Dr Brain Training Turns Down Millions
And his family is not at all pleased about it.
The UK weekly game sales charts are a volatile place filled with newcomers and incumbents jostling for position, soaring up the chart and then sinking just as fast. But one series has managed to buck the trend.
Nintendo's Brain Training series began its life as Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for the DS in June 2006. Since then it has expanded, through a sequel on the DS and another on the Wii. All have been massive hits for Nintendo, with the original game selling more than 5 million copies in Europe alone.
With all this success, you'd think that the titular Dr Ryuta Kawashima would be enjoying the fruits of his labour. The reality for the Tohoku University professor is quite different.
In an interview with Agence France-Press, Kawashima said that "not a single yen has gone in my pocket".
And it's not because Nintendo tried to short-change the workaholic professor either.
Rather Kawashima turned down a potential ¥1.2 billion (£5.7 million) in royalties, telling the AFP that he was happy with his ¥11 million (£53,000) university salary.
"Everyone in my family is mad at me," he told the AFP, "but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it."
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
Satoru Iwata Video Interview - the late Nintendo president spoke with Kikizo in 2004 as 'Nintendo Revolution' loomed.
Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
Yu Suzuki, the Kikizo Interview - we spend time with one of gaming's most revered creators.
Tetris - The Making of an Icon: Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers reveal the fascinating story behind Tetris
Rare founders, Chris and Tim Stamper - their only interview? Genuinely 'rare' sit down with founders of the legendary studio.
The History of First-Person Shooters - a retrospective, from Maze War to Modern Warfare