Nintendo veteran receives Lifetime Achievement award

Former Nintendo of America exec and co-creator of the ESA, Don James, will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th annual DICE Awards that will be hosted on February 13th. The announcement came Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) which aims to recognize his work towards the video game industry.

Joining Nintendo of America back in 1981, Don was among one of its first employees. Rising through the ranks to vice president of operations, he managed several departments including consumer services, design, experiential marketing, quality control, product testing, technical services and more.

We’re excited to announce that @NintendoAmerica’s Don James will be honored with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The induction will take place at the 28th Annual #DICEAwards on Thursday, Feb. 13 in Las Vegas!
Learn More: https://t.co/RcHaJCsbsapic.twitter.com/JEgGHzr1j4

— Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (@Official_AIAS) December 19, 2024

“I am truly honoured to receive this award from the Academy. 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 said.

Also Read:Nintendo Switch 2 design leaked by Dbrand before official announcement

Boasting a long list of achievement

Don is also one of the key faces behind the ESRB rating system along with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Electronic Entertainment Expo, which was popularly known as E3. These are some of the most influential establishments in the gaming industry.

His achievements aren’t limited to gaming, however, as he also does philanthropic work with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Pratt Fine Arts Center. He also co-designed the Nintendo GameCube Starlight Fun Center.

“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. He has driven countless impactful initiatives that have created lasting change throughout his career, including here at the Academy,” said President of the AIAS, Meggan Scavio.