Last week the world was shocked when it was reported that Robin Williams, legendary screen actor and avid gamer, died in his home at age 63. For many, Williams characterized their childhood with movies such as Aladdin, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Hook and more. Not only was Robin an amazing actor and impersonator, he was a huge fan of the Legend of Zelda series as well. So much so that Williams named his only daughter Zelda, after Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda series.
Late last week an online petition sprung up that asked Nintendo to consider immortalizing Robin Williams in one of their games, given what a dedicated fan he was. Nintendo has declined to make any comment in regards to the petition, but a spokesperson from Nintendo stated:
Robin Williams was loved at Nintendo. Our hearts go out to his entire family, and especially to Zelda Williams who we’ve worked with multiple times. We appreciate the outpouring of support from the gaming community, and hear the request of fans to honor him in a future game. We will not be discussing what might be possible for future games during this difficult time, but we will hold our memories of Robin close.
It’s understandable that Nintendo is being somewhat shy in addressing the issue, as the news of Williams’ death is only a week old and given that the loss is still raw for many fans, it’s a respectful decision to make. Either way, it’s obvious that Nintendo doesn’t want to appear to be captializing on the death of such a high-profile star, which is a laudable position to take. Perhaps we’ll see a brief nod to the legendary actor in the upcoming Zelda game, as an easter egg for dedicated fans to find.
Thanks Ducked!