Top 5 influential game programmers/designers

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Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Since this board has already discussed the top 5 games numerous times now, I think this might be an interesting topic.

1 - Richard Garriot
2 - John Carmack/John Romero
3 - Will Wright
4 - Peter Molyneux
5 - Warren Spector

I feel bad for leaving so many out (Chris Roberts, The Williamses, Tim Sweeny, etc...). You may have noticed my list is PC based. I'm sure consoles have their amazing developers, but I would like to keep this to PCs if possible.

Anyone else find that it's harder to recognize the designers and programmers of todays games? John Carmack is sitll somewhat vocal, but I can't really tell you who the newer starts in the computer game industry are.
 
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Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
12,343
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The nintendo guy that created zelda (and a ton of other stuff) would probably be a good pick, if you were including consoles.
 
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deadseasquirrel

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: Mucman
Originally posted by: sandorski
Sid Meier
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:( How did I forget the one who caused so many sleepless nights when I was in grade 8 :(
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yeah, the original Pirates! and Civilization are classics. they're currently developing a new version of Pirates! which should be great. and i've been up to the wee hours of the morning still playing Civ3 lately.

i'd also add Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk from BioWare.
 
Coalfax

Coalfax

Senior member
Nov 22, 2002
400
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Didn't Sid have some input into the original Railroad Tycoon as well?

That man has had his hands in just about any older sim-eqsque game... Definitly influential in what we all playthese days...
 
Maetryx

Maetryx

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2001
4,849
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I'm trying to remember the name of the woman behind the King's Quest series.... ah, Roberta Williams. Maybe that is the Williams' in the original post?
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,677
6,250
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Originally posted by: Coalfax
Didn't Sid have some input into the original Railroad Tycoon as well?

That man has had his hands in just about any older sim-eqsque game... Definitly influential in what we all playthese days...
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Yup, Railroad Tycoon and Colonization as well.
 
MrChad

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
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Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
The nintendo guy that created zelda (and a ton of other stuff) would probably be a good pick, if you were including consoles.
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Shigeru Miyamoto
 
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jim1976

Platinum Member
Aug 7, 2003
2,704
6
81
I do remember Chris Whittaker , but he was just a music composer for old pc and amiga games.Great work though.
The whole team of Activision with the brilliant games that has provided us with, all these years
 
erikistired

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
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not sure why you put the williamses as console folk? sierra did a ton of pc games (all pc games?!?). and don't forget al lowe!
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
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Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
5 - Warren Spector
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Did he lead development of DX: IW too?
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Nope Harvey someone did.
Originally posted by: MrChad
Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
The nintendo guy that created zelda (and a ton of other stuff) would probably be a good pick, if you were including consoles.
Click to expand...

Shigeru Miyamoto
Click to expand...

All format, imo. (top 3)
1) Shigeru Miyamoto
2) John Carmack
3) Warren Spector
 
M

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
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Originally posted by: fisher
not sure why you put the williamses as console folk? sierra did a ton of pc games (all pc games?!?). and don't forget al lowe!
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I know (I grew up with Sierra games :))... that list was just other developer/programmers that didn't make my so called top 5. The only console developer I even recognize is Shigeru Miyamoto :).

So no one else is going to give Romero any credit? Has anyone read Masters of Doom? To stir some trouble perhaps I should mention Derek Smart ;).



 
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onelin

Senior member
Dec 11, 2001
874
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Shigeru Miyamoto! John Carmack! Forgive me while I go into a fanboy's frollick!
 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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Bioware guys, Black Isle guys - though these were more "teams" and less about the leader and/or figurehead. They're both certainly more important to the PC era than Richard Garriot who was an Apple II design god and faded fast (as a designer) after Ultima IV.
 
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Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
1
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Bioware guys, Black Isle guys - though these were more "teams" and less about the leader and/or figurehead. They're both certainly more important to the PC era than Richard Garriot who was an Apple II design god and faded fast (as a designer) after Ultima IV.
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I have to disagree with that one. I've played Balders Gate and Icewind Dale. Neither of which held my attention for longer than a few hours because the stories sucked. What Richard Garriot has done is melded adventure with RPG. It's a shame that very few have really been affected by his influence. This of course is my personal opinion, and sales numbers along with popular media critics do not think the same thing. Perhaps I should play KOTOR before I say anything else :p

 
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DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
On second thought, I'd have to agree that Garriot influenced many PC designers, even though he stopped designing important / relevant games himself after (in my opinion) Ultima IV. He also deserves credit for giving Spector and Chris Roberts their starts.

Bioware: Iicewind Dale had almost no story, and Baldur's Gate 1 was no Ultima, but BG 2 had more depth than BG 1, and Bioware also provided the Infinity engine for BIS. KOTOR is supposed to be great but I haven't played it either.

BIS isn't notable so much for influencing others (sadly) as they are for creating three of the best RPGs of the PC era: Planescape: Torment has at least as rich of a world and storyline as Ultima IV (using 50 times the space, memory and processor power helped), and Fallout 1-2 also have depth, style and a great world design.
 
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ClueLis

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2003
2,269
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1)Sid Mier
2)Shigeru Miyamoto
3)Will Wright
4)John Carmack
5)Peter Molyneux

Sid Mier is GOD.
 
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