40 Photos of the People Behind the Video Games

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3D Realms

The guys at 3D Realms, who brought us the testosterone-fueled, bubblegumless action of Duke Nukem 3D. (photo via)

Blue Fang Games

Blue Fang Games, the guys who taught us how to waste many hours of our lives managing zoos in Zoo Tycoon. (via)

Broderbund Software

Broderbund Software, the company that released Jordan Mechner’s original Prince of Persia. They’re also responsible for The Print Shop software. Remember The Print Shop? (via)

Chris Hecker

Not a development team, but one of the most infamous game developers in recent memory, having called the Wii “two GameCubes duct-taped together,” among other, less safe-for-work things. (via)

Cyan Studios

For some reason, Robyn and Rand Miller, Myst creators, are posing nonchalantly in this GAP ad. (via)

Double Fine Productions

Tim Schafer and his band of geniuses over at Double Fine Produtions. They gave us Psychonauts. Enough said. (via)

Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky

Legendary geek author Douglas Adams and Infocom’s Steve Meretzky working on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy adventure game. (via)

Bethesda’s Fallout 3 Team

The development team behind Bethesda’s attempt at the Fallout universe, Fallout 3. (via)

Final Fantasy XI

The development team behind Final Fantasy XI, the Final Fantasy MMO that was the first iteration to bring the series online. (via)

First FIFA Soccer Team

The development team for the very first FIFA Soccer game. (via)

Freefall Associates

Freefall Associates is most noted for Archon: The Light and the Dark, which featured a light-and-dark cycle that affected the gameplay, quite possibly being responsible for all of the games that use a light-and-dark mechanic that is still prevalent in modern gaming. (via)

Gearbox Samba de Amigo

Gearbox Software circa their 2008 Wii version of the 2000 Dreamcast game, Samba de Amigo, a wacky rhythm game featuring maraca controllers. (via)

God of War

Sony heads who had a hand in bringing the world God of War. From left to right: Shuhei Yoshida (SCEA), Phil Harrison (Sony Europe), Shannon Studsill (Sony Santa Monica), and series creator David Jaffe. (via)

Harmonix circa 2006

The Harmonix team at a Game Developers Conference in 2006. They’re the guys who brought us Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and pretty much popularized the music gaming genre. (via)

Hideo Kojima and co.

The famed Hideo Kojima and some of his Kojima underlings, who brought us the Metal Gear Solid series. (via)

id Software circa 1992

id Software, circa 1992, one year after it was founded. The same year they released Wolfenstein 3D and one year before they unleashed Doom upon the world. (via)

Infocom

Why does this picture of Infocom, the guys who brought us the legendary Zork, look like a meeting to decide the fate of a country?

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak

Future Apple overlord Steve Jobs and whiz kid Steve Wozniak working on Breakout, that game where the player uses a paddle to hit a ball toward breakable blocks, which spawned countless clones throughout the years. (via)

Joel Billings and Trip Hawkins

Joel Billings (right), founder of Strategic Simulations, Inc., which brought us Neverwinter Nights, the first graphical MMO, along with Trip Hawkins (left), famed founder of Electronic Arts. (via)

Junction Point

Junction Point, the studio behind the recently released Disney romp, Epic Mickey. (via)

King’s Quest IV

The team behind 1988’s King’s Quest IV; a team photo from Sierra Entertainment. (via)

Lineage II

The development team for Lineage II, an MMO that launched in 2003; actually a prequel to Lineage, despite the II suffix. (via)

Lucasfilm Games

Lucasfilm Games, now known as LucasArts, brought us a ton of beloved games back in the day, from The Secret of Monkey Island to Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle. (via)

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Team

The development team responsible for the wonderful RPG, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. (via)

NCSoft Halloween

The team at NCSoft brought us MMOs Aion, Lineage, and Guild Wars. In 2007, they dressed as Team Fortress 2 characters. (via)

Neversoft circa 1998

Before Neversoft took over the Guitar Hero franchise as the original creators, Harmonix, went on make Rock Band, Neversoft was known for developing the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. (via)

Nolan Bushnell and co.

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and co. show off Pong. (via)

Markus Persson, aka Notch

Markus Persson, the developer behind the indie runaway hit Minecraft. (via)

Ozark Softscape

Ozark Softscape is responsible for M.U.L.E., a multiplayer strategy game based on supply and demand, published in 1983 by Electronic Arts. (via)

Game Freak

The guys over at Game Freak, who were behind Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. (via)

Richard Garriott and the Portalarium team

Richard Garriott, otherwise known as Lord British, the guy who gave the world Ultima, alongside the Portalarium team. (via)

Sierra Entertainment circa 1981

Sierra Entertainment circa 1981. Over the years, Sierra gave us titles like Knight’s Quest and Leisure Suit Larry.

Space Quest

Mark Crow and Scott Murphy, designers for Sierra, brought us the comedy game Space Quest way back in 1986. (via)

Spacewar!

Mark Crow and Scott Murphy, designers for Sierra, brought us the comedy game Space Quest way back in 1986. (via)

Super Metroid

The development team for what is widely considered to be one of the greatest games of all time, Super Metroid. (via)

System Shock 2

The team who brought us System Shock 2, a game which, in modern times, is probably now most famous because BioShock is its spiritual successor. (via)

Team ICO

A conveniently-labeled guide to Team ICO, the generous team who gave us ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. (via)

Telltale Games

Telltale Games, while demoing an episode from the Sam and Max revival. They also brought us the episodic Monkey Island revival. (via)

Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert

The legendary Tim Schafer (left middle) and Ron Gilbert (right middle), the brilliant minds behind the very best of video game comedy, teaming up once again at Double Fine Productions. (via)

Will Wright and the Stupid Fun Club

Will Wright left Electronic Arts to found the Stupid Fun Club. (via)

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