Blizzard named 3rd of 50 top developers
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 7th 2008 at 2:30PM
Game Developer magazine has done a study naming the top 50 videogame developers in the world, based on "sales and reputation data," and our favorite folks at Blizzard have been named number three on the list, just under Nintendo Kyoto (responsible for Brain Age and Wii Play) and Infinity Ward (most notable lately for Call of Duty 4), and ahead of EA, Valve, Harmonix, and Square Enix.I tend to think this chart is weighed a little bit towards recent sales more than reputation -- as far as I know, Infinity Ward doesn't have a big enough following to actually hold a convention based on their games, and while there's no question that Nintendo has a huge fan following, I'm not sure that it's quite right to include a first party console maker on a list of developers (yes, I know Nintendo Kyoto is a studio, not the company itself, but would the average Nintendo fan on the street know the difference?). Still, lists are lists, and there's no question that all of these developers, Blizzard included, are held in the highest regard by fans of their games.
[Via Massively]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, The Burning Crusade
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zali Mar 7th 2008 2:45PM
I didn't know there were other games (how weird to use the plural for the word game) out there, let alone other developers. I always thought there was just one game, it was called World of Warcraft, WoW for short, and that it was developed by Blizzard who are something like a collection of ancient Greek Gods, often called Devs. Sometimes these Devs are good, sometimes bad, they do things that effect us mortals just to see how we react.
I'm shocked that Mount Olympus has competition.
Angus Mar 7th 2008 3:16PM
They should not have beat Valve.
Valve wins because...
This was a Triumph.
I'm making a note here:
HUGE SUCCESS.
Arabelli Mar 7th 2008 3:25PM
I'm not even angry! I'm being so sincere right now...
Thijz Mar 7th 2008 4:01PM
Totally agree, what did Blizzard do this year? Valve brought us one of the best gamedeals in history. Five magnificent games for the price of one! :O
Baluki Mar 7th 2008 3:19PM
EA is #4? And ABOVE Valve? I don't think so. There have been a lot of stories about how horrible they treat their employees, and how they don't get overtime pay, and all that. Not to mention the fact that some of their games are just the same old crap year after year.
Dready Mar 9th 2008 9:33PM
Word to that! I work for a certain rival developer to EA and we get alot of ex-EA staff coming through with horror stories of just how poorly they treat their employees.
Sadly, my work didn't make the top 20 :(
Matthew Mar 7th 2008 3:45PM
"Top 50 Developers' survey is now available for paid digital download for a price of US $2,995. Any questions about payment (you can also invoice us for this report), delivery methods, or further licensing of the data can be directed to Game Developer Research at research@gdmag.com."
Yowza.
Manatank Mar 7th 2008 5:42PM
"yes, I know Nintendo Kyoto is a studio, not the company itself, but would the average Nintendo fan on the street know the difference?"
I don't see how that makes any difference in the quality of the development studio. These are the guys that make Mario and Zelda which are some of the biggest gaming franchises ever. They are a big deal in video games, and to discredit them because people on the street would only think that they make the console seems a little silly.
idburns Mar 7th 2008 6:25PM
Who can take any ranking seriously that puts EA over Valve?
Instant fail.
ColonelChris Mar 7th 2008 8:45PM
That ranking is a pile of dung, honestly.
It's not Blizzard being 3rd or Nintendo Kyoto being 1st or whatever. It's Infinity Ward being 2nd. IW made two good MoH clones and one very good modern warfare shooter. But making very good shooters is not an art today (F.E.A.R, Half-Life, Portal, anyone?).
This is just part of the silly console hype going on right now.
Wildhammer Mar 7th 2008 11:37PM
Blizzard got THIRD!? Holy cow, if they're good enough to make third I feel bad for the poor bastards playing the games made by the guys who got fourth and fifth....