Poll: Who is the greatest videogame visionary?

[stroopwafel]

You have to dig really far into the past to find anything by Kojima(other than Zone of the Enders) that is non-Metal Gear related. The popularity of MGS basically gave Kojima his own studio at Konami with what seems the sole focus of making more Metal Gear games. Not that this is a bad thing per se considering most of them(atleast all the numbered ones) are really good. I think Kojima's greatest achievement is popularizing a cinematic approach to storytelling in videogames that is consistent with the rest of the game. Creating a true cinematic experience at a time this was still a novelty. Also Kojima has a penchant for adding neat little details into his games as well as creating an eclectic mix of anime sci-fi and real world seriousness.

I would consider Shinji Mikami a definite visionary as well. The way Kojima re-invented storytelling in games Mikami re-invented survival horror and third person shooters.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

If videogames are ever to be taken seriously as an art form we will need our own Orson Wells, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, etc,

Yeah this thread is 2 pages long and probably been said but for the record, the whole "the director makes the movie" thing is a result of people refusing to acknowledge movies as art because they didn't have "one creator" like books and paintings. A lot of people go into making a movie than just the director and one of them is shit, the whole thing could be shit. It's why we don't often see director's cuts in theaters cause its someone else job and they can cut the film better. That said, I still think directors are important yada yada yada and their style can usually be seen in their movies but directors don't make movies art.

So onto video games, I think Gabe Newell is important because how we play games can be just as important as the games themselves but as a "director" I'd say Hideo Kojima. He is a man who stopped giving fucks a long time ago and simply puts things into games he thinks is awesome. In regards to mgs4's cut scenes and all around hoopla with the story, you could see it as an experiment and I'm a believer in more than one way to make a game and I think cut scenes have a place (but yeah, there were too many but they were good). Not to mention none of his recent games have that problem and he was able to do some awesome things Peace Walker

 

[Lord Garnaat]

Why on Earth is Miyamoto not on this list? The man practically made the game industry as we know it today, jumpstarted Nintendo's path to success, and gave us some of our most beloved franchises. I respect Kojima, Molyneux, and Suda 51, but frankly their achievements pale in comparison.

 

[jpoon]

King Gabben gets my vote!

 

[stroopwafel]

Yeah this thread is 2 pages long and probably been said but for the record, the whole "the director makes the movie" thing is a result of people refusing to acknowledge movies as art because they didn't have "one creator" like books and paintings.

I think you underestimate the complexity of managing huge amounts of people that all work on different aspects of the game and pushing them all in the direction you want. A reason why so many games lack vision or focus is b/c they lack a capable director. I do think the director makes the movie even if in the end the quality of the end-product depends largely on the talent at his/her disposal. Videogames are no different. The best example is Resident Evil. They went from fantastic, genre-defining games to utter garbage. All b/c the director(Shinji Mikami) left Capcom with no one of similair capabilities to fill his shoes. That the new directors had the same teams working for them didn't make a difference.

 

[Hero of Lime]

It's been said to death by now, but there needs to be more Miyamoto. Your OP makes it sound like you are talking more from an arty perspective, which is something Miyamoto does not embrace. That being said, video game visionary and Shigeru Miyamoto belong in the same sentence. I don't think I need to explain why of course.

From a business perspective, Hiroshi Yamauchi saw the potential business prospects in the video game industry, and made decisions that founded the post video game crash games industry. Plus, don't forget he hired the likes of Miyamoto and Yokoi Gunpei which obviously changed games for the better.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

I think you underestimate the complexity of managing huge amounts of people that all work on different aspects of the game and pushing them all in the direction you want. A reason why so many games lack vision or focus is b/c they lack a capable director. I do think the director makes the movie even if in the end the quality of the end-product depends largely on the talent at his/her disposal. Videogames are no different. The best example is Resident Evil. They went from fantastic, genre-defining games to utter garbage. All b/c the director(Shinji Mikami) left Capcom with no one of similair capabilities to fill his shoes. That the new directors had the same teams working for them didn't make a difference.

True, like I said, when it comes to a good director you can see their style in their art and good directors are a part of making good games (and movies). Its why I said Hideo Kojima cause he's awesome and I totally agree with your point about how he makes the cinematics of a game flow with gameplay. I hate it when people act like every game needs to be a Half-Life knock off with no cutscenes but instead first person set piece moments that are just the same thing.

But do we need named directors for gaming to be considered art? The Last of Us is the most recent artistic game I played and for the life of me, I don't know the director's name. Same with Spec Ops the Line and other games. We don't need to fill a check list of qualification to satisfy some elitist pricks like Roger Ebert. Video games have been a form of artistic expression for a while now

 

[lacktheknack]

I'm gonna go with the guy who had this conversation with himself:

"I think it's time that devs embrace Linux! Who's with me?"



"...Fine, I'll do it all by myself!"

 

[Weaver]

For me it's probably Will Wright.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

In terms of innovation both within the medium and outside of it both Gabe Newell and Shigeru Miyamoto stand out beyond all else.

 

[Maximum Bert]

Ragnar Tørnquist.

Maker of The Longest Journey, Dreamfall, The Secret World and Anarchy Online. The only transcendent writer and world crafter in the entire industry, except for a few glimmers from Benoït Sokal. (Syberia)

I love both of these guys work especially Ragnars work in the Longest Journey (but Syberia is awesome as well). For me though the greatest visionary in gaming is an easy one Shigeru Miyamoto all the way maybe not so much anymore but he has easily done enough to command the fictional title of greatest visionary in gaming.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

You'd have to include Sid Meier and Roberta Williams. The latter isn't noted for her brilliant games but was a pioneer, it must be said.

 

[SpAc3man]

The Gaben. He didn't just help to create the best FPS series of all time. He also pioneered and popularised digital distribution with Steam, helped launch the biggest e-sport tournament of all time, is working to make Linux an actual option in terms of mainstream gaming platforms and is now looking to extend PC gaming to the realm of consoles. Gaben and Valve are most of the reason why PC gaming has surged past consoles in terms overall experience.