What are your top 5 favorite game makers?

Mine are:

1. Nintendo (Mario, Zelda, etc.)
2. Valve (Portal, Left 4 Dead)
3. Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto, Bully)
4. SEGA (Sonic, arcade games)
5. Konami (YuGiOh games, Castlevania)

Oooooooooooooh, toughies....



5. HiRex Studios
While these guys haven't been around that long, and I've only played one of their games, my GOD I love that game. Tribes Ascend easily and absolutely puts HiRez right in my top five. I like to pick companies with a better track record with more games, but for the time and money I've sank into Tribes: Ascend, well, for how much joy it gives me, I'll happily give them more.

4. Lucasarts
While I'm not sure of what stuff they've released more recently, nor do I really care all that much, but the simple fact that they released so many games I enjoyed oh-so-much in my growing years makes up for that. Loom, Zak McKraken, Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, and y'know what, I'll throw Republic Commando in there. They were amazing growing up, and they're amazing still.

3. Konami
Konami is kind of that strange omnipresent company that I may not have included in the list had Alex not mentioned it. But then Alex also mentioned Castlevania... Which got me thinking of Contra... Which got me thinking of MGS... Which got me thinking of Gradius... Which got me thinking of well, you get the point. These guys have put out a ton of great stuff, and I can't thank them enough for it.

2. Firaxis
These guys are still going, fighting the good fight. While most companies resort to making FPS' for their profit, these guys are almost strictly strategy. Even when one game that was originally a strategy game is being 'remade' into an FPS, they go "Screw that!" and make their OWN remake, with turns, and thinking!
Oh, and they've done very very well with the Civilization line. Keep on chuggin', boys. You can count on my support.

1. Valve Software
I have not disliked a SINGLE one of their games. And I've enjoyed oh-so-many of them. That stands for a lot.
Oh yeah, and they made Steam.
So I guess out of all the companies out of them all, I've given them the most money.
I guess that would account for something.






However, I have to give the absolute grand prize to Origin Systems, back in their heyday. I didn't put them in the list, since they haven't existed for a long time, but their games have quite literally shaped my childhood. Who needed friends, I had Privateer, Ultima, Wing Commander and System Shock!

1. Platinum Games(Bayonetta)
2. Rockstar(Max Payne, Red Dead Redemption, Midnight Club)
3. Konami(Silent Hill, Castlevania)
4. Insomniac(Ratchet and Clank, the first three Spyro games)
5. Sucker Punch(Sly Cooper, inFAMOUS)