SHIGERU MIYAMOTOThere is no denying the supremacy and magnitude of this man in the last twenty years. Shigeru Miyamoto was and is vital to the history and development of video games. His ideas and leadership have set an example for all video game developers. Specifically, Nintendo would not be the company they are today without him. Miyamoto created the flagship games for Nintendo. Not one or two. All of them. Starting with Donkey Kong in 1981, Miyamoto created a fun and creative plumber named Mario. 1985 would bring another legendary game called Super Mario Bros.. The rest is history. Miyamoto created an enduring property for Nintendo in Mario. To this day, Mario is the number one most recognizable character in gaming. Miyamoto would also create similar enduring properties such as Zelda in 1986 and Pokemon in 1996. His contributions to Nintendo cannot be counted. Miyamoto is the greatest example of creativity. No man has ever brought so many properties into this world and had so much success with all of them. His ability to craft great characters and great stories is amazing. Recently, he has pioneered his original properties into the next generation, with the Super Mario Galaxy series and a new Legend of Zelda on the horizon. Simply put, Miyamoto should be on every list of best developers.
DAN PALADIN Mr. Paladin should be given a medal. If there was ever a leader in the independent movement in video games, it would be him. His creativity and unique art style and his ability to create amazing games with his indie development company The Behemoth show his real commitment to a different type of game. Paladin has pioneered the way for independent development in the video game industry. Most successful games take years to make and use hundreds of people. The Behemoth's first game was a flash game on a self-run website. The fun and the uniqueness of the game would not go unnoticed though, and Alien Hominid, as it was known, would go for a full retail release, where it would send Paladin and The Behemoth at the top of the indie scene. Paladin's art style and commitment to a great game is awesome. The hope he provides to indie developers is important. He, more than anyone, has proven that anything can be successful with enough hard work and a great idea.
HIDEO KOJIMAKojima has done many things for the game industry, but no other person can make a claim to true narrative like he can. Kojima is the pioneer of story in video games. During his entry into the video game industry, real credible narrative only came in the form of cinema. Kojima should know this. He originally wanted to be a film director. But when he saw the oppurtunity to make that film in a video game, he took it. Kojima would create Metal Gear in 1987. This would be the only game of its kind to have a movie-like narrative. Kojima would continue to make several sequels to Metal Gear, where his attention to story and his power to narrate would be noticed. Today he continues to strive for great stories in games, with a new Castlevania and two new Metal Gear games.
CLIFF BLESZINSKI
If you were to create the perfect compliment to the eastern ways of gaming development, Cliff would be it. Clif added something that was needed in a gaming world that was dominated by Japanese leaders. He brought the tenacity and edge of western development. Cliff is a different type of developer. He is professional yet weird. He is there to do a job yet he has tons of fun. Bleszinski has done what many wish they could do: whatever they want. He has been very successful in the video game industry with his attitude of nothing left out. This is no better shown than in his flagship game series Gears of War. His focus on grittiness and seriousness is shown in the games. Cliff has created an industry bubble of uniqueness not only in the game but out of the game. He brings personality in real life just as he does in his games. This is important because it shows the real character and reputation that the industry needs. Cliff is exciting, intelligent, and different from any other developer.
JADE RAYMONDNow, why would I put Jade Raymond on this list? I'll tell you why. She is a woman in an industry dominated by men. It is always great to see a woman strive in this industry. Jade Raymond has done way more than strive. Raymond initially found success in The Sims Online. She was a producer for the somewhat successful game. Ubisoft would soon notice her unique ideas and her real attention to well crafted games. She would soon become the lead producer on Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft's flagship title for the next generation. Jade would be put into the spotlight, showing off an amazing game. With AC's success, Jade would become known as one of the most successful women in the video game industry. So successful that in the recent months she has been promoted to President of the new Ubisoft Toronto studios. Jade Raymond is just the beginning of a changing demographic in gaming. No longer is gaming just for 16 year old boys. It is a sophisticated industry with room for all viewpoints. Jade Raymond is a perfect example of this.
I hope you will go and read more about these great developers in the industry. Like I said, I would put more if I could. These five are just five I picked that I thought represented my feelings on the way the industry could and should be represented. If you know of any other developers that you think should be on here, don't be afraid to comment. And if you disagree with my choices, don't be afraid either. Have a great Sunday.
Once again, a great blog. I like your choices (both because I know who they all are and because they all are very deserving). There are some I would have liked you to talk about, but like you said, you can't write a blog about Ken Levine and fifty other people. Nice work, bubba.
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