]]|date=23 December 23, 2020|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021|last=Ahmed|first=Sayem}}</ref><ref name="usgamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/nes-creator-masayuki-uemura-on-the-birth-of-nintendos-first-console|title=NES Creator Masayuki Uemura on the Birth of Nintendo's First Console|website=[[USgamer]]|date=11 December 11, 2018|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="uemura talk">{{cite web|url=http://www.juicygamereviews.com/retro-game-reviews/designing-the-nintendo-entertainment-system-masayuki-uemura-talk|title=Designing the Nintendo Entertainment System – Masayuki Uemura talk|website=Juicy Game Reviews|date=January 31, January 2016|accessdate=May 1, May 2021}}</ref><ref name="mashable">{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2015/10/19/nintendo-nes-launch-atari/|title=How Nintendo brought the NES to America — and avoided repeating Atari's mistakes|website=[[Mashable]]|date=19 October 19, 2015|last=Stark|first=Chelsea|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A53gdHXwxHg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/A53gdHXwxHg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Masayuki Uemura|publisher=NYU Game Center|website=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=May 1, May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He retired from Nintendo in 2004 and became director for the Center for Game Studies at [[Ritsumeikan University]].<ref name="imidas" /><ref name="kotaku">{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-designer-of-the-nes-dishes-the-dirt-on-nintendos-ea-1844296906|title=The Designer Of The NES Dishes The Dirt On Nintendo's Early Days|website=[[Kotaku]]|date=7 July 7, 2020|last=Alt|first=Matt|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref>

Uemura graduated from the [[Chiba Institute of Technology]] with a degree in [[electronic engineering]].<ref name="imidas2imidas">{{cite web|date=November 2002|title=「ファミコン生みの親」、大学教授に|url=https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-102-02-11.html|website=imidas|language=Japanese|accessdate=May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 December 2021-12-10|title='Father' of the Nintendo Family Computer console dies at 78|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14499620|url-status=live|access-date=10 December 2021-12-10|website=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]|language=en}}</ref> He wrote in his autobiography that he very much enjoyed his learning years.

Uemura originally worked at Sharp Corporation after graduating from college, selling solar cell batteries. He sold [[photocell]] technology to several companies, including Nintendo, who used it for a [[light gun]] product, called a "ray gun".<ref name="eurogamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-03-15-the-man-who-made-the-nes|title=The man who made the NES|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=15 March 15, 2020|last=Robinson|first=Martin|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="fds interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0408/interv/index.html|title=上村氏インタビュー|language=Japanese|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=1 May 1,2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205173218/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0408/interv/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gunpei Yokoi, Nintendo's main toy designer at the time, discussed with him the possibility of using Sharp's solar cells on interesting products, using their light-detecting capabilities for a shooting game. Thus, they, alongside [[Genyo Takeda]], produced electronic light gun games where the gun would shoot a beam of light at the photocells, which would act as targets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20080929/1019224/?P=2|title=【任天堂「ファミコン」はこうして生まれた】|language=Japanese|publisher=[[The Nikkei]]|date=30 September 30, 2008|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021|archivedate=6 October 6, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006082412/http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20080929/1019224/?P=2}}</ref><ref name="yokoi" /><ref name="7 things" /> After Uemura was hired for Nintendo in 1971, they released the Laser Clay Shooting System in January 1973, an arcade game where players shot at projected images of [[pigeon]]s, with shots registered by photoreceptors. Though it was initially successful, the [[1973 oil crisis]] led to the cancellation of most orders for the machine, leaving Nintendo, which borrowed money to expand the business, approximately ¥5 billion in debt.<ref name="gun game" /> As the company recovered, they then produced a miniaturized version of the concept for the home market, 1976's Duck Hunt, a success that would later be adapted into the [[Duck Hunt|1984 video game of the same name.]]<ref name="gun game" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/02/video-1976-duck/|title=Video: 1976 Duck Hunt|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|last=Kohler|first=Chris|date=27 February 27, 2007|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref>

When then-Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] split Nintendo into separate research & development divisions, he appointed UemaraUemura as head of R&D2, a division that focused on hardware.<ref name="eurogamer"/><ref name="kotaku"/><ref name="30 years">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/10/4510068/the-famicoms-creator-reflects-on-30-years-of-8-bit-bliss|title=The Famicom's creator reflects on 30 years of 8-bit bliss|date=10 July 10, 2013|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> Uemura led the development of the [[Color TV-Game]] line of dedicated consoles.<ref name="jmaf"/>

In November 1981,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mario25th/1/0|title=Volume 2 : NES & Mario|page=1. Bringing Video Games Home|website=[[Iwata Asks]]|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref> Uemura received a phone call from Yamauchi, who asked him to make "something that lets you play arcade games on your TV at home."<ref name="30 years"/> Collaborating with [[Ricoh]], he and his team began creating a system that could run Nintendo's hit arcade game ''[[Donkey Kong (videoarcade game)|Donkey Kong]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mario25th/1/1|title=Volume 2 : NES & Mario|page=2. Playing Donkey Kong at Home|website=[[Iwata Asks]]|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p058byy9|title=Witness History – Nintendo's Family Computer|date=18 July 18, 2017|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=2 May 2, 2021}}</ref> Released in July 1983, this console became the Family Computer (commonly known by the [[wasei-eigo|Japanese-English]] term Famicom), an 8-bit console using interchangeable [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s.<ref name="liedholm1">{{cite web|last1=Liedholm |first1=Marcus |last2=Liedholm |first2=Mattias |title=History of the Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom |website=Nintendo Land |url=http://www.nintendoland.com/home2.htm?nes/history.htm |access-date=1 May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525223925/http://www.nintendoland.com/home2.htm?nes%2Fhistory.htm |archive-date=25 May 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Despite his initial pessimism of the console,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://v1www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/123648famicom-Famicomnes-NEScreator-Creatorhad-Hadno-Nofaith-Faithin-Inthe-Theconsoles-Consoles-Successsuccess/|title=Famicom (NES) Creator Had No Faith In The Console's Success|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|date=30 April 30, 2013|last=Bogos|first=Steve|accessdate=May20 1,Nov 20212022}}</ref> it soon proved to be a success, selling 2.5 million units by the end of 1984.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Marty | title=Nintendo Entertainment System 20th Anniversary | date=18 October 18, 2005 | website=ClassicGaming.com | url=http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/nes20th/ |access-date=1 May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124042223/http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/nes20th/ |archive-date=24 November 24, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to the [[video game crash of 1983]], when consumers had little trust in game consoles due to poor quality control, the Famicom underwent a redesign when brought to the United States, its first [[Western world|Western market]]. The cartridge slot was changed to be front-loading to mimic the tape deck of a [[VCR]] and to reduce the risk of [[static electricity]] in drier climates, while the [[NES Zapper]] was bundled to appeal to Americans' interest in guns.<ref name="usgamer"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/nes_creator_reveals_the_shocking_story_behind_that_infamous_flap|title=NES Creator Reveals The "Shocking" Story Behind That Infamous Flap|website=[[Nintendo Life]]|date=28 February 28, 2020|last=Packwood|first=Lewis|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref> Rebranded as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the console would also prove successful overseas.<ref name="BBC"/> Uemura then designed the [[Famicom Disk System]], a Japan-only add-on for the Famicom that played games on [[floppy disk]]s.<ref name="fds interview"/>

In 1988, Uemura began designing the Super Famicom, the Famicom's 16-bit successor, which would be demonstrated to the Japanese press.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/SFC_1988Q4.html|title=The First Super Famicom Demonstration|last=Covell | first=Chris|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/SFC_1989Q3.html|title=The Second SFC Demonstration|last=Covell | first=Chris|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref> He and his team worked with [[Ken Kutaragi]], an engineer from [[Sony]] who designed the system's [[sound chip]] and would later develop the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/father-of-playstation-ken-kutaragi-on-rumors-the-industry-and-nintendo/|title=Father of PlayStation Ken Kutaragi on Rumors, the Industry, and Nintendo|website=[[Siliconera]]|date=20 March 20, 2021|accessdate=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/farewell-father-article|title=Farewell, Father|last=Fahey|first=Rob|date=27 April 2007|website=Eurogamer|access-date=1 May 1, 2021}}</ref> First released in Japan in 1990, it would be christened the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the West. In 1995, his team released the [[Satellaview]], an add-on for the Super Famicom that let players download content via satellite broadcast.<ref name="slovakia"/>

During his time at Nintendo, he also produced video games, including ''[[Soccer (1985 video game)|Soccer]]'', ''[[Baseball (1983 video game)|Baseball]]'', ''[[Golf (1984 video game)|Golf]]'', ''[[Clu Clu Land]]'', and ''[[Ice Climber]],'' and ''[[Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima]]''.<ref name="NintendoLife-Obit">{{Cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien |date=9 December 2021-12-09|title=Masayuki Uemura, Creator Of The NES And SNES, Has Passed Away|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/12/masayuki-uemura-creator-of-the-nes-and-snes-has-passed-away|access-date=9 December 2021-12-09|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Staff Credits - Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima (Super Famicom) - Kyoto Report |url=http://kyoto-report.wikidot.com/marvelous |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=kyoto-report.wikidot.com}}</ref>

Uemura retired from Nintendo in 2004, remaining an advisor in the Research and Engineering Department. He became a professor at Ritsumeikan University, researching and teaching about video games.<ref name="jmaf"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mario25th/4/5|title=Volume 5 : Original Super Mario Developers|page=6. The Super Mario Preservation Society|website=[[Iwata Asks]]|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=May 1, May 2021}}</ref>

On 26 February 2020, Uemura spoke at the [[National Videogame Museum (United Kingdom)|National Videogame Museum]] in the United Kingdom about his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespress.com/en-US/The-National-Videogame-Museum-welcomes-legendary-Nintendo-engineer-Mas|title=The National Videogame Museum welcomes legendary Nintendo engineer Masayuki Uemura – creator of the NES and SNES – to Sheffield.|date=February 14, February 2020|accessdate=May 1, May 2021|website=Games Press}}</ref>

Uemura died on 6 December 2021, at the age of 78.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Dooley|first1=Ben|last2=Ueno|first2=Hisako|date=2021-12-13|title=Masayuki Uemura, 78, Dies; Designed the First Nintendo Console|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/13/technology/masayuki-uemura-dead.html|access-date=2021-12-15|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="NintendoLife-Obit"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 December 2021-12-09|title=【訃報】 上村雅之先生逝去のお知らせ – 立命館大学ゲーム研究センター : Ritsumeikan Center for Game Studies (RCGS)|url=https://www.rcgs.jp/?p=1598|access-date=9 December 2021-12-09|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ashcraft |first1=Brian |title=Masayuki Uemura, Creator Of The NES And SNES, Dies At 78 |url=https://kotaku.com/masayuki-uemura-creator-of-the-nes-and-snes-dies-at-7-1848184264 |website=Kotaku |access-date=9 December 2021 |language=en-us |date=9 December 2021}}</ref>

[[Category:PeopleSharp fromCorporation Tokyopeople]]

[[Category:Academic staff of Ritsumeikan University faculty]]