# Near (programmer)

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Programmer (1983–2021)

Near Near, c. 2019 Born (1983-02-22)February 22, 1983 Died June 27, 2021(2021-06-27) (aged 38) Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan[1] Cause of death Suicide by hanging Other names David Kirk Ginder, Byuu Occupation Programmer Years active 2004–2021 Known for Video game console emulator development Notable work Higan Website near.sh (Archived)

**David Kirk Ginder** (February 22, 1983 – June 27, 2021), better known by the pseudonyms **Near** and **Byuu**,[2] was an American programmer who specialized in [emulation of video game console hardware](/source/Video_game_console_emulator). They developed [higan](/source/Higan_(emulator)), the first emulator to reach 100% compatibility with the [Super Nintendo](/source/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System) library.[3][4][5] Near also contributed to [fan translations](/source/Fan_translation_of_video_games) and SNES [preservation](/source/Video_game_preservation) efforts.

## Biography

Near started out in the emulation scene as an amateur programmer, translating Japanese video game [ROM images](/source/ROM_image) at the age of 14, and one year later developed a tool for displaying resized text font in games. After that, a *patching assembler* called "xkas" would follow, which streamlined the ROM-translation process. The development of bsnes, later known as [higan](/source/Higan_(emulator)), was triggered by bugs during translation of [Super Famicom](/source/Super_Famicom) game *[Der Langrisser](/source/Der_Langrisser)* that would only appear on the original hardware but not on 2004-era Super NES emulators; as such, the aim of bsnes was for accurate emulation.[6]

Near contributed to the [translation of the Nintendo RPG *Mother 3*](/source/Mother_3_fan_translation)[6] and to the improvement of the emulator [Snes9x](/source/Snes9x). They also engaged extensively in creating faithful copies of Super NES games for preservation.[5][7][8] They also invented the "MSU-1" mapper, which gave the Super NES 4 gigabytes of ROM space and the ability to play CD-quality audio.[9] In 2019, Near retreated from the emulation scene, after "a series of escalating privacy intrusions and targeted Internet harassment" affected their mental health.[6] In February 2021, Near released a new translation for the Super Famicom game *[Bahamut Lagoon](/source/Bahamut_Lagoon)*, a passion project that they had attempted multiple times since 1998. This is also the game where Near's former pseudonym of *byuu* comes from.[6]

## Death

In a [Twitter](/source/Twitter) [thread](/source/Conversation_threading) posted on June 27, 2021, Near stated that they were the victim of long-term harassment from [Kiwi Farms](/source/Kiwi_Farms) users. Near, who was [non-binary](/source/Non-binary_gender), said that they had endured lifelong bullying but that the abuse had recently centralized around Kiwi Farms, which had "made the harassment orders of magnitude worse".[2][10][11] Near stated that they and their friends had been doxed and goaded into suicide by members of the website, and that Near had been mocked for being [autistic](/source/Autism).[2][10][11] After posting online, Near hanged themself around 1 pm local time; an autopsy revealed anti-depressants and cold medication in Near's system at the time of death.[1] Tokyo police entered Near's apartment and found their body the next day, following numerous [wellness check](/source/Wellness_check) requests to the police and United States Embassy.[1]

On June 28, [Hector Martin](/source/Hector_Martin_(hacker)) posted a link to a [Google Doc](/source/Google_Docs) which he said came from a mutual friend of his and Near's, which said that Near had died by suicide, and alleged that the harassment from Kiwi Farms amounted to murder.[10][11][12] Martin subsequently reported on June 28 that he had spoken to police who confirmed that Near had died the previous day.[10][12] *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)* reported on July 23, 2021, that it had confirmed with Near's former employer that they had died.[2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOIA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOIA_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOIA_1-2) ["Freedom of Information Act request: 2021 death of David Kirk Ginder"](https://gwern.net/doc/psychiatry/autism/2023-usdepartmentofstate-byuunearsuicidefoiaresponse.pdf) (PDF). 2023-10-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:4_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:4_2-3) Dastagir, Alia E. (July 23, 2021). ["'The internet is not a game. ... This stuff really hurts.' Respected developer who was bullied online dies by suicide"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/07/23/how-toxic-online-cultures-trolling-and-bullying-contribute-suicide/8042846002/). *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211001/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/07/23/how-toxic-online-cultures-trolling-and-bullying-contribute-suicide/8042846002/) from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Staff, Ars (2021-06-28). ["How SNES emulators got a few pixels from complete perfection"](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/06/how-snes-emulators-got-a-few-pixels-from-complete-perfection/). *Ars Technica*. Retrieved 2021-06-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Near, the Programmer Behind the Legendary BSNES Emulator, Has Died - IGN*](https://www.ign.com/articles/near-bsnes-remembrance), 29 June 2021, retrieved 2021-06-30

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nlife-death_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nlife-death_5-1) Damien McFerran (2021-06-28). ["Tributes Pour In For Near, The Developer Behind One Of The World's Best SNES Emulators"](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/06/tributes_pour_in_for_near_the_developer_behind_one_of_the_worlds_best_snes_emulators). *Nintendo Life*. Retrieved 2021-06-30.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vice-bahamut_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vice-bahamut_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-vice-bahamut_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-vice-bahamut_6-3) Patrick Klepek (2021-03-08). ["A 23-Year Perfectionist Journey to Localize the Obscure 'Bahamut Lagoon'"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-23-year-perfectionist-journey-to-localize-the-obscure-bahamut-lagoon/). *Vice*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210627205651/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvxezw/a-23-year-perfectionist-journey-to-localize-the-obscure-bahamut-lagoon) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Lien, Tracey (2012-12-10). ["A collector is selling every Super Nintendo game for $24,999"](https://www.polygon.com/2012/12/10/3749792/a-collector-is-selling-every-super-nintendo-game-for-24999). *Polygon*. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Karmali, Luke (2012-12-10). ["Buy Every SNES Game For $24,999"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/10/buy-every-snes-game-for-24999). *IGN*. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["MSU1 Getting Started Guide"](https://www.zeldix.net/t1607-msu1-getting-started-guide). *www.zeldix.net*. Retrieved 2025-01-04.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_Kotaku_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_Kotaku_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_Kotaku_10-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_Kotaku_10-3) Kotaku Staff (June 28, 2021). ["The Brilliant SNES Emulator Author Known As Near Has Died"](https://kotaku.com/the-brilliant-snes-emulator-creator-known-as-near-has-d-1847182851). *Kotaku*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210627225413/https://kotaku.com/the-brilliant-snes-emulator-creator-known-as-near-has-d-1847182851) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_11-2) Klepek, Patrick (June 29, 2021). ["What I Learned From Near, an Emulation Legend and Real Person"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-i-learned-from-near-an-emulation-legend-and-real-person/). *Vice News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210629155531/https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkbz4b/what-i-learned-from-near-an-emulation-legend-and-real-person) from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_PC_Gamer_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Near_Suicide_PC_Gamer_12-1) Macgregor, Jody (June 28, 2021). ["Near, creator of the higan and bsnes emulators, has died"](https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/near-creator-of-the-higan-and-bsnes-emulators-has-died/). *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210630003143/https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/near-creator-of-the-higan-and-bsnes-emulators-has-died/) from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.

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