The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) introduced Don James, a longtime chief and cornerstone of Nintendo of America’s legacy, will probably be honored with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
This recognition will probably be celebrated on the twenty eighth annual D.I.C.E Awards, happening on February 13, 2025, on the Aria Resort in Las Vegas.
James joined Nintendo of America in 1981 as one in all its first staff. As govt vp of operations, he oversaw quite a few departments together with client companies, design, experiential advertising and marketing, actual property & amenities, manufacturing engineering, high quality management, provide chain operations, buying, product testing, technical companies and technical translation.
Throughout his tenure, James was instrumental within the creation of the online game business’s present Leisure Software program Scores Board (ESRB) score system and the creation of the Interactive Digital Software program Affiliation (IDSA), at present generally known as the Leisure Software program Affiliation (ESA), the place he served on the board.
Within the early Nineteen Nineties, James was key to the creation of the world-renowned Digital Leisure Expo (E3). He was additionally an integral a part of the AIAS, serving as a board member since 1991.
James was additionally the important thing steward of Nintendo of America’s relationship with Starlight Youngsters’s Basis. He co-designed the Nintendo GameCube Starlight Enjoyable Middle in 2002 and led Nintendo of America’s assist of Starlight to convey video games and films to noticeably ailing youngsters in hospitals.
James can be an lively supporter of philanthropic organizations, together with the Fred Hutchinson Most cancers Analysis Middle and the Pratt High-quality Arts Middle.
“I am truly honored to receive this award from the Academy,” mentioned James, in a press release. “This industry is full of so many talented and creative people, and it’s been an absolute privilege getting to know and work with so many of them over the decades. My career has truly been a wild and fun ride, and I am proud of all the opportunities I was fortunate enough to receive.”
“Don James has been both a humble and integral part of the games industry, from his foundational work at Nintendo of America to his passions at the Starlight Children’s Foundation,” mentioned Meggan Scavio, President of the AIAS, in a press release. “He has driven countless impactful initiatives that have created lasting change throughout his career, including here at the Academy. We are thrilled to celebrate his extraordinary legacy and immense contributions to video game history.”
The AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for people whose accompaniments span a broad vary of disciplines over a prolonged profession within the business. Recipients are sometimes people distinguished for his or her enterprise management and usually are not essentially concerned within the growth or artistic course of. By their management and beliefs, these people have pushed important and optimistic change throughout the business.
Earlier recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award embody: Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln (2006), Ken Kutaragi (2007), Doug Lowenstein (2009), Bing Gordon(2010), Satoru Iwata (2015), Genyo Takeda (2017) and Phil Spencer (2022). Further details about all particular award honorees could be discovered right here
Tickets to the 2025 D.I.C.E. Summit and twenty eighth Annual D.I.C.E. Awards could be discovered at . Keep updated on all AIAS information by following the AIAS on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter.
