…to Minoru Arakawa, former Nintendo of America(NoA) president, and Howard Lincoln, chairman emeritus of NoA.  

 

This Award went to Arakawa and Lincoln due to their work back in the 1980s, following the Videogame Market crash of 1983. Because of their efforts, the effects of the crash were reversed and the market not only stablized, but flourished into the multi billion dollar industry that we have now.

 

The buisness model pioneered by these two can still be felt in the market today. They only allowed quality material and strict 3rd-Party licensing, in order to prevent another crash from occuring.[Things seem a bit more lax these days -ED.]

 

As a person who loves games, I do believe that these two are completely deservant of the award. So next time you pick up your stylus or your Wii-Mote, think of these guys for allowing those things to be possible.

 

Read other articles at GameDaily BIZ and Joystiq.