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View Full Version : Game Developers -- Knocking it out of the Park!


Texcap
July 21st, 2006, 09:28 AM
I'm just curious here, but if I can ask, who are your favorite game developers at the moment? What games are they making that you're most looking forward to, or are already enjoying?

It's not a question I'd probably ask normally, but I've been blown away lately with the work of a few companies and it's simply been on my mind.

Edit: To answer my own questions, here are a few of the developers that have "hit it out of the park," for me, and that I thought deserved a little additional praise:

Intelligent Systems
They've been making hits for an awful long time (coupled with one of Nintendo's first developer divisions they first worked on Metroid, and then Super Metroid) but that they continue to do it as consistently really is a testament to their talent. Most recently, it's been the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series' that have captured and held my attention, and added gratitude. Even my 3-yr. old niece was highly complimenative of their efforts after watching me and my brother-in-law play a round or two of FE. Perhaps another fan in the making.

Level-5
I'm relatively new to Level-5, as I'm afraid I've not yet played any of the Dark Cloud games, but they blew me away with Dragon Quest VIII and Rogue Galaxy is one of the games I'm anticipating most this holiday. The announcement of Jeanne d'Arc for the PSP certainly doesn't hurt their case either...it's just unfortunate that I don't have a PSP to enjoy what looks like another arrow in their arsenal.

There are several others I'd like to mention (like Nippon Ichi, etc.) but I'll go ahead and end with...

Insomniac Games
I was off at college and out of state when games like Spyro were released, and since, I've not had the chance to play Insomniacs contributions to that series; but I have had the opportunity to sink my teeth into the Ratchet and Clank franchise and I've not been as impressed with a series of action platformers since first picking up Super Mario Bros. those many years ago. I think I plowed through all [3] of their first R&C games in about a month's time (which is pretty fast for me at least) and I'm hungry for more...as soon as my wallet gives me permission to get "Deadlocked". Through them, I was also introduced to Sly Cooper and the Jak series, both of which I look forward to diving into in the months to come. So while I wait to play Deadlocked, and see what the PS3 R&C games have in store for the series, I thought I'd throw some appreciation their way as well for some excellent games.

Howsabout y'all?

Ikari Warrior
July 21st, 2006, 04:18 PM
Sonic Team, off the top of my head, is one of the better Dev Teams out there. Sonic 1-3 and Phantasy Star (online, specifically). These guys know how to make an addictive game.

The RE4 dev. team. I would love to play another game that had the same mechanics as RE4, even if it wasn't an RE game. The over-the-shoulder camera works very well, and so much was done right with that game.

Vashknives114
July 21st, 2006, 04:20 PM
The RE4 dev. team. I would love to play another game that had the same mechanics as RE4, even if it wasn't an RE game.
http://komap.net.ru/media/images/Cold_Fear_http.jpg

Gray
July 21st, 2006, 04:21 PM
Cold Fear was a Kick *** Game. I have it on my computer.

Ikari Warrior
July 21st, 2006, 04:24 PM
Is cold fear out on PS2? I thought I saw it...

Vashknives114
July 21st, 2006, 04:57 PM
Is cold fear out on PS2? I thought I saw it...
Yes, and Xbox as well.

njjn
July 21st, 2006, 05:11 PM
Well the only one that comes to mind and it was right away, is Starbreeze, just because of Chronicles of Rid****: Escape From Butcher Bay for the Xbox and The Darkness which isn't out yet. I just appreciate the game so much and since it was their first game, and yet it was so good, it just makes me look forward to The Darkness and hopefully a Chronicles of Rid****: EFBB sequel even more.

CrossboneGundam
July 21st, 2006, 06:42 PM
Sonic Team, off the top of my head, is one of the better Dev Teams out there. Sonic 1-3 and Phantasy Star (online, specifically). These guys know how to make an addictive game.

You might not want to play some of the games that have come out in the past five years, then. :lol:

Loopy
July 21st, 2006, 06:48 PM
You might not want to play some of the games that have come out in the past five years, then. :lol:

How dare you sir! Shadow the Hedgehog was an excellent game, filled with all the angst, drama, action, and dark, gritty, realism that anyone could want! When Shadow had that gun and was riding on his motorcycle killing all the weaklings in his way, I knew it was the conception of a brilliant new story for the epic Sonic franchise.

Ikari Warrior
July 21st, 2006, 08:27 PM
You might not want to play some of the games that have come out in the past five years, then. :lol:

I haven't :lol:. I wish I worked for Sonic Team's creative team. I'd take 'em back to their roots of a good sonic racing game. I wanted Sonic R2, and instead I got that crappy air riders game. I haven't even played Shadow or Sonic Air Riders because the games don't even look promising. The sooner Sonic Team learns that their franchise characters don't do well outside the platforming element, the better off they'll be.

Jon
July 21st, 2006, 08:31 PM
Free Radical (Haze and maybe another Time Splitters game)
Ubisoft (Tom Clancy games, Red Steel)
Nintendo
Bungie (Halo 3, Halo2)

Some others probably...

Chicito
July 21st, 2006, 08:42 PM
Blizzard Entertainment
Creators of some of the most popular game series, often miss release dates but they don't release a game until they are happy with the final product (Blizzard quality as they call it).

Valve
Half Life Series, creators of a few of the best FPS out there. Encourages players to create their own mods via optional tools they provide (most devs usually just give a map editor).

Nintendo

Hara!
July 21st, 2006, 09:23 PM
Bandai: One piece grand battle, Inuyasha: Fuedal combat.

*HEAD ASPLODE*

Rahxephon91
July 22nd, 2006, 08:59 AM
Square Enix-FFXII, FFIII, and FFXIII all look great.

Capcom-RE4 is awsome but Lost Planet is going to be great.

Konami/Kojima-MGS4! Nuff Said!

Rockstar-GTA games have always been good.

soulreaper
July 22nd, 2006, 09:16 AM
I'm tempted to say Square-Enix. Very, very tempted. Unfortunately for them, I'm not too thrilled with their FFVII compilation idea. We've waited too long for new and not connected FFs. That is their strong point. That is where all their focus should be. Not once have I ever regretted playing one of those FFs. But then they have to go off and make MMORPGs, FPSs, movies (which they had already proven to be not too great at), and, *gasp*, SEQUELS! Shame on you, Square-Enix. Shame. However, I still love you. And I hear FFXII is supposed to be really good. Not to mention Kingdom Hearts II was amazing, and that same guy is doing one of the FFXIIIs.

So my number one developer right now is ArenaNet. Guild Wars has been consuming my life since I bought it early this year, and with plans to continue releasing expansions that are still stand-alone games every six months, they are definitely on my good side. Not to mention GW has the nicest community I've ever seen in a game like this. In-game, though. Please don't base your opinion of its players on GameFAQs, where everyone is a jerk. The real community is usually very helpful.

Mercenary
July 22nd, 2006, 09:18 AM
Nintendo, pretty much any division
Level 5- Dark Cloud 2, and DQ8... hopefully they port j d'arc to the ps2

Those would be my top 2.

Former glories that have disappointed me lately
Sega, their Overworks division made my favorite game (Skies of arcadia), but outside of that and a couple others most of their releases this gen have been mediocre
Square- once my favorite developer during the end of the snes and during the ps1 era has been very mediocre with this last gen.
Capcom- Original Megaman Series was great, First half of X was then it fell. They havent really made anything of interest to me in a while. MMZX may reclaim them to glory though


Most looked forward to titles; Zelda:TP (Nintendo), Rogue Galaxy (Level 5)
Although each of the fallen have a title I am interested in:
Square: FF3, while I don't like handheld gaming I may have to get a DS for it anyway. Capcom: MMZX: again need the DS.
Sega: Sonic Wildfire, finally a game that can return Sonic to its glory, like Sonic Rush was able to do.

Jon
July 23rd, 2006, 01:34 PM
Capcom-RE4 is awsome but Lost Planet is going to be great.

I don't know why everyone thinks Lost Planet is going to be so great, I thought the demo sucked hard.

Rahxephon91
July 23rd, 2006, 06:27 PM
I don't know why everyone thinks Lost Planet is going to be so great, I thought the demo sucked hard.
I don't know, I just found it to be a preatty fun little game. Yes the aiming needs to be fixed somewhat but other then that, the game looks like it will turn out good.

gameoffreak8
July 24th, 2006, 04:52 PM
Konami and Square Enix.