What's One Publisher You Couldn't Live Without?

[Flake]

I wish this conversation focused more on the developer than the publisher. Anyone can publish a game if they have the capital and desire to market it - when a developer dies, that's when things change.

Case in point: My obsession with Nintendo RD-1. When they got disbanded, all the Wario and Metroid games came to an end.

[Hazerd]

I think we should have a "Dead Publisher Appreciation" thread - I really do miss Enix and Working Designs (Gaijinworks is still doing some great stuff though, really, really, love their passion for RPGS and niche releases).

Well if that's the case, i totally miss Data East, mmmmm Joe & Mac one of my first SNES loves.

[Retrogamer0001]

Well, I'm never a big fan of publisher/developer mergers or acquisitions - sure, it might seem like there is a ton of potential for cross-overs and unique gameplay opportunities, but what it ultimately comes down to is taking one more game company out of the picture, and that is never a good thing.

Square-Enix is a good example - instead of maintaining a competitive marketplace with two major companies, all of a sudden we have one great big company that stagnates. Sure, this happened ten years ago now, but I feel like Square's games have kind of gone down the toilet since then (with a few exceptions, of course - Tomb Raider reboot, Deus Ex, Bravely Default). I would much rather have Enix pumping out their own RPGs and Square doing their own thing too, all in a healthy, competitive environment with a focus on creating better and better gaming experiences for the fans.

[Flake]

Square-Enix is a good example - instead of maintaining a competitive marketplace with two major companies, all of a sudden we have one great big company that stagnates.

Oh wow, is this ever the best example. And it seemed like it turned sour instantly - there wasn't a slow decline into mediocrity just a sudden rebirth into subpar. Oh, the art work gets more and more beautiful but you'll never appreciate it thanks to shitty gameplay and ridiculous game titles.

[soul_hacker]

This is the easiest question ever for me; Altus.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I wish this conversation focused more on the developer than the publisher. Anyone can publish a game if they have the capital and desire to market it - when a developer dies, that's when things change.

Yeah, agreed. Falcom is my favorite developer but there's no way to tie them to a specific publisher since they've been with so many - Sega, Broderbund, Nintendo, Hudson, Sierra, Working Designs, Sammy, Renovation, Koei, Konami, XSeed, Atlus...

[darsparx]

This is the easiest question ever for me; Altus.

There is that though they deprived the US of a normal way to get Summon night 3-5 in america...of course much can't be said that isn't true for other publishers and series....

[CavZee]

This is the easiest question ever for me; Altus.

I love me some ATLUS so they'd be high on the list for sure.

But if we're talking total library of the past and present these 3 companies would be the most important to me. Though there's a couple others who'd just miss the cut I guess.

Capcom
Square
Nintendo

So many classic franchises that define my love for games.

I love me some PlayStation but I feel most of my passion for that brand can be attributed to third party companies' output as opposed to Sony published games.