Celebrity Designers
Last Updated (Friday, June 26 2009)
When thinking about a certain product, it is so much easier to associate one person or image to a product than it is to try and recall the names of the entire team that created it. This applies greatly to the games industry where what gets remembered the most is the game itself and at times the development studio. For the most part, the actual developers are backstage and prefer to let the studio as a whole take the spotlight. This is of course the rightful way to do it as the whole thing is a team effort.
But then there are those developers that just seem shine on their own. There aren't many, but the few that are celebrities sure know how to shine and use their fame as a selling tool for their games. Here are just a few of the developers that have transcended their game studios and have crossed into the point where simply putting their name on the box will help you decide which game your gonna get next.
Name: Shigeru Miyamoto
Game Studio: Nintendo
Why he's famous:
If you have played a video game and don't know who this is then you need to never pick up a controller ever again. You are a disgrace to all gamers.
This guy is known to many as the father of modern gaming or even the Walt Disney of video games. If a person was ever picked to be the "King of Video Games", this would be the guy. The list of successful franchises he has created is just incredible. Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Star Fox, Pikmin... I could go on for a long time but I'll save it. You already know who this is, right? Great, let's move on.
Name: Will Wright
Game Studio: Maxis
Why he's famous:
He's famous because he creates titles that take over your life and all of your time. The entire Sims franchise is due to this man. I credit him for getting alot of casual gamers addicted to games. I personally had to uninstall The Sims from my computer because I stopped living my real life and was too absorbed in my digital one. Yeah, it was that bad (or should I say "good").
Recently he released Spore under EA and created a whole new phenomenon, that has destroyed many social lives.
This is a brilliant mind and a very important person in the history of video games.
Name: Sid Meier
Game Studio: Firaxis
Why he's famous:
This is one of the few developers that put his name on the box before the title. He's now become a brand along the lines of Tom Clancy and a strong one at that.
He's had some tremendous success with Civilization, Pirates, Alpha Centuri and many more. Though he mainly develops for the pc, his name is very well know throughout the industry and is synonymous with quality.
Name: John Carmack
Game Studio: Id Software
Why he's famous:
Um let's see... Doom, Wolfenstein 3d, Quake and Enemy Territories. He's one of the most talented programmers in the industry and the only non-designer(sorta) on this list. Why is he on this list then? Not only because he practically created the First Person Shooter genre, but also because when you see his name on the credits, you know you are gonna get your money's worth. That's almost a guarantee.
I have yet to play a game created by this man that sucks.
Name: Hideo Kojima
Game Studio: Kojima Productions
Why he's famous:
...because of the Metal Gear series! This man's creations have captivated gamers for decades. Most designers don't know how to adapt well with the times. They don't take advantage of the advances of technology and soon fail. Not the case with Mr. Kojima here. He's been able to push the limitations for the hardware that he develops for decades and has revolutionized narratives in games today.
Sure, the stories can sometimes take some weird twists, but the way they are told blur the lines between cinema and games far greater than any other developer ever has. This man is a true visionary.
These are the big wigs. These are the head honchos. The ones that think differently than the rest and have the track record to prove that they can produce products us gamers will enjoy. In the end these guys make it a lot easier for us to make a decision when we are standing in front of a shelf contemplating our next purchase. Because when we see their name or the studio they work for on the box, we know we are getting quality. That ultimately makes everyone involved happy, especially the person who will be holding the controller in the end.
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