The best video game company?

[funnyperson1]

As I see it there are a couple big contenders here.

My ranking of the best/biggest/most important video game companies.

1. ID Software- Since Commander Keen they have been one of the most popular companies out there. Their Doom and Quake series are LEGENDARY, and their graphics engines always reinvent 3d games.

2. Blizzard- Another favorite of gamers. They brought rpgs, rtss, and simulation games to the masses. Games like Warcraft II and DiabloII are some of the most popular games ever released.

3. EA Games- They release so many games its not even funny. From the hugely popular Madden series of football games to the also popular Command and Conquer series EA is very popular.

4. Sierra- Their racing games are pretty good, but they wouldnt belong on this list if it werent for one thing...HALF LIFE. The amount of hours of gameplay i have gotten from HL and its mods is amazing. Really a revolutionary game. But mods for HL like Counter Strike are some of the most popular ever made. With over 30,000 servers serving HL based games 5 years after it game out, I am impressed. Lets hope theyre not a one hit wonder.

[DaddyB]

Wait a minute, are you saying that EA isn't the only video game company around? J/K

It almost seems that way, they bought everyone else out, almost every game I have recently aquired is by EA. I don't like the whole monopolistic approach but that aside I guess I have to say the are the best... they own the C+C series, SimCity, BF1942 and the Sims (I don't like the Sims, played it once). I guess they wanted to spend all that money they made off of us from NHL 94, NHL 95, NHL 96..... Why did we buy them all...they were all the same game. Anyways thats another topic.

What about Epic or whoever makes UT2K3 (it has too many names on it, Epic, Digital Extremes, Atari).

What about Bethesda? Morrowind has to be my all time favorite game, the graphics are stunning and the freedom in the game is unparalleled.

I don't care for ID very much (Doom3 looks cool), didn't like the Quake or Doom series very much... I was too busy playing UT... but RTCW is great.

Sierra, they were cool back in the C64 days. I played CS twice so I guess it's better then the sims...but not much. I don't see why everyone liked it so much, it came with my radeon so I tried it...hasn't been installed since the first format after I got my card. Besides a company has to produce more then one good game per decade to be cool.

Blizzard is OK, Warcraft 3 is pretty good but I got pretty bored 3/4 of the way through the game and haven't played it in a few months. Diablo was one of the first online/multiplayer RPGS so you have to give them credit there.


1. EA
2. ID
3. Epic
4. Blizzard
5. Bethesda (only because of Morrowind)
6. who cares, 1 through 5 make more then enough games to keep me happy.

[funnyperson1]

Well, Epic really only released UT and UT2003 those were its two big games. Of the two I think UT was the good one, UT2003 doesnt impress me much.

As for ID I really have to give them props for their graphics engines. Wolf3d was revolutionary "3d", and so was the Doom engine. But some of the best games ever made have been based on Quake/QuakeII/QuakeIII engines. Half-Life, SOF, SOFII (both the soldier of fortune games blew me away with the violence engne), JKII, MOHAA...and the list goes on.

I hadnt even heard of Bethesda. One game doesnt make a company imho. Sierra got on there because really Half-Life is not just Half-Life, its TFC, CS, Opposing Force, and Blue Shift, all of which have been great successes (with the possible exception of Blue Shift).

As for Blizzard I based it mostly on their popularity as I have only played DiabloII. But DII online is hella fun, and most of my friends are addicted to warcraft.

edit:

Half-Life Demo had come with my Rage Fury Pro, thats what got me addicted lol. CS was popular because when it came out the realism with the recoil and fast action was great fun. I play CS when I have the time.

[deRusett]

firefly is the best company :D those 11 guys made my 2 favorite games and are making there 3rd game right now.

can't wait till it comes out.

[William]

there are a lot of them. To boil it down to one would be tough. I think EA, Microsoft, and Blizzard could compete for it, with EA getting an edge. Of course, EA and Microsoft aren't "true" game companies, but have bought lots of studios and brought them in house while Take Two, Blizzard, and ID are still on their own. You could probably debate it forever and not get to an answer.

[OC-Master]

EA all the way!

Although I will give a kick @ss company called cavedog some credit. I believe they now have gone under but since there time, have made this one RTS so inspiring that I cant even begin to explain just how many hours and gallons of beer I spent drinking and somewhat total lack of sleep gotten.... and so on.... Ah!! IO mis TA! I hope those kids get TA2 out the door like they said they would. :D

Farewell Cavedog...



OC-Master

[William]

Long live TA, the most fun, time consuming, and of the most revolutionary RTS games ever. Unfortunately they had one grand hit, and missed on their second try.

[OC Noob]

I played my first EA game on the c64 (a racing game that you could build your own tracks, I forget the name) and will give them the big thumbs up for the best sports games a console could hope to run.


Don't forget about Sega.

[funnyperson1]

Originally posted by OC Noob
I played my first EA game on the c64 (a racing game that you could build your own tracks, I forget the name) and will give them the big thumbs up for the best sports games a console could hope to run.


Don't forget about Sega.

I meant computer games, but I have to admit, the entire sonic series are beautiful games. Well at least all the ones for genesis.

[sirtoby]

iD Software has to be number one..

I also like Illusion Softworks and Take2 interactive..

[Flashfx2]

For me it would have to be Blizzard, Starcraft and Diablo 2 combined have probably sucked up half of my gaming in on the PC.

[Gecedion]

Take Two, Blizzard, and ID are still on their own Blizzard is owned by Vivendi.
I'd had to go with iD, those programmers invented the genre of FPS (Carmack worked on Catabombs 3D and Wolfenstein), and they always push the hardware.

[timmyqwest]

I think it all depends on the genra. Sports EA hands down, racing...well is it simulation or arcade style

simulation=sirra bar none (except for f12002)
aracade EA

First person shooters...man there are so many you cant declair anyone a winner

"What about battle field 1942" yea well thats just a mix of MOH and operation flashpoint..great game but not an original idea.

I know many of you are gonna say EA but given my experience with motor city online i can tell you they are not doing as good in some depts. as some think

[Hatecc]

Blizzard

nothing comes within a mile of their quality.

ID software comes in second, all the rest, well i could care less.

[Agent Z]

EA they have the best games....
and Also Sierra !!!

[Rav]

I know you meant PC, but I think Squaresoft should be mentioned. They are awesome when it comes to story and detail.

-Rav

[kevmarks]

Shiny - without a doubt MDK has been the best game on the PC. MDK2 was a great sequal. They have done some other very high quality titles. Any news on MDK3?

[OC Noob]

Whats MDK?

Mortal Kombat?

[DaddyB]

LOL thats what I am thinking, perhaps going through the trouble of typing the whole name would help those of us who haven't played every game ever made, at least for the games that aren't "household names".

TA? (actually I looked it up, Total Anhilation)
MDK?

If I said TAPJG you would have no clue that Im talking about Timon and Pumba's jungle games (came free on my daughters cereal). Help us clueless people out.

[Burning Phoenix]

Originally posted by OC Noob
Whats MDK?

Mortal Kombat?

Murder Death Kill
YOu know from the Demolition Man movie!:)

[White Star]

I thought MDK meant Max, Doctor, and Kurt. Hence the three main characters of the game. Anyways.
As far as Sierra goes, Half-Life isn't why they should be on this list. Half-Life is a great game and all, but it's still just another first person shooter. Granted it's the most enjoyable FPS in a looooong time. But everybody and their dog makes FPSs. Generally speaking you can take a given FPS and switch the enemies and the weapons, and you'd get the same output. There's always a sniper rifle. There's always a slow firing weapon that causes hella damage to people. There's always a crap load of weapons people don't use because they're either good with the massive damage dealing weapon, or they're good with the fast firing weapon whos individual shots don't do much. imho, FPSs are boring and repetitive. Sierra deserves kudos for things like the Kings Quest series, Quest for Glory series, and the ever so deep Gabriel Knight games. Let's also not forget the Space Quests and Leisure Suit Larrys.
Next in line must come Lucas Arts. The Monkey Island series, Loom, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Maniac Mansion 1 and 2, especially 2. And who could forget Sam & Max Hit The Road? I think a lot of people today need to just relax, calm down, and play some Sam & Max. Then the world will return to it's senses.

[DaveSauce]

I would have to say the best game companies are the following:

id
Square/Squaresoft (whatever they're calling themselves these days)
Maxis
Ummm...what else...heh that's all off the top of my head....


anyhow, EA is NOWHERE NEAR the list of best game companies. Why? Because they're evil money-sucking corporate slobs who care only about getting the next money-maker out the door as fast as possible. i.e. THE FREAKIN SIMS!!!! I also blame will wright for allowing that to happen. EA's games have steadily gone downhill in quality, but yet they continue to sell more and more games. Not the mark of a good company, in my book.

Gameplay GOOOODDDDD....EA BAAADDDDDDD.......

oh yea...blizzard is heading down that path too (sequel after sequel after sequel). BUT at least Blizzard puts effort into their games, rather than just cranking out crap as fast as people will buy it. Why I say they're bad is because rather than be innovative, they're just churning out the same game over and over.....just looks different.

[Demont]

for one, blizzard is terrible. popularity is not a reason to declare them a good game company. they didn't bring gaming to the masses. they brough their own cheezy laminated simplistic games to the masses. they should be dead instead of westwood. so much dead.

i wish more people would realize this and stop sending them truckfulls of money when they could be playing cavedog/westwood/sierra rts games. or pretty much any other crpg/mmorpg instead of diablo.

blizzard games fall into two categories. click the monster repeatedly, and click the build-the-best-monster button repeatedly.

EVOLVE, DEMAND MORE.


but to answer the origonal question, black isle, westwood, cavedog, sierra, id, and eidos all have some very good games. (and a few bad, especially in the case of sierra and eidos.)

[funnyperson1]

Originally posted by White Star
I thought MDK meant Max, Doctor, and Kurt. Hence the three main characters of the game. Anyways.
As far as Sierra goes, Half-Life isn't why they should be on this list. Half-Life is a great game and all, but it's still just another first person shooter. Granted it's the most enjoyable FPS in a looooong time. But everybody and their dog makes FPSs. Generally speaking you can take a given FPS and switch the enemies and the weapons, and you'd get the same output. There's always a sniper rifle. There's always a slow firing weapon that causes hella damage to people. There's always a crap load of weapons people don't use because they're either good with the massive damage dealing weapon, or they're good with the fast firing weapon whos individual shots don't do much. imho, FPSs are boring and repetitive. Sierra deserves kudos for things like the Kings Quest series, Quest for Glory series, and the ever so deep Gabriel Knight games. Let's also not forget the Space Quests and Leisure Suit Larrys.
Next in line must come Lucas Arts. The Monkey Island series, Loom, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Maniac Mansion 1 and 2, especially 2. And who could forget Sam & Max Hit The Road? I think a lot of people today need to just relax, calm down, and play some Sam & Max. Then the world will return to it's senses.

Not so, when Half Life came out, it WAS revolutionary. Sure it was an FPS, but it incorporated a STORY, and it allowed the most character/environment interaction of any game that came out even a couple years after it. Ive played a good many shooters with many as you said just fitting the mold, but Half Life was beautiful, it made me laugh with every damn dirty soldier killed, cry at the ending (well almost lol), and grimace every time i saw that ******* Administrator and I couldnt kill his ass.

CS as well was revolutionary. It was the first game to actually incorporate recoil. In any FPS up to it if you took the most powerful machine gun and held the fire button down and sprayed it randomly you could get a lot of kills. CS forced people to aim, and it was the most realistic game that came out for a while.

[Demont]

Originally posted by funnyperson1


Not so, when Half Life came out, it WAS revolutionary. Sure it was an FPS, but it incorporated a STORY, and it allowed the most character/environment interaction of any game that came out even a couple years after it. Ive played a good many shooters with many as you said just fitting the mold, but Half Life was beautiful, it made me laugh with every damn dirty soldier killed, cry at the ending (well almost lol), and grimace every time i saw that ******* Administrator and I couldnt kill his ass.

CS as well was revolutionary. It was the first game to actually incorporate recoil. In any FPS up to it if you took the most powerful machine gun and held the fire button down and sprayed it randomly you could get a lot of kills. CS forced people to aim, and it was the most realistic game that came out for a while.

You are correct, I forgot to post about this, half-life and cs deserve much credit and many game hours. :D

[White Star]

Rainbow Six came out much earlier than CS and it included recoil, same with Delta Force. But you are correct. Half Life was very revolutionary as far as FPSs go. But what it boils down to is that it's still just an FPS. Albeit a very good FPS. FPSs tend to be a whole lot of the same thing with different scenery. Half Life kept things interesting without needing to rely on monsters around every corner, so kudos to them for that. But seriously. Am I the only person who's getting sick of all the FPSs? People have been relentlessly releasing FPS after FPS since Doom. And the scary thing is, Doom wasn't that fun. Games like the Gabriel Knight series and Laura Bow seires were great because they had interesting plots and characters and such. And of course there is always a time and place for the good ol' FPS. But since everybody and their dog makes them now, they're quite boring. Half Life was good. No One Lives Forever was hilarious. But the thing is, you sink a couple of hours into the game, and then that's it. You've seen everything. Which is just not the way it works with say, Gabriel Knight. Gabriel Knight you have to play it to the end to see everything.

[Footba_SWAT5420]

in reply to post above:

FPS are my absolute favorite genre. sure the crappy ones are reptitive and the same tried and tru thing over and over, but many would say that aobut adventure/puzzle games. how many times can you play the same "find the key, take it to the dorr, move a statue, get a new key, find a new door" puzzle? In half life it was revoulutionary because it was not a FPS as you seem to define it (shoot your way through each level at anythnig and everything). it required much more cooperation wiht the enviorment (using friendlies to advance through the levels. also the scripting is amazing:
EG1 Entering just "any old elevator" only to have it stop and next the cables snap giving you the desicion of taking a chance and going down wiht it or jumping to a ladder that you may or may not reach (easter EGG: try getting ontop of that elevator next time for crazy consequences ;))
EG2: walking up to an elevator shaft w/o an elevator and seeing a scientist hanging. try to save him but TOO LATE he falls and dies (COOL!)
EG3: the entire opening sequence

what im trying to show is that it immerses you into the game incredibly well. any game is the same old if you do the same stuff over and over. Half life is set apart by what it added to the overal FPS gameplay.

PS konami is my Fav company

[bafbrian]

I agree, I think Konami is the best, I mean have you guys played MGS1 and MGS 2. My fav is MGS2, which Konami made and it is the best company in my opinion.

[bafbrian]

Oh yeah and that company that makes the GTA games, Rockstar Games. They rock!!!

[Footba_SWAT5420]

story wise MGS was sooooo much better. i loved the enemy ai in MGS2 tohguh. and GTAseries (minus GTA2 and GTA london) is one of my fav series of all time.