Gunpei Yokoi (横井 軍平 sometimes transliterated
Gumpei Yokoi) (1941-1997) is most likely one of the most important figures in the history of Nintendo. If it weren't for him, The
Game Boy never would have been created, and Nintendo might not exist! Yokoi also created the
Metroid series and revolutionized the meaning of "adventure games." The only low point in his career was the creation of the
Virtual Boy[?], which was known to give people severe headaches, had only a few games for it, and was a general failure. Unfortunately, in 1997, Yokoi was tragically killed in a car accident.