Who do we thank for all the wonderful games that we cherish and love for ages to come? That’s right, the makers; the companies that hire hundreds of people to create an epic piece of art. But not all game makers are remembered by gamers. Only those that create memorable experiences forever remain in our memories. And thus, here is a list of the top 10 video game makers who have deserved these positions due to their hard work and dedication.
10. Infinity Ward
Whine if you must, but Call of Duty continues to be a franchise with a good reputation amongst critics and fans. Almost every Call of Duty game has received an aggregated score of 85% or more, and has sold millions of copies. Infinity Ward deserves credit for that.
9. Namco
Here’s a rarely known fact: Namco created Pac-Man which is it’s biggest selling game of all-time, and one of the most beloved games too. Now, Namco’s major games are Tekken and Soul Calibur; both of which are critically acclaimed fighting games. Namco has also created the Ridge Racer games.
8. Naughty Dog
Known for Crash Bandicoot for the PlayStation 1, Jak and Daxter for the PlayStation 2, and finally, Uncharted for the PlayStation 3. As you can see, this particular company has remained loyal to Sony due to it’s exclusive games. They’ve been successful at this too. All three of these major franchises have sold a significant number of copies and are remembered by gamers. The Uncharted series has won over many fans in this current generation. The company’s new game, The Last of Us, is also a highly anticipated title.
7. Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3 are the games that come to mind when Bethesda is mentioned. The Elder Scrolls series is Bethesda’s strongest weapon for ensuring that no one challenges it’s position. Recently, the latest Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim, won the Game of the Year award of 2011, and it was rightly deserved too! The Elder Scrolls franchise is one of the most highly revered RPGs of all time, and many hopes are riding upon the Elder Scrolls Online which is expected to break the monopoly of World of Warcraft over the MMORPG genre.
6. Kojima Productions
Named after the man himself, Mr. Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear Solid franchise as well as the Zone of the Enders series. Mr. Hideo Kojima and this company is known for it’s intelligent plot crafting and deep characters, apart from the espionage-action gameplay. The new Metal Gear, titled Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, is expected to be yet another immersive game and addition to the Metal Gear franchise.
5. Capcom
Japanese game companies are the best at their trade. With games like Street Fighter, Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, it is not difficult to conceive why. Along with other games, such as Mega Man, Marvel vs. Capcom, Asura’s Wrath, Monster Hunter, Okami, Street Fighter x Tekken and Lost Planet, Capcom is able to keep the gamers excited and have it’s name carved into their heads.
4. Square Enix
Many believe that Square Enix has died because the Final Fantasy series has lost it’s charm due to the recent Final Fantasy XIII, XIII-2 and XIV. However, what they fail to comprehend is that Square Enix has a lot more up it’s sleeve, aside from Final Fantasy. Other games, or complete franchises, that are created, or developed, by Square Enix include Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, Just Cause, Dues Ex, Dead Island, Arkham City, Hitman: Absolution, Sleeping Dogs and Tomb Raider. This plethora of games is enough for Square Enix to remain dominant for the time being. And during this time, there is no doubt that the highly acclaimed Final Fantasy series, which is somewhat like Square’s nuclear weapon, will be revived (Hopefully with the release of Final Fantasy Versus XIII).
3. Valve
Valve is mostly limited to First Person Shooters, but it’s games are legend. Half-Life? It’s been 14 years, and people still play it with great dedication. They still dream about a third Half-Life game. Counter Strike? I still see sessions of it hosted in gaming zones, along with people forming their LAN parties. A recent game would be Portal 2, which clashed with the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Game of the Year 2011 (And in some cases, even won). How’s that for a challenge? A first person game pitted against an RPG, and winning too!
2. Rockstar Games
Rockstar is known for providing gamers with an immersive experience in a whole new place, be it metropolis, or the old west. Rockstar’s games are a lot of fun, addicting and very open. There is just so much to do in most of them. You could spend hours on the game, without even following the main story, and still have fun. That is what gamers need; something to entertain them with for days on end. Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and LA Noire are examples of such games. Not only did they deliver good stories, stunning visuals and a deep world but they were quite fun too.
1. Nintendo
These guys are the undisputed Gods of video games. Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong… Yes, they seem childish don’t they? But despite that, they continue to be the best games of all time, while retaining the top positions in the list of best selling video games. And, for the icing on the cake, Nintendo holds the highest sales in the console market. They aren’t to be dealt with lightly.
That being said, what are your favorite game makers? Pour your thoughts into the comments section.
