Face It: These 17 Developers Are The Trend Setters That Others Follow

The gaming industry is a thriving one, no question. From its inception, innovation has ruled the day with every passing generation. Even if today, we’ve moved far beyond what we played on Atari or GameBoy, none would deny the fact that those experiences were some of the best in our lifetime.

And here’s why, innovation doesn’t always equal fun, or enjoyment. Yes it sure can enhance, or make the experience better in some ways, but the core of any game being fun, or a well rounded success depends on its story and gameplay.

We’ve had those two aspects from the beginning and they’ve traveled with us to this day.

[dangert12]

this gen has proved that following is not successful but originality is

[Palodios]

Agreed. This generation has been very different from previous ones in that it seems like a handful of studios (ie, mostly these 17 plus or minus a few) have been making quality and the rest have been making garbage. I get the feeling that the rising costs of making a next-gen game have changed the dynamics of developing games.

[BakedGoods]

...that five of the listed developers are PS3-exclusive, and only one (Epic) is 360-only.

[Lich120]

Interesting I suppose if your intent is to derail a legitimate conversation about the current state of game development.

[BakedGoods]

On the contrary. It indirectly shows the flows of publisher investment towards game development. One can argue, based on this list, that Sony is investing in developer talent rather than, say, other forms of gaming revenue like exclusive DLC, marketing events, and product promotions.

While this may only be a side-note in a broader conversation about creative development it's still very relevant to the current state of gaming.

[HolyOrangeCows]

I don't know about Polyphony Digital and Square Enix...

Polyphony Digital doesn't just crap out games every two years or faster like most other developers and Square...well, I HOPE they aren't setting trends.

[Lich120]

Touche, forgive me if I have trouble filtering fanboy comments on this site and mistakenly took yours for one.

[Darkfiber]

Epic is 360 only? Since when? You think Gears is the only game they make? Do a little research before you make yourself look like an idiot.

[R2D2]

what can developers do that has not been done already? This is the same reason movies these days are a big WTF.

Like the saying goes Simpsons did it!

[dangert12]

@BakedGoods dos i matter? seriously its about who's carrying the batton in the industry not who's devs are better ps3 or xbox's

[Gago]

platforming rips off of Tomb raider

shooting rips off of Gears of war/ RE4

so much for trend setter

[nnotdead]

good point, but you forgot that it set trends (hopefully) in story telling, voice acting, motion capturing, and graphics.

[rockleex]

Gears of War and RE4.

Because third person shooter games with cover mechanics and blindfire have existed before that.

Kill.Switch is one of them.

[beardpapa]

I wouldn't put bethesda fallout on that list. If anything and in my humble opinion, they turned an interesting rpg universe (fallout 1 & 2) into an 'fps with perks' sort of like bioshock. Other than the setting and pipboy, nothing about Fallout 3 reminds me of the uber-cool post-apocalyptic sensation Fallout1/2 really brought out.

Bioshock and Fallout are disgraces to the core gameplay in fallout and system shock. They are not original or true to their origin, but really just followers of the current popular genre.

Bethesda's elderscrolls is an exception, but that's because TES has always been a 1st person rpg.

[karl]

yeah... MW2 definitely proves that, right?
im just saying.. but best selling games are shotters, right?

originality should lead to succed.. sadly little kids just want more shotters

[XactGamer]

Good list but IMO they forgot these gems

Crysis: for creating a game that even after two years consoles can't match in visual quality.

Shadow Complex: for showing the world that even little games can be huge.

Arkham Asylum: for making a Batman game people actually liked.

[Boody-Bandit]

It's really hard to argue with this list unless you were to extend it to a top 25. I can think a several more developers and would probably put them higher on the list but overall that is a great list.

The funny thing is I think I have every title. I usually sell my games when I am done with them or give them to my sons friends, but all the ones on this list I kept / still have.

[SOAD]

I think Blizzard are trendsetters. World of Warcraft, Starcraft, and the Diablo series are all games that have spawned many clones and have pushed the industry to embrace certain genres and gametypes.

Starcraft has made RTS and extremely popular type of game.

World of Warcraft remains the top MMORPG in the world despite several attempts by other developers to emulate and dethrone the franchise.

Diablo has been copied by other studios such as with Torchlight, but no one has been able to replicate the same acclaim and success.

There's also Bioware. I think Bioware is a tendsetter for Western RPGs and has begun to influence even Square Enix.

Many believe that Bioware's most acclaimed game so far, Mass Effect, is not really an RPG but a shooter with RPG elements, but Bioware has proven with games like Dragon Age and Knights of the Old Republic that they can make full-blown, open world RPGs.

I don't think Ubisoft has set a trend with Assassin's Creed. I think the guys who made Hitman set the trend and Assassin's Creed followed.

[Gran Touring]

Ya I was gonna say Blizzard as well. Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 will set new standards when they're released.

but where's guerilla games?

[SOAD]

I don't know about Guerrilla Games setting a trend. I think too many people prefer the Modern Warfare style of twitch shooter with light, responsive controls instead of the heavy controls of KZ2.

KZ3 might set the trend for 3D shooters.

[Palodios]

When looking at this list, the first two missing studios that shot to my mind were Bioware and Blizzard, so good call SOAD. Its a good list, but its not quite as crisp as it could be.

Many would disagree with Capcom, Ubisoft and Square Enix. Quantic Dream/ Insomniac/ Level 5 could be included-- they're up there for me atleast. OH, and Sid Meiers!!!

[Spydiggity]

this isn't a list of trend setters. this is a list of titles and developers the author likes...that's it.

[Boody-Bandit]

He played that game for nearly 2 years straight on a pretty regular basis. On on hand it saved me a ton of money for his consoles habits but on the other we thought we had an addict on our hands. Personally it bored me to tears watching him play it

I had friends back in a day that were addicted to Diablo as well. I can't get into MMO's. I am an action oriented player. I want to go at blinding speeds, jumps, crashes, blow sh!t up, gun people down or beat them to death with my bare hands and get don and dirty with some ho's! ;)

I think both Blizzard and iD should be on a top 20 all time trend setters. Let's not forget iD is FPS. Without them where would FPS be today?

[movements]

Naughty Dog. Uncharted 2.

[dgroundwater]

While their technical abilities are trend setting, I think this article is talking about originality in regards to gameplay features. UC2 generally borrows techniques then cranks them to 11. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[ShinMaster]

I think freedom of movement and flexibility is one of the things that stand out the most in Uncharted. Running, climbing, shooting, etc.

[Boody-Bandit]

Did you not see how many dozens of articles were written about what UC2 means to the industry? It is one of my all time favorite games and I have played A LOT of games over my 30+ years of gaming.

What was not to like about the seamless immersion from story to game with incredible acting, excellent animation, mind blowing visuals, fantastic sound, and diversity and compelling game play. Even the online was a great first attempt from Naughty Dog. I have played and completed that game 2 times after unlocking platinum and accomplishing everything that game had to offer. I haven't played a game that many times all the way through since SNES days.

As far as originality Naughty Dog took the best of action adventure and platform games and molded it into their own unique engine. What game have you or anyone else ever played that was so seamless? It felt like you were part of an interactive move which you had total control over.

I think Naughty Dog set the bar for quality with UC2 and it was such a significant jump from the original in nearly every aspect. I can only imagine how amazing UC3 will be.

[telekineticmantis]

everybody borrows ideas. gears of war-(resident evil 4, kill switch, metal gear) their fighting sytem and free climb and interacting voice actors are now setting the trend in gaming

[ShinMaster]

They were one of the first FPS people.
Unless their talking about this gen only and if so, I also disagree a bit.

[beardpapa]

personally I'm not a big fan of id. They make extremely mind-boggling graphics possible on current-gen hardware, but their games lack a lot of depth and feels very sterile. Valve on the other hand makes games that - though are not graphically competitive if you put it next to id's stuff - are very dynamic and organic. Something you could appreciate and call it an 'experience'

[Morituri]

They forgot Guerrilla Games.

[Fireseed]

I wouldn't put Guerilla on their because Killzone was solely made to try and dethrone Halo.

[SOAD]

No. The media just framed it that way because that's what the media do.

[MGRogue2017]

It's between Naughty Dog & Santa Monica Studios.. Those two are the big dogs out there..

Every time they manage to raise that bar even higher, A massive shockwave gets sent through the entire gaming industry :D

[Major Kanimo]

wheres dice? and bioware?

[Unicron]

Where's the reasons WHY? Isn't this just a picture list?

I'm sure people here will argue and troll about this regardless...

[theDutchFella]

Sony: 5 > Microsoft: 2

[SOAD]

People always find a way to make anything into a competition.

[KILLERAPP]

While I get your point you must also understand that some ideas comes from little developers or bad games, if you have a good idea but don’t know how to implemented doesn’t mean is not a good idea, some of your ideas will be use on another game that will be good and they take credit for it even do you did it before this is how it works… A great example kill switch and gears…

[darren_poolies]

I'm sorry but where the f*ck is Bioware seriously?

[DJexs]

the first time I seen halo I said wow this looks like red faction with the guns and dual wielding. and didn't infantiy ward make like the 4th call of duty game seems they are late to the game.

[PotatoClock]

Try Call of Duty 1 and 2 before 4. If anything they were early

[DJexs]

hmm I didn't know they made those games but bs police is right goldeneye did come first. This is some young kid given credit to his current gen favorites.

[The BS Police]

But while Goldeneye 007 was a proof of concept Halo set the groundwork for the past 9 years of FPS games and made it what it is today... a console dominated genre.

[telekineticmantis]

Halo brought attention to gaming concepts not alot of innovation tho.

[00]

but after halo 2 every game started to follow.

[The BS Police]

Halo innovated in alot of ways... The golden tripod (seperate buttons for grenades and melee), perfected cobsole FPS controls, two weapon limit, online party system, rechargable shields and health, most succesfull at vehicle implementation, huge outdoor environments, etc.

Every FPS since has borrowed from Halo in someway.

[rjgbyrne]

What about Harmonix, Bioware, Visceral Games or even Rocksteady Studios (Arkham Asylum just got game of the year)?

I wouldn’t have Polyphony Digital (Lest we forget MS Game Studios or Sega’s earlier games) or 2K Marine (The tech was developed by 2K Australia and Levines Story Arch is the Glue in Bioshock) in there as other racing car games started the real simulator off.

[wiggles]

I wish that the author included Visceral Games and Quantic Dream...

[Bluemaster77]

I wouldnt say Naughty Dog were original with Uncharted its basically a ultra Tombraider though its perfectly executed

[telekineticmantis]

so gears of war must be a ultra contra then since there are no genres and just copycats. halo is a ultra doom. naughty dogs fighting sytem and free climb and interacting voice actors are now setting the trend in gaming. how many developers have we heard say they were inspired by one of those fascets already...

[WorldOfSam]

Sure I love Portal and OMG11!!1 can't wait until Portal 2 in 2011, which I'm sure the news of turns other hardcore gamers into a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert. However, what about HL2? If we're talking about story and game play, it is the big Daddy to Portal if not the Big Mac Daddy.

[Darkfiber]

How the hell is Uncharted a trend setting game? It's just Gears shooting with Prince of Persia climbing. Just because people think it's the greatest thing in the world (which it's not, I still don't get why they do) doesn't mean it's original in any way.

[SilverSlug]

was copied from Kill Switch

"In an interview with Cliff Bleszinski, lead developer for Epic Games, he cites three games that were the primary influences in the game's design including the third person perspective from Resident Evil 4 and the tactical-cover system from Kill Switch;"

[JumpNPlayBon]

Wish more people knew this, before they go bashing other games...

[SignifiedSix]

WII SUCKS!!!!
I'm Thomas H*s*ad and i have approved this message. :)

[Corrwin]

I haven't seen many developers purposely make their games as boring as Ubi have.

Nor have I seen many direct clones.

[RIPSKATEDESTROY]

rockstar games is the ones who is always pumping out new and improved beautiful classic games!! they are in my eyes the definition of a good gaming company!!!

[Darkfiber]

Actually, they are all pretty much the same.

[ATi_Elite]

1. basically this is the same list I saw on Tuesday but they found a way to put IW in it.

2. Same list and just like last time Where the heck is Bioware at (Mass Effect KOTOR Baldur Gates NWN Dragon Age)?

Also they left off Blizzard this time I guess Starcraft and World of Warcraft are not innovative but some how COD MW2 is?

[Spenok]

Its not crap, just admit you dont agree with it. The OP obviously likes/loves these developers and think they set trends for the industry. And tbh most of them do. Though it is missing a dev or two like you mentioned Bioware.