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DeadOfKnight
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Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:19 am

Hi, what are your 3 favorite PC game developers? Here's mine:

1) Blizzard - 3 great franchises with unlimited replay value, outstanding long-term support, awesome free servers to play on

2) Valve - Steam (need I say more?), The Orange Box is the most fun I've ever had for the price of one Andrew Jackson

3) BioWare - Truly epic computer RPGs with amazing storytelling ability that provide an immersive experience unlike any other
Last edited by DeadOfKnight on Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:46 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:30 am

In no particular order..

Valve
Egosoft
Gas Powered Games (Pre SupCom 2)

And that is simply because they make 3 of my favoritist games... Valve -> L4D, Egosoft -> The X series of games, GPG -> Supreme Commander, and FA.
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:48 am

so many to chose from...

1. Valve (games, support, community, commitment to the platform)
2. id (somewhat still loyal to their roots)
3. Bethesda (I'll pretty much buy anything from these guys)

honorable mentions:
- Epic (yeah, sort of pc centered)
- Blizzard (respect to these guys)
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:57 am

The publishers of my favorite game (See sig)
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Mentawl
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:26 am

Valve, Relic and Firaxis. Blizzard would've been in there had Activision not eaten them :/
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:40 am

Valve, Westwood (sniff) and Epic.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:54 am

Sargent Duck wrote:
Valve, Westwood (sniff) and Epic.


Amen.

I'd say Valve, id, Westwood, in that order.
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:49 am

CD Projeckt Red
Valve
RMD
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:53 am

Jigar wrote:
The publishers of my favorite game (See sig)

You just listed Capcom as a top PC developer. I'm sure you'll take heat for it from the purists, but I *love* Devil May Cry, Street Fighter, Mega Man...sure, that last one hasn't shown up on PC too much.

What it comes down to is who makes fun games for the PC. And Capcom is one of them, though they're not in the top 3. The top 3 for me who make games worth playing every time are Bioware (who has lost some of their luster, and certain I count them excluding Mass Effect), Epic and Blizzard. I'll usually buy a game from those devs without thinking twice, though I still haven't bought DA2 (and I don't really count Bulletstorm, as that was People Can Fly). Too busy playing Starcraft II still. Maybe I'll get it as a Bday present. Still my top PC games are all titles from these guys - UT99, Starcraft BW and II, MDK2, Diablo II, Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate II, UT 2k4.

edit: Also Gas Powered Games, I love SupCom and FA, and Dungeon Siege is a pretty decent series. The demo for DS III was alot of fun.
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DeadOfKnight
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:36 pm

Mentawl wrote:
Valve, Relic and Firaxis. Blizzard would've been in there had Activision not eaten them :/

I do agree that it's a real shame that Activision acquired Blizzard. But their support has not faltered in any way. And the games are still great.
They still provide more support for some of the oldest PC games than anyone else. Unfortunately their latest decisions have been disappointing.
But you have to give it to them, the Blizzard guys still listened when the whole RealID crisis arose. We'll see with how consolized Diablo III gets.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:39 pm

Westwood, Sierra, and Dynamix.
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DeadOfKnight
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:37 pm

yogibbear wrote:
CD Projeckt

Honestly I think these guys are awesome not so much for game development but for all of their work to bring PC games to a larger audience.

If you do some reading you'll find out just how much work they have put into localizing many classic PC games, and don't forget GOG.com!
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:14 am

In no particular order -
Current:
1) Bethesda
2) GSC Game World
3) CDProjekt

Curmudgeonly:
1) id
2) Looking Glass
3) Totally Games
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:28 am

1.) Valve (Nuff said)
2.) Bethesda + id (I loved doom, and Fallout New Vegas is wondrous)
3.) Whoever made BioShock. That game taught me that video games could be art.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:00 am

Chun¢ wrote:
3.) Whoever made BioShock. That game taught me that video games could be art.

That'd be Irrational Games/2k Boston
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:27 am

1) Valve (this choice is almost by default, so few to choose from)
2) Creative Assembly
3) CD Projekt
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:20 am

Valve
Bethesda
id

bullfrog and microprose along with westwood back in the day.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:23 am

TheEmrys wrote:
...and Dynamix.


I'm enjoying Betrayal at Krondor the last couple weeks as I have time courtesy of Dynamix. Don't know what else they made though.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:50 am

DeadOfKnight wrote:
Hi, what are your 3 favorite PC game developers? Here's mine:

1) Blizzard - 3 great franchises with unlimited replay value, outstanding long-term support, awesome free servers to play on

2) Valve - Steam (need I say more?), The Orange Box is the most fun I've ever had for the price of one Andrew Jackson

3) BioWare - Truly epic computer RPGs with amazing storytelling ability that provide an immersive experience unlike any other


Can't argue with this list.

4) id

5) Bethesda

6) CDProjeckt Red

As game developers these guys rule, but I have to mention Epic Games as both a respected game developer and engine house. We can rag on the Unreal Engine, but they did and continue to do great things with multi-platform development. While I do not like the consolitis that comes from developing for consoles and then porting, I can't say that I can take significant issue with their efforts towards making sure that great PC games also arrive on the consoles too. They've gone above and beyond.
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:05 am

WalkCMD wrote:
TheEmrys wrote:
...and Dynamix.


I'm enjoying Betrayal at Krondor the last couple weeks as I have time courtesy of Dynamix. Don't know what else they made though.


Here are some good times I've spent (or have wanted to spend), courtesy of Dynamix

- MechWarrior (1)
- Earth Siege
- Earth Siege 2
- Star Siege
- Star Siege: Tribes
- Tribes 2
- Stellar 7
- Nova 9
- Red Baron
- Aces of the Pacific
- Aces over Europe
- Aces of the Deep
- The Incredible Machine
- The Adventures of Willy Beamish
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:01 am

Of all time I would have to say,

Looking Glass Studios - Thief I and Thief II series
Dynamix - Outpost 2, Earthsiege 2, Starsiege
Maxis - Any and all SIM (Pre EA buyout)

And...
Cavedog - For their brilliant Total Annihilation
I can choose four, right?
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:05 am

1) Valve. Portal and its successor absolutely blew me away. I still enjoy CS every now and again, and I have very high expectations for episode 3. L4D redefined the zombie genre for me. Steam has always been a joy to use.
2) Bungie. Not what they are now, but what they used to be. I logged countless hours on Halo PC, and I actually liked Marathon more than Doom.
3) EA. BF2 is probably my most played game to date, and I am wetting my pants in anticipation for BF3.

EDIT: Honorable mention to NCSoft. CoH was (and still is) the only MMO I ever actually enjoyed.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:45 am

gbcrush wrote:
WalkCMD wrote:
TheEmrys wrote:
...and Dynamix.


I'm enjoying Betrayal at Krondor the last couple weeks as I have time courtesy of Dynamix. Don't know what else they made though.


Here are some good times I've spent (or have wanted to spend), courtesy of Dynamix

- MechWarrior (1)
- Earth Siege
- Earth Siege 2
- Star Siege
- Star Siege: Tribes
- Tribes 2
- Stellar 7
- Nova 9
- Red Baron
- Aces of the Pacific
- Aces over Europe
- Aces of the Deep
- The Incredible Machine
- The Adventures of Willy Beamish


They were a major player for a very nice peried. Sierra bought them out, and now they are part of Vivendi. I believe they also had Rise of the Dragon and A-10 Tank Killer, two of my favorites.
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DeadOfKnight
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:52 pm

gbcrush wrote:
courtesy of Dynamix
- The Incredible Machine

I thought this was Sierra?
mafropetee wrote:
EDIT: Honorable mention to NCSoft. CoH was (and still is) the only MMO I ever actually enjoyed.

ArenaNet's Guild Wars is still the best subscription-free MMO out there IMO. Looking forward to Guild Wars 2.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:33 pm

DeadOfKnight wrote:
gbcrush wrote:
courtesy of Dynamix
- The Incredible Machine

I thought this was Sierra?

Jeff Tunnell Productions, Dynamix, and Sierra all developed some of the games in the series, but the original was Jeff Tunnell Productions: http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/inc ... ine-series
 
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:59 pm

Airmantharp wrote:
DeadOfKnight wrote:
Hi, what are your 3 favorite PC game developers? Here's mine:

1) Blizzard - 3 great franchises with unlimited replay value, outstanding long-term support, awesome free servers to play on

2) Valve - Steam (need I say more?), The Orange Box is the most fun I've ever had for the price of one Andrew Jackson

3) BioWare - Truly epic computer RPGs with amazing storytelling ability that provide an immersive experience unlike any other


Can't argue with this list.

4) id

5) Bethesda

6) CDProjeckt Red

As game developers these guys rule, but I have to mention Epic Games as both a respected game developer and engine house. We can rag on the Unreal Engine, but they did and continue to do great things with multi-platform development. While I do not like the consolitis that comes from developing for consoles and then porting, I can't say that I can take significant issue with their efforts towards making sure that great PC games also arrive on the consoles too. They've gone above and beyond.

How did you read my mind?
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:36 pm

Had I seen this topic when it came out, my reply would have been:

1. Bethesda
2. Sierra
3. CDProjekt

However, when Bethesda decided to require Steam activation, I must change to:

1. Sierra
2. CDProjekt
3. Whomever makes a good game that doesn't require Steam.
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DeadOfKnight
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Sat May 26, 2012 7:34 pm

I think CDProjekt has come to replace BioWare in my top 3 after their last 2 games.

I think it's more EA than BioWare that's to blame, but still...
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Sun May 27, 2012 11:57 am

1.Relic (They have never made a bad game series. Homeworld, Company of Heroes, Dawn of War, Space Marine)
2.Bethesda (Everything they make is good, even if they are all Elder Scrolls games)

At various points in the past there would be a 3rd listed. Activision in the 90' for the Mechwarrior 2 series of games. Zipper Interactive and Microprose for the Mechwarrior 3 games. And FASA for the Mech 4 games. Maby a few more but I don't want to ramble on about it.
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Re: Top 3 PC Game Developers?

Thu May 31, 2012 8:00 am

Can't argue with success.

1) Valve
2) BioWare (but I'm biased)
3) Rockstar (all hail the open world)

One to watch for is Rocksteady. If they continue putting out great product like their last two, they're on their way to greatness.
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