10. Hideo Kojima

Kojima Productions

Cinematic grandeur and individualist style make Kojima a unique entity in game design.

Whatever your views of Kojima’s cinematic approach to gameplay, Metal Gear Solid 4 represents the high-point of his personal style of creativity. Gameplay and cut-scenes are intertwined as never before, superbly realized dramas played out between interactivity and passive entertainment, the two often merging together seamlessly. It’s a particular form of gaming that Kojima has made his own, articulating his own vision unapologetically. Through Snake, he has also created one of the most enduring and sympathetically realized game characters of al time.

9. Susan Panico

SCEA

Revamping PSN and the heroic introduction of PlayStation Home.

Undoubtedly, SCEA enjoyed its best year since the introduction of PlayStation 3. Jack Tretton stole E3 with a straight-shooting performance that offered confidence, without allowing anyone to forget the scale of the job those guys face. SCEA’s marketing was once again outstanding with Peter Dille’s team delivering razor-sharp messaging across multiple media. But the biggest improvement of the year came from Panico, (senior director, PlayStation Network)  and her team, responsible for creating a hub that can rival or surpass Xbox Live.  As senior director, she led the introduction of 
a vast new video delivery service and she directed the revamp of the PlayStation Store, streamlining navigation and improving 
performance. She also oversaw the release of PlayStation Home, a mammoth task for which there ought to be a congressional medal.

8. Cliff Blezsinski

Epic Games

Delivering a sequel that offers more and better.

We called Gears of War2 a “masterclass in escalation” which works both within the game itself, and throughout the evolution of this franchise. Coming two years after the original, GoW 2 retained the basic building blocks while adding a joyous bounty of graphical, audio and gameplay goods. Not for Epic the lame cash-in sequel; this game fortified Bleszinski’s reputation for careful fine-tuning of his products, while attempting to shed the silly CliffyB PR persona of yesteryear.

7. Jonathan Blow

Number None

Creator of a most wonderfully original game.

Back in 2006, at the annual GDC developers rant, Jonathan Blow argued that innovation needed to focus on human feelings and emotions, rather than on technology, environment or weapons. In 2008, he turned this passion into one of the year’s best games, Braid. In simplistic terms, it’s a 2D platformer with puzzles, but its tight design and fresh palette of ideas make it one of the year’s most impressive feats of creativity.  Artistically beautiful with a deep story, the puzzles are constantly charming. Braid has shown that games can be a personal expression about the world.

6. Louise Copley

Lionhead Studios

Managing one of the most complex and entertaining adventures ever made.

No-one can take away the immense contribution Lionhead chief Peter Molyneux has made on gaming, but, as executive producer of Fable II, it was Copley who drove the game to completion, and nailed the sometimes wayward imagination of her boss into something complete and on time. Fable II is a beautiful adventure which, despite the odd bug, was packed with humor and emotional charge. Copley pulled together a dramatic masterpiece, weaving together the work of a creative team and satisfying an extremely demanding public.