Favorite Video Game Developer?

[juliant59]

So I pose the question for the new video game forum. Thanks Chris BTW. Who is your favorite video game developer. It can be more than one of course as everyone has more than one, but at least one please.


Mine of course has to be Capcom. You have the Resident Evil Series, Devil May Cry, Onimusha series, Mega Man series, Final Fight series, Street Fighter series. From the days of the SNES with Final Fight, Street Figher, UN Squadron (aka Area 88), Saturday Night Slam Masters, Captain Commando, then going to the PS with Resident Evil, Mega Man Legends, Dino Crisis. The list goes on and on. Then the birth of the Dreamcast and all the great games it had from them such as Project Justice, C VS SNK 1 and 2, the shooters Mars Matrix, Gunbird 2. Then PS2 with DMC, Onimusha, Vietiful Joe on the cube as well. I just love them so much. I want a 360 just for Dead Rising. That is how much I love Capcom! /images/graemlins/happy.gif The future looks good for Capcom as well with the PSP having so many possibilites to put games on such as DMC PSP, or maybe a RE PSP and also you can port DC games I would hope as well and then the PS3 with DMC 3 and RE 5. The future and the past with Capcom will rule /images/graemlins/happy.gif

So who's your favorite developer?

[Suwako Moriya]

Square-Enix would be my favorite. Mainly because it was Dragon Quest that was my first RPG and Final Fantasy IV was the RPG that got me into RPGs over all. I'm rather fond of the company over all. After all they do make my favorite series which is Sa~Ga. There is also Mana as well. Legend of Mana brings back fond memories. Hopefully Dawn of Mana will be nice as well.

For the record I also do like other companies as they offer nice games. Nintendo got me started on gaming in general. Capcom provided much joy with Megaman. Namco provides me with Tales. Just some of many examples. In general an occasional expansion is good. Other wise I would have missed out on certain games. Still limited time and money means one can only expand sofar.

Of course some companies are known less for developing and more publishing games for other companies. Which is fine and I am thankful for games being published. Especially if it is a game I want or end up liking. Even more so when the game is published with respect and quality. However take Disgaea for example. While I am thankful that Atlus brought it out here. I also feel one should always remember that ultimately it was Nippon Ichi that responsible for making the game. Of course in some cases it's not always easy to find out who was involved in the development of the game.

[AbeChinchilla]

I pick Nautilus.
They're one of the only developers that actually develop games with original concepts and ideas.

[Azumangaman]

Oooh...tough one.

Although they have pretty much no games, Insomniac Studios is the winner.
Why?
Ratchet and Clank is pretty much the most entertaining series I've ever played.

[Gatts]

Sega. I've been a Sega whore for a long time. Nintendo is right behind them. SNK and Capcom behind them.

[ADC]

Nintendo! And let us count the ways: Mario, Metroid, Mario, Zelda, Mario, Kid Icarus, Mario, Donkey Kong, Mario. And a different genre for each Mario in the list! Else it would be Square Enix.

See, there've been two games this year that just captivated me like no other. The first was Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, and the second, Final Fantasy XII. Toss-up as to which is the better, as both have been insanely fun.

[FigNewton]

Nintendo first, Square-Enix a very close second, with Q Entertainment getting the up and coming favorite award.

[Mateo_home]

NINTENDO! Hands down. Considering I'm a Nintendo fanboy. Along with their second party companies. HAL Labratories (Kirby), Intellegent Systems (Fire Emblem, Paper <font color="red">Mario</font>), Creatures/GAME FREAK (Pokemon), and TOSE (Stafi).

But I do also like Capcom, SNK, and a few others. They're just not my favorites. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[GHardin]

It's hard to think of my favorite developers...I know Nintendo is by far my number 1, followed by Square-Enix. I also like Harmonix and Criterion...Guitar Hero and Burnout are some of my favorite series from them, respectively. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[dunno001]

Call me old, but my favorite was Enix. Not Square-Enix, just Enix. I think Square used to be good, but then mainstream flooded them, and after the merger, some of that flood leaked into Enix. Unforunately, Enix didn't have much of a showing in the US during the RPG heyday, which I know hurt them. If I had DQ 5-6 and Terranigma here, then well... let's just say I'd be much happier!

For current companies, possibly Atlus, since they make the quirky games I like. Of course, all of the small guys (and a few big ones like Nintendo and Konami) make games I like, but it's hard to look at it all...

[Suwako Moriya]

[ QUOTE ]
dunno001 said:
I think Square used to be good, but then mainstream flooded them, and after the merger, some of that flood leaked into Enix.

[/ QUOTE ]

That reminds me of one of the negatives of the merger. Which is the blame game. Square fans would blame Enix for any problems and Enix fans would blame Square for any problems. It didn't matter if the game would have been the same way merger or not, the other company was an easy target for people. In fact it probably still is to be honest.

If you truly stop and think about it. The most major thing this merger does is give Enix an(other) in-house development company. While it gives Square a much more stable base to work from. Because in the end Enix is a much larger company. Beyond that I prefer not to assume either companies games would suddenly be absolutely perfect or terrible if the merger never happened.

[Arcturus]

Blizzard.

[dunno001]

[ QUOTE ]
Yuzu Hieda said:
[ QUOTE ]
dunno001 said:
I think Square used to be good, but then mainstream flooded them, and after the merger, some of that flood leaked into Enix.

[/ QUOTE ]

That reminds me of one of the negatives of the merger. Which is the blame game. Square fans would blame Enix for any problems and Enix fans would blame Square for any problems. It didn't matter if the game would have been the same way merger or not, the other company was an easy target for people. In fact it probably still is to be honest.

If you truly stop and think about it. The most major thing this merger does is give Enix an(other) in-house development company. While it gives Square a much more stable base to work from. Because in the end Enix is a much larger company. Beyond that I prefer not to assume either companies games would suddenly be absolutely perfect or terrible if the merger never happened.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps I should clarify. I'm not claiming that the Enix games have Square's problems; I still think DQ8 was a great game. DQ8 maintained everything I loved about the earlier ones: a good story (Well, negating the REAL early ones), there was still some challenge, I could still wander about, and through normal gameplay, I never saw a value max out. (A chart indicates values start maxing out in the 90s.) Conversely, Square lost me with FF7. While it had a story, I blew through the game like nothing, and seeing 9999 on a regular basis was annoying.

Anyway, I commented about leakage. For DQ8, the biggest leakage was a major graphics overhaul, which lost the traditional DQ feel. (They could have put another title on this game, changed a few names, and I'd never see the connection. But it was great seeing Ragnar and Torneko.) Square-Enix as a company is one I'm still watching over closely, as I have a love-hate relation with them. I can't blindly trust that I'll like their games like I used to, but the ones I like, I love. Also, with Square being the much more known one in America, I still worry that parts of Square will lean too far into the Enix properties. To use a weird metaphor, I see the seperate companies initially as 2 squares forming a rectangle, and they've shifted into parallelograms. I'd like to see it become no more than 2 triangles- infusion of the good of each to the other, but I worry that it will become 2 elongated rectangles, all in the same original rectangle. That'd be the point where you can't tell them apart at all.

[Nosredna]

I hate to give the boring answer, but for me it's Nintendo. They still make the most games that I want to play.

[Suwako Moriya]

[ QUOTE ]
dunno001 said:
Anyway, I commented about leakage. For DQ8, the biggest leakage was a major graphics overhaul, which lost the traditional DQ feel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not familiar with the DQ feel due lack of playing the series beyond completing the first one and random bits of some of the other ones. Although I can somewhat understand that a change in graphical style can often seem out of place. However I've kind of grown used to it over the years. It's not like I've had much choice in some cases. Especially since with each new generation of system comes a graphical jump (change) for some series. Sometimes a minor update and other times a major change.

[ QUOTE ]
dunno001 said:
I can't blindly trust that I'll like their games like I used to, but the ones I like, I love.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't call it blind trust in my case. It's more like I have confidence in them. Thus why I often take the risk and purchase some of their games. However I'm also prepared to accept the fact I may not enjoy what I'm planning on playing/purchasing. It's a risk one always takes when they pre-order or at least buy without renting. Of course sometimes it's hard to find a game for rent.

[ QUOTE ]
dunno001 said:
Also, with Square being the much more known one in America, I still worry that parts of Square will lean too far into the Enix properties.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure what influence Square could have here beyond marketing, translation, and perhaps deciding what comes out. Although I guess those can be a huge factor. Ultimately the games are made in Japan and well last I checked Enix was the stronger company. Still then again Enix being more of a publisher and Square more of a developer may have an effect on things.

[Chacranajxy]

Gotta go with Capcom as well... for the exact same reasons that you listed. My two other favorites are Square and Konami... Square for their RPGs (obviously) and Konami because of Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania, and Zone of the Enders.

[RommieSG]

I've got too many.

EA Sports, Konami, Namco, Koei, Capcom, Squaresoft, SNK, Sega, Nintendo....and a couple others I can't think of off the top of my head. /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

Rommie /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[Johnny]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Sega. I've been a Sega whore for a long time. Nintendo is right behind them. SNK and Capcom behind them.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm more or less the same. Sega will always hold a special place in my heart as I grew up with their games and even today, when a Sega game is released I take notice (as if my avatar didn't give that away).
Having said that, with the amount of amazing stuff they've released lately (as well as all their old series) it has to be Capcom.
From the release of Resi 4 early last year, they have released hit after hit after hit and show absolutely no signs of slowing down (not that they weren't doing that before, but they now seem to be releasing even more).

[naiera]

[ QUOTE ]
Yuzu Hieda said:
Square-Enix would be my favorite.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine too, but for me it's because I rank Final Fantasy VII as my favourite game ever, and then Chrono Trigger/Cross and the rest of the Final Fantasy games pretty much take up most of my personal top ten. I have never finished a Dragon Quest game /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

The rest of my top ten is probably taken up by Cave shmups. ESPGaluda is my favourite game in the vertical shmup genre, and games like the DDP series, Mushihime-sama and Progear (unfortunately I've never owned an original PCB of that one) easily make Cave my second favourite video game developer.

[Johnny]

[ QUOTE ]
Naiera said:

The rest of my top ten is probably taken up by Cave shmups. ESPGaluda is my favourite game in the vertical shmup genre, and games like the DDP series, Mushihime-sama and Progear (unfortunately I've never owned an original PCB of that one) easily make Cave my second favourite video game developer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah yeah, good old Cave /images/graemlins/happy.gif
Even though they haven't made as many games as some of the other powerhouse developers, they truly are great. ESPgaluda is one of my favourite games ever, so they have to count for something.

[saeba_ryo]

Nintendo for me by a longshot. More specifically EAD for Mario, Mario Kart, and Zelda. And Intelligent System for 2D Metroid and one of the greatest, most underrated game game of all time, Panel de Pon aka Tetris Attack.

[indigo0086]

Capcom, Ubisoft,

[flowerettefan]

It's probably still Treasure, even though lately most of what they've been working on have either been licenses or sequels. I guess they do do quite well with said licenses/sequels though, which is something; I just think it'd be nice if they came out with a new IP again... or a new Dynamite Headdy so long as they're on sequels.

I'm also, from what of theirs I've played, getting to be a bit of a fan of Love-de-Lic (or the companies formerly known as). Chibi-Robo and Rule of Rose are quite delightful, so I look forward to when Natsume finally release Chulip in English. Hopefully Nintendo'll see fit to release that Tingle game for the DS in English too.

[Javan]

It has always been Nintendo. The most remembered games (Zelda, Mario, Metroid) I played are developed by the company. For some reason, I never was attracted to any other developer.

[Gersen]

[ QUOTE ]
juliant59 said:
So who's your favorite developer?

[/ QUOTE ]

I no longer have a "favorite developer" all my favorites developer or editor...

Origin
Sierra Online
Lucasfilm/Lucasarts (The old lucasfilm, the one that releassed good games)
Looking Glass Studio
Access

...are either dead or no longer release anything worthwhile /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

Gersen

[joelgundam01]

This is a tough one. I guess it's tie between Namco and Capcom.

[EmperorBrandon]

I'll say Square Enix and Nintendo. Nothing original, I guess, but I've played lots of fun games that fall under their umbrella.

Nippon Icchi makes my favorite RPGs. Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Rhapsody, etc.
Andamiro made the best rythm game ever: Pump It Up
Roxor doing a great job with ITG...shame there couldn't of been some kind of agreement between them and Konami to make more ITG.
Konami has Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, and DDR. Need I say more?
Capcom w/RE series and fighting games when I did play them.

[jecca-neko]

I used to say Square Enix, but considering it has been about 3 years since I've bought one of their games (haven't bought Kingdom Hearts 2 or Final Fantasy XII yet) I don't know if I should really say it is them anymore.

Bioware is my favorite for PC games. Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic are two of my favorite RPGs for PC. I'm really looking forward to the PC version of Jade Empire. I've had the soundtrack for quite some time now. Jack Wall is awesome.

For consoles, I guess I would have to say Nintendo. Everyone knows Nintendo makes fun games.

[Mononoke]

[ QUOTE ]
Hysoka said:
Andamiro made a cheap Korean knock-off rhythm game: Pump It Up.

[/ QUOTE ]
Fixed that for you /images/graemlins/devil.gif.

[Lego]

I'm a huge fan of Pandemic right now actually. Battlefront, Mercenaries, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Destroy all Humans. I also like the fan favorite Insomniac for Rachet and Clank. But developer that often gets overlooked is Creative Assembly. I can't even think of the countless hours that I've spent on their Total War games heh.

[O-chan]

I'd have to say it's a toss up between Square/Enix and Nintendo since it's a guarntee that any game they work on I will own. Square/Enix is the MAIN reason why I own ANY Sony Playstation systems.

O-chan

[Tsukebe]

Hmm... I think you need to change this topic to Favourite Publisher and not Developer. Most companies like Capcom, SE, Konami, Sega, etc don't develop all of their games. They publish them.

A good example, all Dragon Quest games are never developed by Enix or Square-Enix. They were developed by Chunsoft and Level 5. Megaten series trademark are owned by Atlus but they never develop them.

With that said, my fav Developer is Level 5. Publisher, Atlus.

[Damo]

I’ve only really owned a SNES PSone and PS2 to any great extent but would have to say aout of all the games I’ve played. Konami would have to be mine, they’ve done some games I’ve truly enjoyed playing and for me at least as not the most hardcore of gamer, they always seem to get the difficulty level about right.

Now, if I notice a game is by Konami I tend to be more curious about it than if it were by any other developer.

[Suwako Moriya]

[ QUOTE ]
Tsukebe said:
Hmm... I think you need to change this topic to Favourite Publisher and not Developer. Most companies like Capcom, SE, Konami, Sega, etc don't develop all of their games. They publish them.

[/ QUOTE ]

True there is that to consider. Especially if you take into consideration in some cases this happens. Which is that company X may make the game in the country of origin, but it ends up being company of Y that brings it to another country or whatever. Heck I'm sure many of including myself have made the mistake of crediting a company a developer of a game instead of the publisher. Although some can publish and develop.

Wait what if the development team is part of the company? For example Square Enix has a development team known as 2nd Division which made all the SaGa games save for one. Which is the game people know as Final Fantasy Legend 3. So would Square Enix be the developer since the team is part of the company? Or would they still be considered the publisher with 2nd Division as the developer? Or maybe my memory on the details is wrong or things have changed. So it may not matter much in the long run.

[GyBaNO]

[ QUOTE ]
Gatts said:
Sega. I've been a Sega whore for a long time. Nintendo is right behind them. SNK and Capcom behind them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Swap the first two around and that about sums it up from me as well.

Add in Konami as well and have them, Capcom, and SNK interchangeable at times.

[Tsukebe]

[ QUOTE ]
Yuzu Hieda said:
Wait what if the development team is part of the company? For example Square Enix has a development team known as 2nd Division which made all the SaGa games save for one. Which is the game people know as Final Fantasy Legend 3. So would Square Enix be the developer since the team is part of the company? Or would they still be considered the publisher with 2nd Division as the developer? Or maybe my memory on the details is wrong or things have changed. So it may not matter much in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the publisher company fully own the developing company like Sega owning Team sonic and Team sonic can only make games for Sega and no one else, technically, the credit goes to the Sega as developer. Sega is the one that has final say over that team's activity. Like how Team Final Fantasy is made solely for making FF games for SE or 2nd div for SaGa.


For developer company like Level 5, even though most of their titles are published by Sony, Sony doesn't have the final say. If Sony dislike their games, Level-5 can take their idea to a different publishing company and get it released there.

[NickFalzarano]

Mine would be Nintendo.

While I'm a fan of Zelda, games such as Fire Emblem and Mario trump it as far as I'm concerned. But since they have my all-time favorite franchises, I'd have to go with them.

[christianlf]

I have to go with the old school Sega/Nintendo duo as well. There are more Sega games that I love, so I give the edge to them, but as far as the two companies that have the most games I love, they win handily.

(still loves his Saturn)

[lostnomad84]

Nintendo, followed by Capcom, Sega, and then Konami. I used to be more favorable of Sega over Capcom, especially in classic gaming, but over the last few years, Sega has disappointed me, however the classics still remain some of my favorites.

[Nork22]

SquarEnix - mainly because of their RPGs, or that a lot of their games have good stories to it, and they are one of the few that push the PS2's hardware to new heights.

Namco Bandai - they also produce quite a few well loved RPGs, but mainly I like them for producing the Tekken and Soul Calibur series.

[Pyocola]

LucasArts when they still made something other than Star Wars games (i.e. the classic adventures).

[Darkseid]

Yuke's for their sting of Japanese and American wrestling games. Many other developers had to catch up.

Midway/Williams for providing many of my childhood favorites. *looks at the collections for the PS2*

[Chloe]

Ozark for Seven Cities of Gold. The Logic Factory for Ascendancy. I second LucasArts for Monkey Island and loom.

Sony would be my ultimate pick. I love the huge variety of games they have in their library.