It looks like one more internet forum debate topic can finally be laid to rest, because Game Developer magazine has released a list of the top 50 videogame development companies in the world.
The "Top 50 Developers 2008" report was compiled based on market and reputation data such as sales figures, review scores, and developer surveys taken via Game Developer Magazine and Gamasutra.com. The first 20 can be found in the magazine’s March 2008 issue.
Not surprisingly, Nintendo of Japan earned top honors, riding high on the success of their Wii and DS libraries. Call of Duty 4 developer Infinity Ward took the number two spot, and Blizzard Entertainment rode the World of Warcraft train into third place.
Here are the top 20 developers, according to the report; the complete list can be found at the Game Developer Research website.
1. Nintendo Kyoto (Brain Age, Wii Play)
2. Infinity Ward (Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare)
3. Blizzard Entertainment (World Of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade)
4. Electronic Arts Canada (FIFA Soccer 08, NBA Street: Homecourt)
5. Valve (Portal, Team Fortress 2)
6. Konami Japan Studio (Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer, Dance Dance Revolution Universe)
7. Insomniac Games (Ratchet & Clank Future)
8. Capcom Osaka Studio (Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Monster Hunter Freedom)
9. Electronic Arts Tiburon (Madden NFL 08, NASCAR 08)
10. BioWare Edmonton (Mass Effect, Jade Empire: Special Edition)
11. Bungie Studios (Halo 3)
12. Ubisoft Montreal (Assassin’s Creed, Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja)
13. 2K Boston [& Australia] (BioShock)
14. Harmonix (Rock Band)
15. Bandai Namco Tokyo (Ace Combat 6: Fires Of Liberation, Beautiful Katamari)
16. Square Enix Tokyo (Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, Front Mission DS)
17. Game Freak (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl)
18. Epic Games (Unreal Tournament 3, Gears Of War PC)
19. Hudson Soft (Mario Party 8, Mario Party DS)
20. Neversoft (Guitar Hero III, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground)
