Nintendo execs to receive AIAS awards

Two former Nintendo of America executives are set to be recognised for their contributions to videogaming by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

Minoru Arakawa, who was president of NoA, and former chairman Howard Lincoln will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the DICE Summit, which takes place in Las Vegas on February 8.

Arakawa was responsible for establishing Nintendo of America in 1980, and remained with the company until 2002. Lincoln's career in gaming began in 1981 when he was hired as a legal advisor for Nintendo, and he also continued to work for the platform holder throughout the following decades.

The awards will be handed over by EA boss Larry Probst, who commented, "Both are pioneers whose contribution to Nintendo and to the game industry has had a profound impact on interactive entertainment. These men personify the industry's highest ideals for integrity, creativity and innovation."

AIAS president Joseph Olin added, "The impact of the work done by Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln can still be felt today. The creation of the licensed publishing model, quality approval for third party games and peripherals, and the fostering of innovative sales and marketing programs, played a significant part of Nintendo's success then, and are at the foundation of the consumer interactive entertainment business."