Rumor has it that a certain Nintendo legend, Hideki Konno, has tiptoed away from the company like a shy Koopa in the night. Just when everyone was minding their business in the Mushroom Kingdom, the news broke that Konno hung up his Nintendo cap last July, as reported by the keen-eyed sleuths over at Famiboards. No neon announcement, no trumpet fanfare, just a casual ‘Peace out, folks’ on his Facebook page. Quite the dramatic exit for someone who helped put Nintendo on the map!
From Shy Beginnings to Electric Euphoria
At the ripe old age of 60, Konno has quite the portfolio. Joining the Nintendo family in 1986, he started as the assistant director for the beloved duo of Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros 2 and Super Mario Bros 3, where level design became his playground. By the time Super Mario World rolled around, he was flexing his map-making muscles and directing numerous fan-favorites like Yoshi’s Island, Luigi’s Mansion, and yes, let’s not forget about the city-building chaos of SimCity.
Racing into the Sunset
But fo’ real, it’s the Mario Kart series that seems to have nestled into many gamers’ hearts—and who better than Konno to steer that ship? He directed the first Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, and later took on producer duties for a ‘little’ thing called Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, among others. Not to mention his heartfelt ‘Special Thanks’ credit in Mario Kart World, which is practically the crown jewel on his already shining résumé.
The Great Departure Wave
It’s uncanny how this announcement about Konno’s departure came on the heels of another Nintendo veteran, Kensuke Tanabe, waving goodbye after approaching the big 4-0 in Nintendo years. Tanabe, who also started his journey at Nintendo in ‘86, announced that Metroid Prime 4 would be his swan song, while leaving fans whispering about producer Risa Tabata potentially taking the reigns for any future ventures. Talk about leaving the party just as it starts to get wild!
Old Timers’ Club
Both Konno and Tanabe, at 60 and 62 respectively, are part of the illustrious Old Timers’ Club at Nintendo, where members get together and share stories about the good ol’ Famicom days. Among this golden cohort, you’ll find luminaries like Shigeru Miyamoto, the 72-year-old godfather of Mario, who’s still got plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Let’s not forget his equally legendary companions: Yoshio Sakamoto (65), the masterful director of Super Metroid, and Takashi Tezuka (64), a true Mario designer. Meanwhile, Koji Kondo (63) and Eiji Aonuma (62) continue to make hearts sing with their iconic scores and Zelda magic. It’s like a retirement home for game developers, albeit one where everyone still has plenty of creative fire left.
A Legacy on the Track
As the pixels fade on his Nintendo career, Konno leaves behind a legacy that’s sure to race on through the next generations of gamers. From karting shenanigans to enchanting worlds, the code he’s given life to will no doubt continue fueling pixel-hungry fans for years to come. Who knew leaving could be so… entirely understated?
