Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo Pioneer, Dead at 85

Died from pneumonia

Nintendo pioneer Hiroshi Yamauchi, who ran the games company for more than 50 years and turned it into an iconic brand, has died.

The company said: "Nintendo is in mourning today from the sad loss of the former Nintendo president Mr Hiroshi Yamauchi, who sadly passed away this morning."

Mr Yamauchi was 85 years old and died from pneumonia.

The grandson of Nintendo's founder, he saw the potential of electronic gaming in the 1970s and began the playing card company's transition into a video gaming giant.