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Akira Tago, the mastermind, best-selling author, psychologist, puzzle-creating extraordinaire for Level-5's Layton series, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 90.

According to the Japan Times, he passed away on March 6, after falling ill to interstitial pneumonia. Tago made his name with a best-selling quiz book, "Atama no Taiso" (Brain Exercises) in 1966, which resulted in 22 sequels and 12 million copies sold by 2001.

In the world of video games, Tago has been credited as "Puzzle Master" - almost certainly one of the all-time great video game job titles - in every Professor Layton game.

In an interview with Eurogamer in 2014, Level-5 president Akihiro Hino revealed that the Layton series owes its entire existence to Tago's work - it began life as a bonus story mode in a planned release of Tago's already-published puzzles, which Hino had loved as a child.

The news is just breaking today here in the states.

SOURCE

As an enormous fan of the Layton games, this saddens me deeply. You were a creative and beautiful mind Akira Tago. And you will be fondly remembered, and greatly missed. Thank you for your work.

 

[DinohScene]

Just shared the news with me mum, who is a big fan of the Layton series.

RIP lad, cheers for the games!

 

[storm75x]

Yet another great man. He will be missed.

 

[JPnintendo]

R.I.P.

 

[BurningDesire]

I have always loved PL games. May this great man R.I.P

A gentlemen shall always mourn a great mans death
- This reminds me of a puzzle

 

[Jiehfeng]

RIP, another man also died, the pokemon creative director.

 

[Wellington2k]

I loved every Layton game, and hearing this is terrible news. His puzzles were always amazing, and it really made the game.

Rest in peace

 

[yodamerlin]

A gentleman never makes a scene in public. I'm therefore not a gentleman.

 

[Depravo]

There are three coffins. The red one has two handles. The blue has one handle but is over 5'8". The green one etc etc...

Just shared the news with me mum, who is a big fan of the Layton series

Oddly enough, that's the first thing I did upon hearing the news.

 

[Shubshub]

This week is a big week for gaming
We have lost 2 greats already this week
And also I'm not at GDC

Rest in peace Akiro Tago and Eric Medalle (The Pokemon Company international Creative Director)

 

[MrJason005]

Shame
Professor Layton is one of my all time favorites, and not a lot of games/franchises earn that honor of mine. You will be missed.

 

[Mylink5]

R.I.P. Trully an amazing man and a genius... :/

 

[tony_2018]

Damn....his games were the shit

 

[HaloEffect17]

My thoughts will be with Mr. Tago. He will truly be missed.

 

[Ericthegreat]

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Akira Tago, the mastermind, best-selling author, psychologist, puzzle-creating extraordinaire for Level-5's Layton series, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 90.



The news is just breaking today here in the states.

SOURCE

As an enormous fan of the Layton games, this saddens me deeply. You were a creative and beautiful mind Akira Tago. And you will be fondly remembered, and greatly missed. Thank you for your work.

May he rest in peace, I personaly love the layton puzzles.

 

[assassinz]

Rest in peace brother Akira Tago.

 

[Erikku]

Wow....this year, added with how many deaths happened last year, just keeps getting worse... RIP and thanks for the great Layton puzzles

 

[spotanjo3]

Wow....this year, added with how many deaths happened last year, just keeps getting worse... RIP and thanks for the great Layton puzzles

Yeah but see the world around us right now ? It is keeps getting worse and worse in the future. It is not getting better at all.

 

[Ryuzaki_MrL]

R.I.P. Akira Tago. His puzzles are the reason why Professor Layton is the best puzzle game series, in my opinion.

 

[Haider Raza]

R.I.H