By far the most beautiful piece of pixel art you've ever done. Not only because of graphics and the style, but also because...well, that it's dedicated to such a great man and has such a deep significance. I'll admit, I always had my head stuck in a SEGA game or was busy trying to make my own, and just generally was busy with other games. But when I play the new pokemon games, I can't deny that I feel close to my pokemon, silly as it is. I'll never let Blaze the male Braixen off my team. I'll swap out others for battle, but I'll never swap out Blaze. He's special, and not just because he's quite literally a cross-dressing pokemon. He's special because he's mine, as well as unique.
But I see other pokemon as special on the game, too. I always take my Cubone out of the box to play with and feed him in Amie, along with the rest of my "personal army" that I keep only to play with. I love to see their happy expressions when the receive a treat or get pet in their favorite spot.
"It's silly to get so deep into a game, stop making all these theories and believing others." I've always been told. My parents were always incredibly logical people, my mother being far less understanding. But my dad and I are very close, it is almost shocking he can't understand my love for games. But he didn't grow up in that era, so he doesn't really have a way to learn.
Games are a gateway to another world. A world where you can be happy. A world where you can do whatever you want, and no one can stop you. Be it caring for animals in Harvest Moon or carrying out violent desires in GTA, there's always a game out there that at least somewhat helps you feel like you can escape. It's more than entertainment, it's a world of possibility.
If you asked me a few weeks ago who Mr. Iwata was, I would have not known. I was never the biggest Nintendo fan. But I have to admit, when I heard who he was and what a great man he was, and then heard that he died, I felt the sorrow of the gamers who are going to miss him. I may not know him well, but I know a genius when I see one. It is because of pokemon I have gotten into pixel art myself, and am planning on making a game of my own. Mr. Iwata was a genius in every way with the many games he made.
I love games. I'm proud to be a gamer. And I'm sad to see such a fantastic man go. But people come and go, and we must accept that they will. But it never means goodbye. Just..."See you later". Much later. One day, we're going to ride up that rainbow road that showed up over the Nintendo HQ, and meet Mr. Iwata there.
Goodbye, Mr. Iwata. We will never forget you. <3