I just read this article about Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the founder of the popular Brain Age games on the Nintendo DS.
But instead of taking the millions of dollars (yen) in royalties he would have received and keeping it for himself/his family, he donated to the university he works at. My favorite quote is at the end of the article:
“My hobby is work,” he said. “Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it.”
Heh. What would you have done?
Game researcher ducks millions in royalties
Co-developer of multi-million seller ‘Brain Age’ gave royalty share to college construction efforts.
By Mike Smith
Ryuta Kawashima, the researcher behind Nintendo’s Brain Age series of games for the DS portable system, would rather be working than enjoying $11 million in royalties he could have earned from his creations.
“Not a single yen has gone in my pocket,” Dr. Kawashima told the AFP in a recent interview. Kawashima, whose likeness was heavily featured in the best-selling Brain Age games, is instantly recognizable to almost 12 million gamers worldwide.
Under the terms of his agreement with his employer, Tohoku University in Japan’s north-east region, Kawashima was entitled to accept half the Brain Age royalties personally. Instead, he used the proceeds to help fund $6.5 million in construction projects on Tohoku’s campus.
“My hobby is work,” he said. “Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it.”
Kawashima, who strictly monitors his teenage sons’ gaming time, is currently working on a four-year project to study brain development in children. He’s also cooperating with Toyota to develop a car designed to keep elderly drivers alert.
(Image credit: Brain Age image generator)
Caption credit: Ernie
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Xxxtine wrote:
As charitable as this guys sounds, I don’t think that was smart of him. I find the situation ironic on so many levels. It’s one thing to need to feel purposeful but it’s completely another to give the entire amount and not think about the comforts of his future.
Posted on 05-Feb-08 at 2:50 pm | Permalink
yoshi wrote:
He’s most likely already well off.
But yeah, I wouldn’t have given it to charity. I would have put it towards something that I could have profited more from. stocks, investements, whatever.
But I can *almost* see where he’s coming from. And honestly, if you want money, you do have to go out and earn it. Unless you win the lottery of course.
Posted on 05-Feb-08 at 3:17 pm | Permalink
Robert wrote:
That’s very admirable about him. Stupid…but admirable.
Posted on 05-Feb-08 at 3:30 pm | Permalink
Takeo wrote:
He gave back the university. I know universities are industries just like anything else, but hey it could be worse.
Despite what you may think there are people in this world who are totally fulfilled by their work. Isn’t it enough that he loves what he does?
Posted on 07-Feb-08 at 2:57 pm | Permalink
jozjozjoz.com » Blog Archive » Maybe I should stop blogging. wrote:
[...] first is The Brain Age Guy: If you want money, go out and earn it. The post itself is not all that great, but Ernie spiffed it up for me with the awesomest graphic [...]
Posted on 08-Feb-08 at 12:09 am | Permalink