The Top 50 Developers [Archive]

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Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:12 AM

Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17756) has posted a new study ranking the top 50 developers based off of sales data, a developer poll and Metacritic scores:

By combining empirical market data with a detailed survey taken by game development professionals via Webby Award-winning site Gamasutra.com, the Top 50 Developers report features a first-ever holistic view of the top game developers, using both sales and reputation data.

For the first-ever countdown, of which the Top 20 Developers are listed and detailed in the March 2008 issue of Game Developer magazine, Nintendo’s Kyoto studio came out on top - thanks in no small part to incredible sales of a healthy lineup of DS and Wii software, notably Wii Play, Wii Sports, and two Brain Age games.

These titles rarely left Japanese and Western sales charts, demonstrating Nintendo’s mastery of the casual games market. Survey comments heaped praise upon the Japanese giant for its focus on quality, and this was reflected in high review scores all around.

The ranking places Nintendo Kyoto on top, with Infinity Ward and Blizzard close behind.

It's been far too quiet today. This should get the blood boiling!

Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:15 AM

The entire list: (http://www.gamedevresearch.com/top-50-developers-2008.htm)

Game Developer Top 50 Developers 2008 6

1. Nintendo 8
Releases And Review Scores 8
Reputation Survey 10

2. Infinity Ward 11
Releases And Review Scores 11
Reputation Survey 12
Detailed Survey 13

3. Blizzard Entertainment 15
Releases And Review Scores 15
Reputation Survey 16
Detailed Survey 17

4. EA Canada 18
Releases And Review Scores 18
Reputation Survey 20

5. Valve 21
Releases And Review Scores 21
Reputation Survey 22

6. Konami Japan Studio 24
Releases And Review Scores 24
Reputation Survey 26
Detailed Survey 26

7. Insomniac Games 27
Releases And Review Scores 27
Reputation Survey 28
Detailed Survey 29

8. Capcom Osaka 31
Releases And Review Scores 31
Reputation Survey 32

9. EA Tiburon 34
Releases And Review Scores 34
Reputation Survey 35
Detailed Survey 36

10. Bioware Edmonton 37
Releases And Review Scores 37
Reputation Survey 38
Detailed Survey 39

11. Bungie 40
Releases And Review Scores 40
Reputation Survey 41

12. Ubisoft Montreal 43
Releases And Review Scores 43
Reputation Survey 44

13. 2K Boston / 2K Australia 46
Releases And Review Scores 46
Reputation Survey 47
Detailed Survey 48

14. Harmonix 49
Releases And Review Scores 49
Reputation Survey 50
Detailed Survey 51

15. Bandai Namco Games 52
Releases And Review Scores 52
Reputation Survey 54

16. Square Enix 55
Releases And Review Scores 55
Reputation Survey 56

17. Game Freak 58
Releases And Review Scores 58

18. Epic Games 60
Releases And Review Scores 60
Reputation Survey 61
Detailed Survey 62

19. Hudson Soft 63
Releases And Review Scores 63

20. Neversoft Entertainment 65
Releases And Review Scores 65
Reputation Survey 66
Detailed Survey 67

21. EA Redwood Shores 68
Releases And Review Scores 68
Reputation Survey 69
Detailed Survey 70

22. Crytek 71
Releases And Review Scores 71
Reputation Survey 72
Detailed Survey 73

23. Nintendo EAD Tokyo 74
Releases And Review Scores 74
Reputation Survey 75

24. EA Los Angeles 76
Releases And Review Scores 76
Reputation Survey 77
Detailed Survey 78

25. Realtime Worlds 79
Releases And Review Scores 79
Reputation Survey 80
Detailed Survey 81

26. Bethesda Softworks 82
Releases And Review Scores 82
Reputation Survey 83
Detailed Survey 84

27. Naughty Dog 85
Releases And Review Scores 85
Detailed Survey 87

28. SCE Studios Santa Monica 88
Releases And Review Scores 88
Reputation Survey 89
Detailed Survey 90

29. EA Black Box 91
Releases And Review Scores 91
Reputation Survey 92
Detailed Survey 93

30. Turn 10 Studios 94
Releases And Review Scores 94
Reputation Survey 95

31. Traveller’s Tales 96
Releases And Review Scores 96
Reputation Survey 97
Detailed Survey 98

32. Relic Entertainment 99
Releases And Review Scores 99
Reputation Survey 100
Detailed Survey 101

33. Beenox 102
Releases And Review Scores 102
Reputation Survey 103
Detailed Survey 104

34. Level 5 105
Releases And Review Scores 105
Reputation Survey 106

35. Tose 107
Releases And Review Scores 107

36. Codemasters 109
Releases And Review Scores 109
Reputation Survey 110
Detailed Survey 111

37. Maxis 112
Releases And Review Scores 112
Reputation Survey 113
Detailed Survey 114

38. Pawapuro Production 115
Releases And Review Scores 115

39. EA UK Studio 117
Releases And Review Scores 117
Reputation Survey 118
Detailed Survey 119

40. Firaxis 120
Releases And Review Scores 120
Reputation Survey 121
Detailed Survey 122

41. Amaze Entertainment 123
Releases And Review Scores 123
Reputation Survey 124
Detailed Survey 125

42. Massive Entertainment 126
Releases And Review Scores 126
Reputation Survey 127
Detailed Survey 128

43. Retro Studios 129
Releases And Review Scores 129
Reputation Survey 130

44. Sega of Japan 131
Releases And Review Scores 131
Reputation Survey 132

45. Sports Interactive 133
Releases And Review Scores 133

46. Tecmo 135
Releases And Review Scores 135
Reputation Survey 136

47. Sumo Digital 137
Releases And Review Scores 137
Reputation Survey 138
Detailed Survey 139

48. Crystal Dynamics 140
Releases And Review Scores 140
Reputation Survey 141
Detailed Survey 142

49. Obsidian Entertainment 143
Releases And Review Scores 143
Reputation Survey 144
Detailed Survey 145

50. Big Huge Games 146
Releases And Review Scores 146
Reputation Survey 147
Detailed Survey 148

Overview Of Developers Outside The Top 50 149

Additional Reputation Survey Comments 161

Additional Detailed Survey Comments 169

Comparisons Across Top 50 Developers 177

Sales Chart Score Data 184

Sales Chart Score Data, Per Game 189

Ancalagon

03-07-2008, 08:16 AM

4. Electronic Arts Canada (FIFA Soccer 08, NBA Street: Homecourt)

I stopped reading.

Gorvi

03-07-2008, 08:17 AM

Next Gen (http://next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9393&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=0) has a review graph by publishers that they put out a little while ago:

http://www.next-gen.biz/images/stories/mattsgraphs/by-the-numbers-005_html_m391f4a65.gif

Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:19 AM

Variable Gear

03-07-2008, 08:20 AM

Wow, it's amazing to see Infinity Ward so high...

...that just shows you what a long development cycle can produce.

Gorvi

03-07-2008, 08:21 AM

DSI - lol.

Great graph - looks about right.
Who is DSI anyway? I've never heard of them or UFO and Conspiracy.

Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:24 AM

Who is DSI anyway? I've never heard of them or UFO and Conspiracy.

Suffice to say, I've reviewed far too many of their games (http://www.dsi-games.com/allgames.php).

vexvegaz

03-07-2008, 08:30 AM

9. EA Tiburon 34
Releases And Review Scores 34
Reputation Survey 35
Detailed Survey 36

im pretty sure they are the ones responsible for madden games and because of that, they do not belong in the top 10. (IMO) harmonix, bioware and bungie should be higher up.

jeffbax

03-07-2008, 08:30 AM

List fails when they put Factor 5 above Firaxis, among other far superior studios.

Gorvi

03-07-2008, 08:33 AM

Suffice to say, I've reviewed far too many of their games (http://www.dsi-games.com/allgames.php).
http://deathbycandy.com/junk/ze-goggles-zey-do-nothing.jpg

ElektroDragon

03-07-2008, 08:33 AM

WHERE ON EARTH IS id SOFTWARE? They did not make the top 50?! Someone please post the DOOM logo!

ElektroDragon

03-07-2008, 08:34 AM

Is it just me or does that cat have HUMAN eyes? Very disturbing use of Photoshop.

Hemalin

03-07-2008, 08:35 AM

WHERE ON EARTH IS id SOFTWARE? They did not make the top 50?! Someone please post the DOOM logo!

They didn't release any games in 2007.

Variable Gear

03-07-2008, 08:41 AM

It's good to see Game Freak on the list. Although, it does suck how low Level-5 is.

Suffice to say, I've reviewed far too many of their games (http://www.dsi-games.com/allgames.php).

Wait, you review games...I didn't know that. :)

Someone please post the DOOM logo!

http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/n64/doom64/images/main_anilogo.gif

Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:43 AM

Wait, you review games...I didn't know that. :)

Occasionally. I've only touched 4 DSI games, and I can assure you, that's far, far too many.

Baron Samedi

03-07-2008, 08:46 AM

http://deathbycandy.com/junk/ze-goggles-zey-do-nothing.jpg

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/funny-picture-vietnam-cat-flashback.jpg

Khash

03-07-2008, 09:30 AM

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/funny-picture-vietnam-cat-flashback.jpg
Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger.

Hellstorm

03-07-2008, 09:54 AM

Backseat Killer

03-07-2008, 10:00 AM

w00t! My company is on that list!!!

I feel...special...

Elrik Murder

03-07-2008, 10:01 AM

http://www.dsi-games.com/boxart/MMsKartRacingDS.jpg

Thanks Kal! I'll have to pick this up!

Play as your favorite M&M'S® characters

Sweet!

divinechaos

03-07-2008, 10:02 AM

w00t! My company is on that list!!!

I feel...special...

Is it DSI?

The Continental

03-07-2008, 10:05 AM

I stopped reading. Amen. EA Canada ranked higher than Valve? Look kids, wave to the credibility of this survey as it goes by.

Variable Gear

03-07-2008, 10:11 AM

I call shenanigans. They count a few Nintendo internal divisions OUTSIDE of Nintendo: EAD, Retro, and Game Freak (although this is arguable). Shouldn't Nintendo's divisions be counted as a whole under Nintendo?

EAD is within Nintendo, but Retro is simply owned by Nintendo and Game Freak is a second-party developer. Each deserves their own spot on this list.

oldjadedgamer

03-07-2008, 10:30 AM

I call shenanigans. They count a few Nintendo internal divisions OUTSIDE of Nintendo: EAD, Retro, and Game Freak (although this is arguable). Shouldn't Nintendo's divisions be counted as a whole under Nintendo?

Nintendo is the publisher of these games. EAD, Retro, and Game Freak are developers... which this list is pointing out.

Returner

03-07-2008, 10:45 AM

The list sucks plain and simple.

Grimmjow

03-07-2008, 10:54 AM

How the hell is Beenox up there?

ghostgirl

03-07-2008, 11:08 AM

w00t! My company is on that list!!!

I feel...special...

Hahah, my company is on there too - I was just about to post the same thing. :D

Crono

03-07-2008, 11:23 AM

I didn't know I had a favorite M&M's character.

Shadowstorm

03-07-2008, 12:04 PM

How in the world does an EA studio surpass Valve?

That's not possible.

Variable Gear

03-07-2008, 12:16 PM

How in the world does an EA studio surpass Valve?

Sales, perchance.

Rommel

03-07-2008, 12:16 PM

Its not a terrible list. EA should probably be higher if you are grading on a scale that goes beyond "Which company makes the best games," and incorporate publishing importance, sales and volume. Infinity Ward and 2K Boston are probably ranked way too high, they do not have a huge body of work overall, and Square way too low, but in general all the major players are on there. As with any subjective ranking list, placement is subjective. For instance, I would bump Capcom a spot above Insomniac - but that is just me.

OrangePulp

03-07-2008, 01:29 PM

Herald42

03-07-2008, 01:35 PM

List fails when they put Factor 5 above Firaxis, among other far superior studios.

Shit! Does this mean the alphabet falls short, too?

Backseat Killer

03-07-2008, 02:07 PM

Is it DSI?

Nope - but you have a 1 in 49 chance of guessing it correctly... :D

Hahah, my company is on there too - I was just about to post the same thing. :D

Congrats to you!

Kryopsis

03-07-2008, 02:57 PM

Nope - but you have a 1 in 49 chance of guessing it correctly... :D

Retro Studios?

Hellstorm

03-07-2008, 03:00 PM

Nope - but you have a 1 in 49 chance of guessing it correctly... :D

Ahhhh Haaaa! Conspiracy it is!

Backseat Killer

03-07-2008, 03:03 PM

I see what you did there Kryopsis - you saw where I was from and narrowed your search. You are so smart. S-M-R-T. I mean, S-M-A-R-T. ;) But wrong!

Kryopsis

03-07-2008, 03:06 PM

I see what you did there Kryopsis - you saw where I was from and narrowed your search. You are so smart. S-M-R-T. I mean, S-M-A-R-T. ;) But wrong!

Yeah, I cross-referenced the list of Ausin-based companies with this list. It was that or SOE. Oh well.

Elrik Murder

03-07-2008, 03:13 PM

I didn't know I had a favorite M&M's character.

That's easy! The blue M&M! He's wearing shades so he's got to be cool...right? Oddly, the brown and black M&M's are nowhere to be found. I think it's a little fishy they're not represented as anthropomorphic chocolate with a candy coated shell.

mister_slim

03-07-2008, 04:06 PM

Isn't EA Black Box part of EA Canada now?
Yeah, I cross-referenced the list of Ausin-based companies with this list. It was that or SOE. Oh well.

There is another Austin studio on that list.

Hemalin

03-07-2008, 05:54 PM

Lactose

03-07-2008, 05:56 PM

I just can't figure how Infinity Ward is ahead of Blizzard... They've made three games: CoD, CoD2, and CoD4. Compared with Blizzard's massive success across three genres (RTS, whatever Diablo is, and MMO)... I just don't see it. Is it because CoD4 is so recent?

I think it's meant to be a current list. CoD4 beats any recent Blizzard title on review scores (granted Blizzard is always set to a much higher standard than other companies, witness Starcraft's 88 on meta critic or Diablo's 89 on gamerankings).

Blizzard is a bit more corporate than IW and has higher turnover as well. WoW does make The Most Money Ever so Blizzard does have that. CoD4 did alright though.

mister_slim

03-07-2008, 06:18 PM

Keep in mind one of the major factors is employee responses on an anonymous QoL survey.

Xerxes

03-07-2008, 08:28 PM

I see what you did there Kryopsis - you saw where I was from and narrowed your search. You are so smart. S-M-R-T. I mean, S-M-A-R-T. ;) But wrong!

I know. :p

bjornbarspingvinen

03-08-2008, 04:08 AM

sales seem to affect that list too much.