5 gaming industry luminaries you should know

[James]

5 gaming industry luminaries you should know

The faces behind our digital heroes.

[MOnk]

This should be a regular editorial every other week (or something), maybe just focusing on one person and getting people familiar with the people who make the games we love.

Far more interesting than knowing what torrents people download.

[Jeremy]

This should be a regular editorial every other week (or something), maybe just focusing on one person and getting people familiar with the people who make the games we love.

Far more interesting that knowing what torrents people download.

Interesting suggestion Will run it by the team

[TheAvenged87]

This should be a regular editorial every other week (or something), maybe just focusing on one person and getting people familiar with the people who make the games we love.

Far more interesting than knowing what torrents people download.

This man speaks the truth! I would definitely read something like this on a weekly basis. This also gives you guys the opportunity to go more in depth about the person that you are writing about. If there is some form of vote for this to be a feature, consider this mine!

[MOnk]

I find it interesting reading about the approach different industry pioneers take to making games and the different philosophy's. You really start to build up an idea of why certain studios make games the way they do and what things are important to them.

There has been definite 'pulling back of the curtain' on games development over the last few years where the people making the games have become far more visible to their customers. Gamers are getting to know the people who make their games, not just the names of the studios. This for me is a really positive thing.

[Maplassie]

Warren Spector?

Wing Commander (1990), ORIGIN Systems
Wing Commander: The Secret Missions (1990), ORIGIN Systems
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (1990), ORIGIN Systems
Bad Blood (1990), ORIGIN Systems
Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (1991), ORIGIN Systems
Wing Commander: The Secret Missions 2 - Crusade (1991), ORIGIN Systems
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams (1991), ORIGIN Systems
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (1992), ORIGIN Systems
Shadowcaster (1993), ORIGIN Systems (Uncredited)[9]
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds (1993), ORIGIN Systems
Wing Commander: Privateer - Righteous Fire (1993), ORIGIN Systems
Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle (1993), ORIGIN Systems
Ultima VII, Part Two: The Silver Seed (1993), Electronic Arts
Wings of Glory (1993), Electronic Arts
System Shock (1994), Looking Glass Technologies
CyberMage: Darklight Awakening (1995), ORIGIN Systems
Crusader: No Remorse (1995), ORIGIN Systems
Thief: The Dark Project (1998), Looking Glass Studios
Deus Ex (2000), Ion Storm Austin
Deus Ex: Invisible War (2003), Ion Storm Austin
Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004), Ion Storm Austin
Epic Mickey (2010), Disney Interactive Studios
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (2012), Disney Interactive Studios

[MOnk]

He is in the honourable mentions, there are just so many influential people hence why I suggested a regular column.

[Maplassie]

He is in the honourable mentions, there are just so many influential people hence why I suggested a regular column.

Sense is being made. Didn't even see the honourable mentions, fanboyism kicked in hard to quick

[Avatar]

Sense is being made. Didn't even see the honourable mentions, fanboyism kicked in hard to quick

I had the exact same reaction, so I checked to article carefully before posting! To this day, System Shock is one of my favourite games.

[Jeremy]

Warren Spector was originally in the top 5, although the list was compiled in no particular order who is most "influential".
I looked at the prominent games and franchises on our store shelves today, and looked where and how those games got their influence. While Warren Spector basically kicked off the way FPS/RPG's have evolved over the last couple years, guys like Cliffy B's (he may hunt me down for that) work on Gears of War has changed the 'modern gaming' scene quite drastically, given the cover mechanics which are replicated time and time again. Whether people like to admit it or not, those elements of gameplay were incredibly influential on the current-gen of games.

But like @MOnk said, the original list was long and there are so many influencial people. A regular article featuring a designer, writer or industry personality could be on the cars

Thanks for the feedback y'all!