Nintendo Of America Cofounder Passes Away At 71

Nintendo of America cofounder Alan "Al" Stone has passed away. Gamasutra and Intergame report that Stone left us on Friday, February 17 due to cancer. He was 71.

Stone cofounded Nintendo of America in 1981. He played a major role in helping to bring Nintendo's coin-operated games such as Donkey Kong and Radar Scope to the United States.

"He had bravely fought that terrible disease, yet throughout all maintained his dignity and humor," a friend said, as reported by Intergame. "He was a businessman with the highest integrity and the finest business ethic."

After his time at Nintendo, Stone moved on to Sega, where he served as president and CEO of the company's arcade division, Sega Enterprises. Most recently, Stone was a member of the board of directors at Nonotech Media.

You can watch this video to see Stone talk about his life and accomplishments.