Which Dev Would You Follow Into Hell?

[Fappy]

So I've been playing a lot of Morrowind and Skyrim recently and I realized something. Since I started playing Bethesda's games a decade ago (games they've developed, not published) I've never really been completely letdown. Yeah, their games have more bugs than a termite infested meth-house and most of their NPCs have as much depth as a kitty pool, but there's always something about their games that really satisfies me. Todd Howard's team has grown significantly over the years and they've adopted plenty of new design philosophies along the way, some that improved the experience and some that took way from it, but the essence of their games has remained consistent and familiar. In some ways they're the only developer that I have followed for a significant portion of my life that has consistently met my expectations.

We spend a lot of time hear talking about how we're so disappointed with Bioware for ME3's ending, or Capcom for doing... everything wrong recently, but how often do we actually talk up devs we've been doing business with for years? So yeah, there's the topic. Are there any devs you've been a fan of for years that has yet to truly let you down? Discuss!

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I'd follow EA in, just to make sure they stayed there, if that counts.

I don't know if there are any left that I love all their work... I would have said Westwood, Pandemic or Bioware, but then they got EA'd, so...
I suppose, whoever the developer is that is making Star Citizen, because they reached all of their stretch goals, so the game is hopefully going to be immense when it is finally released. I'd also say Molyneaux, because even though his games never live up to their hype he is still a really genuinely enthusiastic developer that you can just see the excitement and love of videogames coming through his public appearances, and I've never seen the same energy and charisma irradiate from any other developer in the same way, even Gabe Newell!

 

[Dectomax]

inb4 Valve...

I'd have to say CD Projekt RED, just for no DRM and free DLC. Man how I love those guys.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

Are there any devs you've been a fan of for years that has yet to truly let you down? Discuss!

A thread where I can gush about devs/dev companies I love? Awesome! I'll just mention a few.

Starting off with individuals:

Hideo Kojima

Sure, the MGS franchise is guilty of lots of wrongdoings from story, to game design, to characters, to dialogue. But really, even taken in altogether, none of that stops me from calling the MGS franchise as one of my most favorite and consistently enjoyable game series I've ever played.

And I've played a lot of game series that eventually turn ugly. But from MGS1, to 4. Including Portable Ops and Peace Walker, the guy does great work. There's shit moments and aspects within the Solid series, but in my eyes - the great moments don't just stop at being great, they ascend to brilliance. I wish he gets his chance to do more than just the Metal Gear franchise, I'd love to see what else he has to offer. Actually, he needs to give us another Zone of Enders game. There is a serious lack of [japanese] mecha games.

Shinji Mikami

The amount of videogame gold this guy produces is inhuman. Seriously, he's responsible or at least had major involvement in several of my most favorite videogames I've ever played. Not to mention, on top of his fantastic track record, he directed what may be my most favorite game of all time - God Hand. I grew up playing his games from Aladdin, to Goof Troop, to Resident Evil, and I still continue playing his games like Vanquish and Shadows of the Damned. They're all great. How could I not love this guy?


Companies:

Platinum Games

Simply put, these guys are masters of what it takes to make a game FUN. I'm all for games with great story, slow/methodical gameplay, turn-based tactical strategy games, blahblahblah. Yes, I love those games too. BUT, the way Platinum makes their games hit my personal sweet-spots all the time. I simply cannot deny myself the sheer glee and enjoyment I get from playing the sort of stylish high-action game Platinum is known for.
On a related note, Platinum Games + Metal Gear? SQUEEEEEEEEE!

Valve
To be succinct, Valve makes games which I believe are great. And their Steam DD platform opened my eyes to the greatness of digital distribution, and has enabled me to play and discover far more games than I've ever even known about.

You know, it's kinda hard for me to think of devs/companies that have never really severely disappointed me, or proven themselves to above-the-rest, to be brilliant.

 

[Andy Shandy]

I would argue Sonic Team, mainly because with the likes of Sonic '06, I've followed them to hell and back.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I love the guys over at From Software, and hope they aren't just remembered as "Those guys wat dun Dark Souls".

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Atlus. I've just finished Persona 4 Golden, and they're currently making Persona 5. I'll follow them ANYWHERE.

 

[Terminate421]

The ones who made the HELLJUMPERS

Feet first into hell, along side the greatest gaming company ever.

 

[Ryotknife]

hmm, Valve or Paradox I guess. Valve has never let me down, and I really like Paradox games so....

5 years ago I would have said Bioware and Square enix (maybe even EA) but....well...you know.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Relic Entertainment, for similar reasons as Fappy has for Bethesda. I don't want to see these guys die.

 

[ResonanceSD]

EA. So I could keep hitting them in the face.

But I think I'd actually support Obsidian, F: NV was far superior to F:3

 

[Eddie the head]

I like games, not developers. That said Insomniac games are consistently fun.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I would totally follow Insomniac and Gearbox into hell.

I love Insomniac to bits and I will forever love Gearbox for being awesome to it's fans and for Borderlands, but mainly Borderlands.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

I'd totally follow FROM Software into hell. The Souls games are frustrating about 80% of the time, but their difficulty makes it extremely satisfying to beat a hard boss or level. Their level design is also top notch, with plenty of interconnected areas and hidden passages, and the art direction really contributes to both games' dark and depressing feel.

They're also not chained down by their publishers, allowing them to make the kind of games that they like rather than the generic military shooters that more and more developers are making.

 

[Another]

There are a couple of developers who I'd march with into the depths of hell. I don't think I could limit it to just one though.

1) Square-Enix. You know that ex-girlfriend/boyfriend who you broke up with years ago, yet you never really got over? The one who, if they just phoned you up and asked, you'd go running back to in a second? That's kind of like what Squaresoft is to me. Officially, we broke up after the PS1 era. But goddamn, I still love them, and I'd still run into hell after them if I thought it would bring us back together. For all that people shit on them, they're not the evil, soul-destroying company everyone makes them out to be. They still pick up and finance more original IPs than the likes of EA or Activision, and they still develop absolute gems like Kingdom Hearts and TWEWY. There's a good company still at the heart of Squenix, it's just been covered up by excess and bloat.

Hang in there baby. We'll be back together soon...

I'd still follow square into hell.

Seriously they own Eidos now. And with how good the pc versions of human revolution, sleeping dogs, and hitman absolution have been, I'm actually quite happy with them. Even if their JRPG fare has be kinda poor of late.

 

[thesilentman]

I'd say From Software. Even though the PC versions of their games have been shit, their games at the core have been very, very awesome. Dark Souls PC is the BEST experience I have had in gaming for a while and I certainly want to see some more of their games in the future.

I'd also say Nintendo. The industry would be bleak without them...

 

[felbot]

pretty hard to follow someone to a place that doesn't exist.

anyway on topic, id probably follow obsidian for as long as i could, and whatever studio gets spawned from them.

 

[SajuukKhar]

inb4 Valve...

Val.......

DAMN YOU!!!!

Well, valve.

 

[Alakaizer]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: My two favorite devs are Insomniac and Sucker Punch. The only game by either of them I didn't play for very long was Resistance 2, and that's only because I suck at FPSs. I've beaten most of their games to 100% completion, a couple of them over 100%, and I've had lots of fun with them and I can't wait to see what they do next.