Буржуй
02-05-2008, 02:06 PM
Game researcher ducks millions in royalties
Co-developer of multi-million seller 'Brain Age' gave royalty share to college construction efforts.
Ryuta Kawashima, the researcher behind Nintendo's Brain Age (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ds/brain-age-train-your-brain-in-minutes-a-day/) 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 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080131/tc_afp/lifestylejapangamepeople). 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.
Co-developer of multi-million seller 'Brain Age' gave royalty share to college construction efforts.
Ryuta Kawashima, the researcher behind Nintendo's Brain Age (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ds/brain-age-train-your-brain-in-minutes-a-day/) 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 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080131/tc_afp/lifestylejapangamepeople). 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.