what developer has the most soul?

[bassdrum]

Well, obvious answer is Valve--there's a reason their games are universally acclaimed and everybody loves them. However, that's been said many, many times (as has Rockstar), so...

I submit DICE. Sure, the Battlefield franchise has had it's fair share of sequels, but they've added some huge new features along the way (most obviously the destruction mechanics which have been in placed since Bad Company). On top of this, the mechanics are tuned to emphasize teamwork, something which I believe is sorely lacking in most modern shooters. In tandem with the Battlefield franchise, DICE tried Mirror's Edge--and while it may not have been perfect, it was an interesting and innovative stab at something nobody else had really tried (to the best of my knowledge). Almost equally as important, there's a good amount of interaction between the studio and their fans--the Battlefield blog has a pretty steady stream of news, including stuff from the community. Contrast that to the Infinity Ward site which hasn't had a news update in over a year, even with the impending release of MW3.

So... yeah. DICE. Good work, people.

 

[Lilani]

A few things to explain The most soul means these 4 guidelines.
1 Must try new things alot explore a forgotten genre
2 Must release new ip`s and not uncreative sequels galore
4 Creativity

What happened to 3?

What an awesome first post, good sir (or madame). Clearly you already understand the art of posting on the Escapist forums :3 Welcome.

Anyhow, because it's really the only developer I consider buying games from solely because they made them, I'd have to say Valve. I've heard them called the Pixar of video games, and I think with how they seem to hit it out of the park again and again, that's a fairly accurate description. Because if there's one studio right now that can be summed up with the word "heartfelt," it would be Pixar.

 

[neoptolemus]

Oh I just thought of another.

Introversion. Their first game was a hacking simulation unlike anything that had been made before. Then they made Darwinia, a stylised strategy game with a lot of character and a very unique setting. Then they made DEFCON, another strategy game with a very sombre objective and outcome (borrowing a lot from the Missile Command school of thought, for EC fans). Next they're making a squad-based espionage simulator with extremely detailed mechanics.

They've got variety, character and quality down in spades.

 

[King Toasty]

Thatgamecompany. Very emotional games.

 

[nexekho]

Namco.

Soul Edge.
Soulcalibur.
Soulcalibur II.
Soulcalibur III.
Soulcalibur Legends.
Soulcalibur IV.
Soulcalibur Broken Destiny.
Soulcalibur V.

 

[floppylobster]

Are you kidding me? Team Ico, no contest. They take years to release games, their games are heartfelt, artistic and in no way compromised to make sales.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

2K/Irrational Games for their stellar effort of Bioshock. You can really tell that they poured their heart into that game and really got behind the concept. Bioshock 2 shows the same soul, if not more so. The games were created with passion, even if you didn't like the games you must admit that.

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

It's a toss up for me between Rockstar, Bioware, Bethesda and Ubisoft. Those 4 developers seem to put everything they got into their games. The insanely high production values and polish(Bethesda excluded most of the time in terms of polish, they have to patch the hell out of their games, but they always fix any issues) are of the highest quality in gaming imo.

You know how next to impossible it is to have a massive game Like Oblivion and have no bugs... lol it would be hard. I believe Bethesda does there best with the polish, but with soo much in the game, there is only so much they can do to cover the bugs.

Sorry it sounds like I am bash you but I am really not, I agree with you with the patches and mods

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

2K for their stellar effort of Bioshock. You can really tell that they poured their heart into that game and really got behind the concept. Bioshock 2 shows the same soul, if not more so. The games were created with passion, even if you didn't like the games you must admit that.

2K (and Gearbox) also did Duke Nukem Forever. Look how that Turned out

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

2K for their stellar effort of Bioshock. You can really tell that they poured their heart into that game and really got behind the concept. Bioshock 2 shows the same soul, if not more so. The games were created with passion, even if you didn't like the games you must admit that.

2K (and Gearbox) also did Duke Nukem Forever. Look how that Turned out

I couldn't care less about DNF. The demo I played wasn't the shit that everyone said it was, it just wasn't my kind of game. I blame the fans for giving Duke constant blowjobs for being the best game they could think of and being a running joke for the entire industry. The game just couldn't live up to the big dick left by the previous game and all the hype for DNF.

Bioshock and it's sequal turned out amazing, DNF won't ever have an impact on that.

 

[Skoldpadda]

Bethesda!

 

[xXGeckoXx]

Valve, it may not fit the categories but it is the most selfless developer ever.
It cares for its fans by willing to risk its own money for the fan's enjoyment.

Yea, maybe 5 years ago, but they've gotten incredibly greedy and completely destroyed TF2 with their new products.

I think Bioware. I know that they do a lot of sequels, but they're one of the only studios that focuses greatly on plot. Hell, even DA2 had really great characters despite the pressure that EA put on the studio.

Bioware and Bethesda are the second place for their deep RPG's (Bioware for universe. Bethesda for depth of content)

2k wins. Bioshock was a master piece of story telling and immersion. They also did mafia 2 and sid meiers pirates.

 

[Maiestas777]

Platinum Games (and by extension, Clover Studio)
SWERY65 (Deadly Premonition, you ooze soul)
Team Ico (Obvious reasons)
Bioware (None compare in commitment to a world)

 

[floppylobster]

Are you kidding me? Team Ico, no contest. They take years to release games, their games are heartfelt, artistic and in no way compromised to make sales.

Wait, what? Why'd you say a part of a company instead of a company?

Because the OP asked 'which developer' not which company. That, and Sony have no soul.

 

[Savber]

Hmm.. long ago, I would say Bioware but EA is really sucking that out of Bioware.

So I'll go with Valve and CD Projekt Red

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

2K for their stellar effort of Bioshock. You can really tell that they poured their heart into that game and really got behind the concept. Bioshock 2 shows the same soul, if not more so. The games were created with passion, even if you didn't like the games you must admit that.

2K (and Gearbox) also did Duke Nukem Forever. Look how that Turned out

I couldn't care less about DNF. The demo I played wasn't the shit that everyone said it was, it just wasn't my kind of game. I blame the fans for giving Duke constant blowjobs for being the best game they could think of and being a running joke for the entire industry. The game just couldn't live up to the big dick left by the previous game and all the hype for DNF.

Bioshock and it's sequal turned out amazing, DNF won't ever have an impact on that.

Yeah agree! Bioshock 1 and 2 are amazing games. I liked the first one more. But I have high hopes for the new one

 

[floppylobster]

Are you kidding me? Team Ico, no contest. They take years to release games, their games are heartfelt, artistic and in no way compromised to make sales.

Wait, what? Why'd you say a part of a company instead of a company?

Because the OP asked 'which developer' not which company. That, and Sony have no soul.

They assembled, funded and have put absolutely no pressure on Team Ico, ensuring their survival when literally no other games company on the planet ever would. What, precisely, are you basing this "no soul" thing on?

Probably a bunch of games you loved so there's no point in me trying to convince you, it's only my opinion.

 

[mjc0961]

And la Noire
Which arguably created a genre.

No, not really. Point and click adventure games have been around for ages. And it didn't even revive a genre: TellTale did that a few years back and have been keeping it alive quite regularly. The only thing LA Noire did differently was put in various action sequences, it's still pretty much a point and click adventure game.

Anyway, I'm going to say none. Whether people like it or not, all developers are business and they want to make money if they want to keep their jobs so they can make more games. Some developers are just better at hiding it than others.

 

[rcubed]

Rare, Insomniac, Team Ico. Ohhhhhhhh yeah.

Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie is still a marvel to me.

 

[ChaosDragon]

Atlus and Nippon Ichi, and to a lesser extent Namco

Slowly and silently keeping the JRPG genre alive