Videogames aren’t quite as prone to the “cult of personality” as other media such as music, film and TV, but its still happens where a game designer, industry person or developer rises to become a public figure; an idealised, almost heroic version of themselves that exists as a messianic symbol of their art.
The are the people involved in video games who are almost worshipped, a product of the mascot culture. Who’s your favourite? It could be somebody like Nolan Bushnell, who’s largely credited with creating Atari, once a behemoth in the world of videogames. Or perhaps Hideo Kojima and his sprawling, paradoxical narratives. Perhaps you’re drawn, like a moth to a flame, by Ken Levine’s unrelenting quest to use videogames as social commentary, or Tim Schafer’s perpetual examination of the absurd.
Maybe, like me (and this should come as no surprise), you become a giggling teenage girl when you see Donkey Kong and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s involvement in just about anything – or maybe you prefer your entertainment to have darker undertones, and believe Rockstar’s Houser brothers can do no wrong.
Whoever you are, whatever games you play there’s somebody in the industry whose celebrity makes you pay attention. Who is that person for you?
Last Updated: May 3, 2013
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 10:42
Man where do I begin, I have so many
1. Hironobu Sakaguchi – The father of final fantasy, the man that made a game (series) that I will, despite it’s recent flaws, forever love. And I adore his more recent work like The last story and lost odyssey.
2.Nobuo Uematsu – Let’s face it. Final Fantasy would not be as iconic is it was it not for the music created by this video game music god. Seriously, watch the scene where Sepiroth kills Aerith on mute. That would have just been like any other scene, but flowers blooming in the church is such an emotional track, that scene could likely make you cry. The music done on Lost Odyssey is equally as magnificent
3.Shinji Mikami – For making me a lover of survival horror and for all the soiled underwear you gave me as a kid.
4.Hideki Kamiya – master of style and action. You redefined the action game genre with DMC and gave us stylish games like Viewtiful Joe. And don’t get me started on the beautiful Okami…
5.Fumito Ueda – Shadow of the Colossus. No other game will ever make me feel the things I felt when I played that game.
6.Yoko Shimomura – One of the best Video Game Composers imo
LordCaptainAwesomeness
May 3, 2013 at 10:59
Hideo Kojima… Not just for Metal Gear, but also for his involvement with Zone of the Enders Anime.
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 11:03
Indeed, He just messes too much with my mind lol but with the recent announcement of phantom pain , a lot of my faith has been restored in him. They should have included the anime in the HD collection
LordCaptainAwesomeness
May 3, 2013 at 10:59
Hideo Kojima… Not just for Metal Gear, but also for his involvement with Zone of the Enders Anime.
CODDAMIT
May 3, 2013 at 10:45
If only I could go back in time and make Ben Chichoski and Peter Molyneux disappear
Gavin Mannion
May 3, 2013 at 10:50
Not everyone’s favourite but Cliff Bleszinski got me back into gaming in a big way with Gears of War
AndriyP
May 3, 2013 at 10:51
Im my own damn hero when i save the world-get the girl-kill all the bad guys
Slade Boender
May 3, 2013 at 10:51
Carmack and Kojima hands down
Slade Boender
May 3, 2013 at 10:51
Carmack and Kojima hands down
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 10:52
SAM and DAN. The one on the right wants a word with you Geoff.
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 10:54
GEOFF please tell us the story of you running over his foot.
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 10:54
GEOFF please tell us the story of you running over his foot.
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 10:54
GEOFF please tell us the story of you running over his foot.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
May 3, 2013 at 10:53
Ken Levine and Shigeru Miyamoto.
Brady miaau
May 3, 2013 at 10:56
Bioware
the old Bioware, not sure now
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
May 3, 2013 at 11:00
Upvote. Totally agree
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
May 3, 2013 at 11:00
Upvote. Totally agree
Kromas
May 3, 2013 at 14:28
Ill decide after DA3. But I’m hoping for them to buck up specially after the awsome that was the Citadel dlc.
2scaly4j0o
May 3, 2013 at 11:01
IceFrog & Gabe Newell
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
May 3, 2013 at 11:02
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT EA!!!
Haha Just kidding, they are kak.
In real life…..Ed Boon. A man who stuck to his guns when the world was moaning about the ultra violence of Mortal Kombat. The Netherworld team changed gaming by holding strong and saying that violence in a video game was NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. Without them there would be no God of War, no GTA, no CoD.
Thanks Ed Boon, Talbot and the rest of the Netherworld boys. Also……. Injustice is awesome!
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 11:05
LOL
Johan du Preez
May 3, 2013 at 11:02
John Carmack from id Software and Chris Roberts creator of the wing commander series. Oh yes and old Gabe does have a special place in my heart 🙂
Kromas
May 3, 2013 at 14:29
You mean Chris Roberts creator of wing commander and the future game of the year Star Citizen.
Johan du Preez
May 3, 2013 at 14:33
I’m sure thats what I said minus the Star Citizen. Seeming Starlancer and Freelancer was crap I will wait until Star Citizen is out before I comment on it.
Johan du Preez
May 3, 2013 at 14:33
I’m sure thats what I said minus the Star Citizen. Seeming Starlancer and Freelancer was crap I will wait until Star Citizen is out before I comment on it.
Kromas
May 3, 2013 at 14:47
I’m forever an optimist even when EA/gearbox is trying their best to make me a pessimist.
CaptainNemo42
May 3, 2013 at 11:04
Kaz Hirai.
CaptainNemo42
May 3, 2013 at 11:07
Fumito Ueda. Because Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 3, 2013 at 11:08
So far I see most votes go to Hideo Kojima. Old School 🙂
TechniKyle
May 3, 2013 at 11:08
Akira Yamaoka. One of the best video game composers in the biz.
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 11:14
Silent hill in yo fayz! Agreed!!!
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 11:11
I’m always excited to hear about this guy .
He’s good material for some late afternoon jokes
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 11:16
Like TechniKyle Mentioned, Akira Yamaoka
For a dreadful and miserable cold Friday, everyone should listen to this song
umar bastra
May 3, 2013 at 11:18
Sorry for my multiple posting but this was too funny to go unnoticed.
comments on youtube for silent hill lol
Okay last post forever
Colin Shephard
May 3, 2013 at 11:36
Brian fargo from wasteland and fallout
Hugh Lashbrooke
May 3, 2013 at 11:52
The Two Guys from Andromeda (Scott Murphy & Mark Crowe). The characters and world they created with Space Quest are what got me amped on adventure gaming and I’ve never quite found that same level of genius puzzles in any game since then.
Brady miaau
May 3, 2013 at 14:18
good call
Sandelk
May 3, 2013 at 12:01
I’ve been a fan of John Carmack’s for years.. Chris Metzen from Blizzard and Gabe Newell are also two personalities whose creative direction I appreciate.
Brady miaau
May 3, 2013 at 12:57
Sid Meier
Judged by how much of time this man has just sucked away over the years
Gustav Willem Diedericks
May 3, 2013 at 15:42
Gabe Newell for bringing us such awesome games, John Carmack and co. for introducing me to FPSs, Brett Sperry and Louis Castle for Command & Conquer, but also the creators behind the Myst series (Rand and Robin Miller) who showed us that games can be beautiful while being interactive, and take us to places we have never been (they also were the first guys to show the gaming industry the power of CD ROM).
loftie
May 3, 2013 at 16:48
was gona say the same lol
Aussious
May 3, 2013 at 19:18
I’ve listed my top five with the games that qualified them for my list.
1. Shingeru Miyamoto (Super Mario Bros 2 and Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, links awakening and Ocirana of Time )
2. Hideo Kojima ( Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty)
3. Casey Hudson ( KOTOR and Mass Effect 1,2 & 3)
4. Hironobu Sakaguchi ( Final Fantasy VI, VII, VIII and XII)
5. Shinji Mikami ( Resident Evil 1,2,3 and 4)
Almost made it:
– Dave Jaffey ( God of War)
– Cliff Bleszinski ( Unreal and Gears of War)