Yamauchi-san Goes On The Offence!!! News
Chris Leyton
06/01/2005
If you read one thing this year it needs to be this; Nintendo’s former President recalls insulting Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer and Capcom’s Shinji Mikami...
Despite the videogames industry generally being in a good state of health, thereâs certainly one thing we miss more then end-of-level boss encounters and joypad smashing difficulty, and thatâs the outspoken comments of Nintendoâs former president Hiroshi Yamauchi.
In an article apparently stretching back to the Wired magazine, The Inquirer has today reported on Yamauchi-san somewhat disgruntled comments during take-over talks between Nintendo and Microsoft.
The article claims that Yamauchi-san was offended by the âabsolutely huge amounts of moneyâ offered by the Seattle giant, liking it to a âloss on a level similar to World War 2â. In a brief discussion between Yamauchi-san and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Yamauchi-san is alleged to have ended the discussions curtly with âsuck my yellow balls Mr Ballmerâ.
Naturally the hilarious comment was in Japanese and the translator on-hand was apparently too embarrassed to offer a translation â“ however it gets better. Presumably frustrated at Ballmer not being able to understand his opinion on the deal, Yamauchi-san is claimed to have stood on a chair, put his hands around his mouth and very slowly said âHey Ballmer why donât you suck my tiny yellow ballsâ â“ in English!!!.
In addition, Yamauchi-san reveals that Capcom have become a lost partner much like Square during the 90âs, describing Shinji Mikami as a âdouble faced bastardâ who personally let down Shigeru Miyamoto.
Providing a tantalising glimpse of the Nintendo Revolution, Yamauchi-san claims it is exactly that âa revolutionâ; from the technology, the software, the control method and even the âplastic the case will be made of is of a new, revolutionary kindâ.
The frank interview is well worth a read, other highlights include Yamauchi-san describing Nintendoâs current President, Satoru Iwata, creation of Kirby as âa bit dated, and letâs be honest, homosexualâ.