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Game Arts founder Takeshi Miyaji passes away at 45

by Jordan Mallory on Aug 1st 2011 10:00PM

G-Mode announced today that its CEO and founder Takeshi Miyaji died on July 29 at the age of 45. Cause of death was not released as part of the statement.

Miyaji co-founded Game Arts at the age of 19, and is best known for creating the Grandia series, as well as his involvement in other classics like Silpheed, GunGriffon, and Lunar: The Silver Star. In 2000, Miyaji founded G-Mode, a development studio focused on the then-emerging mobile-phone gaming market. He will be succeeded as CEO by Ryu Okoriyama, CEO of Gaia Holdings.

Via: IGN
Source: Andriasang

Tags: g-mode, Gaia-Holdings, game-arts, Grandia, GunGriffon, lunar-the-silver-star, obituary, Ryu-Okoriyama, Silpheed, takeshi-miyaji

Reader Comments (53)

I like the face that "thing" is making in the background. I know what he's thinking...

RIP, my friend.

Rest in peace. I loved a lot of his games.

Grandia is one of the great underrated RPGs. Thanks for the good times, Miyaji-san.

@Huma

I second all of this. RIP.

@The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross

I agree. I loved a lot of his games, as they always tried to do something different or new.Grandia 2 is one of the few RPGs I've actually played, and finished all the way to completion, as is Lunar and it's updates. This man was taken far too soon. Rest well man, you were a real talent in a field swarmed with mediocrity.

@shangxinab Shameless Spam is Shameless >:{

Rest in Piece I only played Grandia on an emulator for like a week. But it was one of the best RPG gaming weeks of my life.

My tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeevUfxGCs0&feature=channel_video_title

Sadly, sometimes the brightest candles flare out faster than they should. Thank you, Joystiq. I'd be unware otherwise, and I certainly appreciate the brilliant and imaginative impact Takeshi Miyaji left in my life, through his entertaining and classic games.

God this just sucks... Grandia was one of my top favorites for the PS1, and Grandia 2 one of my all-time favorites on the Dreamcast. And that picture just brings back some fun memories of Grandia...

I also really loved the Lunar game... my condolences to his family, the guy made some awesome games.

It was GunGriffon that made me buy a Sega Saturn in 1997.

This is truly sad news. My best wishes to his family and friends.

Wow, this is terrible. Rest in peace, good sir.

Rest in Peace, Takeshi Miyaji, I never got around to playing Grandia or Lunar but when I do finally play them, I'll do so in your memory. :)

R.I.P men. You made awsome video game.

*sad panda*

RIP *snif*

I remember playing Grandia late into the night, running around town, listening to the janky tunes of Parm, in search of a true hero's armaments, instilled with pure sense of wonderment and adventure.

Rest well, Takeshi Miyaji. A true hero.

Too young. RIP

Bummer.

Wow he was so young, like many of you I loved grandia 2 on dreamcast beat it twice.

Man, that sucks. Grandia II is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and my most favorite turned based RPG ever as well.

RIP.

He will be missed.

glad to see this FINALLY on a major gaming news site after several days. RIP , great mind in that guy

So sad to see this. Game Arts has definitely produced some of the best JRPGs ever. I'll forever enjoy the time I spent with the Lunar and Grandia series. Rest in peace, and condolences to the family.

Gonna replay the Grandia series in his name. Why the good must die young? R.I.P Takeshi Miyaji; your work will make you live on in the hearts of your fans.

That is sad news, Grandia is one of my favourite RPG franchises.

Both Lunar games and Grandia were some of the best games that I've ever played. Heck, I still have the original discs to all three games. It's sad to lose such a talent such as his and he will be missed. RIP dear friend.

Lunar is on of my top games of all time, right up there with final fantasy 7 and Ocarina of time. R.I.P my friend...

Very sad to hear. Grandia is one one of the greats and it has the hands down best JRPG battle system. Minds like this will be missed.

:(

...this year just sucks.

R.I.P.

I've still got my Game Arts/Sierra coffee mug.

Silpheed was one of my favorite games that they did.

RIP, thanks to you, my childhood was quite magical.:)

Thanks for sparking my imagination as a kid, Miyaji-san. I can thank you for dozens of happy hours during my childhood.

And so begins the deaths of many great video game names.

I hope it doesn't happen, but you have to realize a lot of them are getting pretty old.

@EliminatorZigma Except that 45 is not pretty old. That's a life cut short. RIP.

45?! He passed away so young. RIP. I loved Grandia and the music of that game.

Man, Grandia is one of my favorite RPG series. RIP, thank you for all the amazing games!!!

I will not grieve at the loss of a great man but honor his time when he walked with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCRAOVvO62o

This song from Grandia 1 just seems...appropriate. Since, what, fifteen years later? It can still move me.

You passed away far too soon. Rest in peace and thanks for your games and the positive impact they had on my life.

So young...

Young, suspicious death. Will we ever see another Grandia? I was kinda dreaming of a Grandia 1 remake the other day...

Oh GOD, the first Grandia. I don't know how it would stand the test of time but playing this game is one of the best of my mid teens memories. RIP Miyaji-san, your work sure made a lot of people happy.

SILPHEED was the first game of his I played on SEGA CD. Lots of fun(especially during the warp sequence). Unfortunately, I didn't get to play LUNAR on SEGA CD since it was overpriced in my area. I'll have to purchase a copy in tribute.

vaya con dios.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/387870/we-know-the-truth

45..?! shit. Rest in peace good sir.

damn. Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete blew me away and is one of the best RPG experiences I have memory of.
Sad that he was so young.

Wow, he founded his company at 19?? Now I feel really unproductive. He must've had one hell of a work ethic. RIP.

Rest in peace, sir. And thanks for Grandia.

Had his own company at 19! Good job and RIP!

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Breaking News

Game Arts founder Takeshi Miyaji passes away at 45

Reader Comments (53)

Posted: Aug 1st 2011 10:04PM drballsey said

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