The Best Developer Of The Generation Is...
See Full ImageNo, we're not going to finish that sentence. That's up to you. :)
But as this generation grows a little long in the tooth, it's a viable question: which developer, in your estimation, has most impressed you over the past five years or so?
Many will immediately mention Naughty Dog, as the Uncharted series is arguably the best of the generation. The level of quality in those titles (especially the last two) is absolutely undeniable, and often trumps any competition. And oh yeah, The Last Of Us... But they're not the only horse in this race; die-hard RPG fans might toss Bethesda's hat into the ring, as the likes of two Elder Scrolls titles (Oblivion and Skyrim), and a couple Fallout games make them a legitimate contender. They only seem to make Game of the Year nominees.
Then again, there's always the stable of Sony first-party studios that have delivered Killzone, Gran Turismo 5, God of War, LittleBigPlanet and inFamous. There's a possible dark horse pick in Thatgamecompany, who is about to deliver their third title - Journey - after two excellent downloadable titles, Flow and Flower. Ubisoft maybe shouldn't be counted out, as Assassin's Creed is a multiple award-winning and multiple million-selling series, and it's hardly the only franchise under the French publisher's umbrella. Rayman, anyone?
But what about Rockstar? Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption alone put them in the running, but Max Payne 3 and GTAV are approaching rapidly. BioWare has Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Maybe all it took to convince you of superiority was a single title; i.e., Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain and Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Insomniac delivered three great Resistance titles and several entertaining Ratchet & Clank titles, and they've got a new project in the works, too (Overstrike). And we say Resistance was under-appreciated.
No, it's not an easy decision. But give it a try, anyway.
Tags: game design, game development, video game developers
2/27/2012 9:03:23 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (61 posts)
Jawknee
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 9:44:38 PM
Reply
Last edited by Jawknee on 2/27/2012 9:48:19 PM
5 up, 2 down
Fane1024
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 6:04:12 AM
I think you can include them.
edit: JustThatGamer beat me to it
Last edited by Fane1024 on 2/29/2012 6:06:23 AM
0 up, 0 down
YashaZz
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 9:58:41 PM
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5 up, 1 down
Karosso
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 10:14:15 PM
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14 up, 1 down
JustThatGamer
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 10:18:59 PM
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They may have only made 1 game, but the amount of games they've assisted with is insane; Warhawk, Starhawk, Twisted Metal, Flow, Flower, Journey, God of War: Chains of Olympus & Ghost of Sparta, Fat Princess, Calling All Cars, Escape Plan, The Last Guardian and probably more, they're also said to be working on a new IP and God of War IV... They deserve some recognition for being so damn hard working and still managing to pump out the most critically acclaimed + most financially successful game in its genre of all time, God of War III.
Last edited by JustThatGamer on 2/27/2012 10:22:48 PM
4 up, 1 down
goldentinny
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 10:41:31 PM
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4 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 6:13:14 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 10:52:50 PM
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Bethesda has impressed me with how they've used this generation to create massive, living worlds but they just have no quality assurance anywhere in their operation.
Sucker Punch probably blew me away the most with how they managed to create the most addictive experience this gen with the 3 inFamous games.
Rockstar makes a good game, but GTA took a long walk off a short pier with the missions, fighting mechanic, and removal of all things fun from GTA. RDR is sweet but hardly has the polish or technological innovation that Uncharted has brought.
6 up, 2 down
Shams
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 11:12:50 PM
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2 up, 1 down
MartyRules
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 11:32:59 PM
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2 up, 0 down
AcHiLLiA
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 11:34:15 PM
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Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 2/27/2012 11:36:13 PM
0 up, 1 down
CanadianGuy420
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 11:43:19 PM
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obviously they've just had one title but years from now when i look back at this generation heavy rain will be the first thing i think of. even though MGS4 is my overall favorite of this generation. HR is just something that will stay with me forever. so for that gotta go with QD.
1 up, 0 down
dembiscuits
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 11:58:12 PM
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1 up, 1 down
gungrave
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 12:22:34 AM
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2nd for me would be thatgamecompany just for thinking out of the box.
3rd Quantic Dream, for innovative story telling
I'm sure team Ico would've been my top pick but they lagged it big time.
1 up, 0 down
Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 7:56:15 AM
1 up, 0 down
Kevin555
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 1:04:54 AM
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2 up, 2 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 1:28:22 AM
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Bioware for efforts in redefining interpersonal relationships in story telling
Epic Games for setting a standard in 3rd person pop n fire play for all to follow
Kojima for delivering a game that stands on its own in play or in story
Naughty Dog for production ambition and Hollywood acting
Infinity Ward for fps multiplayer and redefined military drama
Quantic Dream, the most unprecedented experience in design and quality
Polyphony Digital painstaking effort in exactness and commitment to fans
Bethesda for role playing fantasy
Tecmo for showing us how not to westernize a game(quantum theory) =p
I don't play Rockstar games
2 up, 0 down
Killa Tequilla
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 2:01:45 AM
3 up, 0 down
Killa Tequilla
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 1:59:41 AM
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1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 2:21:06 AM
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Sucker Punch have been amazing with inFamous, downright the most fun I've had with games this gen.
FROM Software have done amazing work.
Sega WOW: Valkyria... 'nuff said.
I can't say just one, so I'll shout out to Naughty Dog, Quantic Dream and Ninja Theory as well.
2 up, 1 down
___________
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 3:22:23 AM
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QD for delivering a amazing story and proving games can make you cry.
sucker punch for delivering one of the funnest most bad a$$ superheroes since the creation of comics!
rocksteady for proving not all superhero games have to suck.
irrational games for proving shooters can and should have amazing stories!
R* for having an amazing variety of awesome games.
eat sleep play for keeping a homage to the old school realizing not everyone started gaming yesterday!
avalanche studios for allowing massive mod support and trainers, and for creating the best open world game ever made!
ubisoft montreal for creating amazing real like worlds in AC, and amazing storytelling.
ninty for again catering to the oldschool crowd.
id love to say insomniac, but ever since raping R&C with that crappy kids game i cant ever forgive them for that.
they leave one of the best franchises ever created with that!?
its like Ferrari saying ok thats it were leaving the industry, and leaving it with a rebadged suzuki swift!
0 up, 1 down
Pandacastro
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 3:40:08 AM
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0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 4:27:41 AM
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Right off the top of my head, all of these developers deserve the highest honors of my praise
In no particular order....
Naughty Dog
Guerrilla
Sucker Punch
Kojima
Quantic dream
Bioware
Santa Monica
RockStar
An Honorable Mention also go's to....
2K for it's Bio Shock series
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 9:21:07 AM
(Anyone? hey? Anyone get that reference?)
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 10:05:44 AM
Although I've heard nothing but great things about Rocksteady, I can't say either way yet, because their first Batman is still sitting in my huge games backlog, & I haven't bought their second Batman yet.
But I do intend on playing both.
0 up, 0 down
leatherface
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 4:11:44 PM
Last edited by leatherface on 2/28/2012 4:12:11 PM
0 up, 0 down
VampDeLeon
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 5:28:30 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Godslim
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 5:36:26 AM
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0 up, 0 down
AcHiLLiA
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 11:25:46 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 5:44:57 AM
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Today gaming is far too diverse to use simple measure sticks like graphics, campaign length, storyline, creativity, game mechanics, innovation or anything else in particular to determine a winner.
The REAL winners of this generation are US, the gamers.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/28/2012 5:45:53 AM
7 up, 0 down
Looking Glass
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 5:55:12 AM
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And if I'm not mistaken their were also allegations that Bethesda forced unfavorable reviews of Fallout: New Vegas to be taken down. I don't know if it's true but unfortunately it seems that it wouldn't be completely out of character for Bethesda. Bethesda's games might be deserving of accolades (assuming you overlook the bugs). But the developer itself not so much.
4 up, 2 down
telly
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 12:25:11 PM
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 6:53:34 AM
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1) Naughty Dog
2) Platinum Game
3) Rockstar
In that order.
0 up, 0 down
SoulController
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 6:57:24 AM
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Portal 2 was the most fun I've ever had with co-op gameplay. & Finally Viseral for making me fall back in love with Survival horror while at the same time scaring the living day lights out of me. The backstory & lure of the Deadspace universe I couldn't get enough of.
0 up, 0 down
H0TSHELLZ
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 7:04:16 AM
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1 up, 0 down
AugustoDeItalia
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 7:20:31 AM
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0 up, 0 down
JackC8
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 8:04:49 AM
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Naughty Dog is great as well. I've only played Uncharted 1 and 2 (and am very much looking forward to The Last Of Us), but neither provided the months-long experience like my racing games do.
0 up, 0 down
Lotusflow3r
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 8:14:45 AM
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R* - For delivering two of the best sandbox games in GTAlV and RDR. The latter being a fave game of all time. Also, no doubt, for the upcoming GTAV.
Level 5 - For delivering JRPGs with roots still intact and for also delivering a PS3 exclusive Rpg that looks like it returns JRPGs to their former glory in Ni No Kuni.
Mm - Two of the most innovative games in history in LBP1 and 2. The latter being the most impressive game i have ever seen.
From Software - For innovating Rpg games with the Souls games and at the same time, delivering a love letter to the golden age of Rpgs with 3D Dot Game Heroes.
Naughty Dog - For technical innovations and helping other developers achieve better results.
Sega - Very prolific this generation. Started fairly rocky, but soon went on a roll and brought back one of the most iconic games ever to it's former glory in Sonic 4 and Generations. Also for the most detailed, underrated and groundbreaking "action" franchise in the last 10 years of Japan's gaming history - Yakuza.
Gearbox - For taking the FPS genre to new heights whilst maintaining the old school roots. For picking up a historic franchise that had been M.I.A for 12 years and having balls of steel for rebooting it.
ThatGameCompany - For feasting our senses and proving a more artistic approach works.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 2/28/2012 8:17:03 AM
2 up, 0 down
gumbi
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 8:41:34 AM
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For me, I'd have to say Sony Santa Monica and Ubisoft for two of my favourite franchises of all time. Media Molecule for bringing us the amazingly creative, and innovative Little Big Planet. And SEGA needs an honourable mention here, if for no other reason than Valkyria Chronicles. VC is still one of the most underrated and most stellar games of this generation.
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 9:24:31 AM
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For example, I like Gust, Naughty Dog, Ubisoft, and Media Molecule all a whole bunch... But obviously, my reasons for each are COMPLETELY different from one another.
There's a pile of other devs I like, too. I couldn't possibly even pick a top 3 and be completely happy with my choices.
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 11:32:15 AM
They can't be compared, really. Too many excels on too widely different areas.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/28/2012 11:32:29 AM
0 up, 0 down
Skatejimmy5
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 9:27:29 AM
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The Batman games both took me by surprise in how well designed they were. :)
0 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 10:15:54 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Twistedfloyd
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 11:07:01 AM
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ND had U2 which is just about as perfect as a game can get. U3 was great and U1 was good, so they weren't quite flawless as everyone thinks at least in my eyes.
KP had the masterpiece that was MGS4 and a great game in Peace Walker. To me, they're ahead of ND right now.
QD's Heavy Rain is easily one of the best this gen and one of my all time favorite games.
So many others to consider. Take Two was amazing this gen, too. I didn't like GTA IV, but RDR was amazing. Bioshock was first rate and Bioshock 2 was awesome.
Skyrim was great, but didn't like Fallout 3 and didn't play Oblivion in terms of Bethesda.
In terms of innovation in terms of gameplay and story and fusing it together, QD gets my vote.
In terms of quantity and quality, I think KP's MGS4 and PW get my vote. MGS4 was near perfect and PW was astounding, even though the PSP limited it from being a true masterpiece.
So, I'm leaving ND out in the cold. KP is my ultimate pick.
1. KP- MGS4 and PW
2. ND- U2, U3, U1
3. QD- HR
4. 2K- Bioshock, Bioshock 2
5. Rockstar- Red Dead Redemption
Last edited by Twistedfloyd on 2/28/2012 11:10:46 AM
0 up, 0 down
Serakek
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 12:20:08 PM
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0 up, 0 down
79transam
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 4:33:39 PM
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0 up, 0 down
tes37
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 6:06:20 PM
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They all have their strengths and although Naughty Dog stands head and shoulders above most, I think I should consider more than just their genre. In doing so, I'm at a loss to make a decision on any one single developer.
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 6:24:39 AM
0 up, 0 down
Rogueagent01
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 3:58:58 AM
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Bioware- Dragon Age series
Trendy Entertainment- Dungeon Defenders
Level 5- White Knight Chronicles
From Software- 3D Dot Heroes, Enchanted Arms
Sega!- Yakuza series and Valkyria Chronicles
KojiPro- MGS 4/MGO
Atlus- for localizing
Square Enix/Tri-Ace(yeah actually)- Nier, Star Ocean:The Last Hope, and Front Mission Evolved(even though they took the RTS out and replaced it with a crappy action system)
Reality Pump- Two Worlds II
CDV- Sacred 2
And these are just the ones that come to mind, if I was to look through my library I would find many more to list but I will leave it at that. And I most likely gave credit on a couple of these to the wrong companies, but I am not going to look at all the cases to figure out who developed and who published.
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 6:31:04 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Nas Is Like
Reply
Monday, February 27, 2012 @ 9:43:05 PM
Naughty Dog.