Gamedaily's Top Five Most Overrated Industry People

[Captain Wrong]

Since everyone loves lists and everyone loves getting their panties in a knot, I figure this ought to be a fun topic for discussion...

Ready?

Steady?

GO!



Spolier ahead:








I agree with the list, for the most part. Personally, I'd replace Koji Igarashi with Tomonobu Itagaki (or Dead or Alive fame,) and put him at #4 and swtich Hideo and Shiggy. I'd also throw the Gran Turismo guy on my honorable mention list instead of American McGee (honestly, who really rates that guy for him to be overrated these days?)

[neuropolitique]

a bunch of "don't get us wrong, we love him, he just ain't all that." meh.

[ubersaurus]

You know offhand I know Miyamoto came up with Pikmin a mere console generation ago. I'd say that qualifies as a new IP.

[p_b]

I expected to see Peter Molineux (sp?) on that list :-)

[agbulls]

I really don't think its fair to put Miyamoto on that list. After all, do people say Spielberg is overated? I'd consider them to be somewhat similiar in regards to stature for their chosen mediums. I couldn't disagree with putting Peter Moloneux on that list. I'm sick of hearing his lists and lists of Fable 2 promises. Koji gets a ton of credit from me only because he is solely keeping 2D platforming/action games alive with the Castlevania DS--and now PSP iterations. He gets props for that.

Other considerations? How about the Stamper Brothers at Rare? Yes, I know they're gone now--and for good reason. The last major hit I can think Rare produced was Goldeneye or DK on 64. Both Perfect Dark and Kameo were senior produced by these guys with a ton of hype. Overated dev house? I think so.

My favorite choice? Ed Boon at Midway. Here's a quick trivia question for ya:

1. How many game franchises has Ed Boon been involved with in the last 10 years at Midway?

Give up?
ONE.

Mortal overated Kombat. Nuff said.

[Aussie2B]

While I wouldn't really argue with the people chosen nor the basic reasoning for them, the article just falls apart when it gets to the details. The NES Castlevania plays just like the new DS ones? What the hell is this guy thinking? He talks about how Miyamoto gets all the credit when he doesn't deserve it, yet he acts like Wind Waker is Miyamoto's personal creation? Not to mention ignoring the fact that Miyamoto has actually been put the MOST input into brand new franchises, yet these new franchises, like Pikmin, fail to meet the same commercial success. Oy, so many problems that make the journalist in me cringe.

Anyway, instead of putting industry figures down, whether they deserve it or not, I'd like to see a list of the most underrated people in the industry. I'd nominate Gunpei Yokoi and, speaking of Miyamoto getting all the credit, Eiji Aonuma.

[Richter Belmount]

Heresey! except for reggie

[neuropolitique]

Anyway, instead of putting industry figures down, whether they deserve it or not, I'd like to see a list of the most underrated people in the industry. I'd nominate Gunpei Yokoi and, speaking of Miyamoto getting all the credit, Eiji Aonuma.

Is Gunpei really under-rated? I suppose many don't know of him, but those who do surely think of him highly, no? Maybe it's just my inner Game Boy fanboy speaking.

[Richter Belmount]

Im a gunpei fanboy myself =P .

[Aussie2B]

Is Gunpei really under-rated? I suppose many don't know of him, but those who do surely think of him highly, no? Maybe it's just my inner Game Boy fanboy speaking.

Well, he gets some attention, but not nearly as much as I think he deserves considering his contributions to the industry. I do my part to change that, though.

[Ed Oscuro]

Anyway, instead of putting industry figures down, whether they deserve it or not, I'd like to see a list of the most underrated people in the industry. I'd nominate Gunpei Yokoi and, speaking of Miyamoto getting all the credit, Eiji Aonuma.

Right you are on the article. For this bit, though, if Gunpei was still around he'd doubtlessly be catching the same flak everybody else is.

I'm kinda happy that Iga got on the list only at #5. Sure, he's polarizing, and his games aren't the best ever, but he isn't deserving any worse treatment, not at all.

Itagaki is just a bit of a loudmouth (and doesn't treat his women right, allegedly). His games still rock and that's a big chunk of what matters.

Also - Jaffe who? I guess this is an insider's list or something.

[Aussie2B]

if Gunpei was still around he'd doubtlessly be catching the same flak everybody else is.

I don't know about that. I mean, Gunpei was no longer working for Nintendo before he died, anyway, and the WonderSwan wasn't exactly garnering him a lot of attention, especially not from the Western point-of-view. If anything, I think his death may have resulted in a heightened focus on him, since people look back on his greatest creations. If he was still alive, he might still be working on relatively obscure systems, causing people to think he's just a wash up with his glory days behind him. He definitely wouldn't deserve that, but I could imagine narrow-minded gamers thinking that.

[GillianSeed]

Hah -- so Kojima and Miyamoto make the list, but not Cliffy B? We'll see who's talking about his games five years from now.

[Griking]

Hah -- so Kojima and Miyamoto make the list, but not Cliffy B? We'll see who's talking about his games five years from now.

Actually I was talking about his games over 8 years AGO when he designed the original Unreal Tournament. I give the guy a whole lot of credit for having two monster games in UT and Gears of War under his belt by the age of 32.

[bangtango]

If people are going to put Miyamoto on the list then what about Jason Rubin, formerly of Naughty Dog? If Crash Bandicoot and his various games (including Crash Team Racing) weren't inspired by Mario in some way, then you'll have to tell me what the inspiration was. A lot of the Crash games weren't even that good. I'd be curious to hear why Rubin hasn't even been mentioned yet. At least Miyamoto has had a few more original ideas in his lifetime than Jason Rubin. He sure as heck hasn't put together a game as sloppy as Way of the Warrior, at least not any game I've ever heard of. I understand a fighting game released back on the 3DO shouldn't have any bearing on a list released in 2007 but that isn't the point. The point is that maybe Miyamoto is overrated but top five? I just don't see why Jason Rubin or his (former) cohorts are getting a free pass here.

[GillianSeed]

Actually I was talking about his games over 8 years AGO when he designed the original Unreal Tournament. I give the guy a whole lot of credit for having two monster games in UT and Gears of War under his belt by the age of 32.

Neither of which are very ground-breaking, they're merely refinements of pre-existing genres. I don't see him in anywhere near the same league as the Kojimas, Miyamotos, and Garriotts of the world -- people who blazed new trails in the industry. Yet everywhere I turn it's Cliffy B this and Cliffy B that... we'll see how long that lasts.

Speaking of which, it's odd that they didn't go after Lord British... I loved Ultima, but he hasn't done much since then. I guess it wouldn't have generated as many hits for their Web site.

[Lothars]

Neither of which are very ground-breaking, they're merely refinements of pre-existing genres. I don't see him in anywhere near the same league as the Kojimas, Miyamotos, and Garriotts of the world -- people who blazed new trails in the industry. Yet everywhere I turn it's Cliffy B this and Cliffy B that... we'll see how long that lasts.

:

Maybe your not talking about the same game

Unreal Tournament is Groundbreaking IMO

Cliffy B is not overrated in the least, and I honestly don't see why your saying that, I bet you it will last a lot longer.

[Griking]

Neither of which are very ground-breaking, they're merely refinements of pre-existing genres. I don't see him in anywhere near the same league as the Kojimas, Miyamotos, and Garriotts of the world -- people who blazed new trails in the industry. Yet everywhere I turn it's Cliffy B this and Cliffy B that... we'll see how long that lasts.

*shrug* I think that the original Unreal Tournament is the best FPS I've still ever played.

[diskoboy]

I agree with David Jaffe and Hideo Kojima.

But American McGee should be at the tip top of the list - no 'honorable mention'....

With the exception of Alice, all his games were overhyped pieces of shit.

[Push Upstairs]

I don't know why American McGee is even on the list.

Aside from "Alice" (which was awesome, except the ending) he really hasn't had much. I've never read anything that hyped American McGee's newer efforts, only read about how they were lame.