DICE’s biggest award will be given to an “industry visionary at Nintendo”
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is set to give its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to an “industry visionary at Nintendo of America”.
Don James, a 40-year company veteran, will be honored at the 28th annual D.I.C.E Awards, which take place on February 13, 2025, at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas.
James joined Nintendo of America in 1981 as one of its first employees. As executive vice president of operations, he oversaw multiple departments, including consumer services, design, manufacturing engineering, quality control, supply chain operations, purchasing, product testing, and more.
He was also involved in the creation of the ESRB rating system and the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), currently known as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), where he served on the board.
Don is also an active supporter of philanthropic organizations, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Pratt Fine Arts Center, and he was involved in Nintendo of America’s relationship with Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award include Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln (2006), Ken Kutaragi (2007), Doug Lowenstein (2009), Bing Gordon (2010), Satoru Iwata (2015), Genyo Takeda (2017) and Phil Spencer (2022).
“I am truly honored to receive this award from the Academy,” said Don. “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.”
Meggan Scavio, President of the AIAS added: “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
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