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We’ve Got Jonathan Blow (The Witness, Braid) and Chris Hecker (Spy Party) Here To Answer Your Best Questions

Two of the most talented and fiercely independent video game creators I’ve ever met are joining us today, right below these words I’m writing, to answer your best questions. We’ve got Jonathan Blow, the man who brought us Braid and is leading development on the lovely island-exploration puzzle game The Witness. And we’ve got Chris…

By Stephen Totilo Published July 3, 2012

Some More Ways Video Games are Like Porn (And Sex)

Yesterday, we ran a pullquote from independent game designer Eric Zimmerman in which he discussed some of the similarities video games have with porn. “Mainstream AAA videogames operate on principles akin to porn,” Zimmerman tweeted. They are “highly repetitive activities premised on visceral pleasure and spectacle.” He went on to offer some elaboration, at least,…

By Kirk Hamilton Published July 3, 2012

These Are The 40 Most Powerful People In Video Games

The world of video games is full of mighty people—people whose mere whims control what video games we play, what we play games on, how we buy them or even what games are like. We’ve often wondered who the most powerful person is in video games. And we’ve wondered who the second is, the third…

By Stephen Totilo Published July 3, 2012

• 02. Don Mattrick, Microsoft’s Xbox Chief

July 3, 2012 Update: Microsoft announced a new tablet, Surface, that got people saying they were going to be able to take a bigger bite out of Apple. Mattrick and Xbox aren’t exactly a part of the Surface world, but the Xbox is clearly an increasingly integral part of all of Microsoft business. Combine that…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

• 01. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

July 3, 2012 Update: Still holding strong at the top spot, despite recent Apple statements that they’re not interested in making a console. As long as iPads and iPhones keep flying off the shelves and attracting tons of gamers and game companies, it’s hard to argue that Apple doesn’t have a ton of power and…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

• 03. Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo

July 3, 2012 Update: The Wii U had an okay showing at E3. It didn’t generate the buzz that the Wii did when E3 attendees first got their hands on that console, but it didn’t flop either. Nintendo has gathered, at minimum, improved short-term third-party support for Wii U and has demonstrated, with MiiVerse, the…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 04. Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard

July 3, 2012 Update: Activision teamed up with Tencent to bring China it’s own Call of Duty game. That’s big. But Kotick’s rise is also due to the drop by Blizzard chief Mike Morhaime, whose previously can’t-miss half of Activision Blizzard has had a strangely rocky time managing Diablo III since the always-online game launched.…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 05. Kaz Hirai, Sony President and CEO

July 3, 2012 Update: Kaz refocuses his efforts at Sony, but we know he’s a PlayStation guy and that PlayStation remains a bright spot for the company. We also see Sony’s purchase of cloud-gaming service Gaikai as a sign that Sony might be about to transform the way PlayStation gaming works—and how widely it spreads…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 07. Gabe Newell, Boss of Valve Software

July 3, 2012 Update: Valve releases an open source filmmaker so that fans can make their own videos. Feb 20, 2012 Update: Grew beard; would maybe make gaming hardware. Steam hack in 2011 may have compromised credit card info. No move up or down. Why He’s Powerful Five years ago, who would have guessed that…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 06. Mike Morhaime, CEO of Blizzard

July 3, 2012 Update: Maybe Diablo III sold well, but it’s rocky launch, buggy patches and continued antagonism of some fans with its online requirements makes Morhaime’s previously can’t miss studio seem a little less wonderful a role model for other development houses to follow. He drops a few spots. May 30, 2012 Update: Even…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 08. John Riccitiello, CEO of EA

July 3, 2012 Update:Not the greatest E3 for EA, but the company’s FIFA and Madden series look strong and a continued push into Facebook and mobile gaming still feels like smart, early work that lays a foundation rivals will envy in the coming months and years. Feb 20, 2012 Update: That risky Star Wars MMO…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 09. Eric Bright, Wal-Mart Game-Buyer

Why He’s Powerful Eric Bright isn’t a familiar name to most gamers—nor should he be. As the Senior Buyer for all video game software at Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, Bright is the single point of entry to a wide swatch of customers, especially in the parts of the country where Wal-Mart is the only…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 10. Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft Boss

July 3, 2012 Update: Ubisoft’s boss moves up five placements to reflect a very successful E3, with impressive showings of out-of-nowhere Watch Dogs, some Wii U games that outshined many of Nintendo’s own, an impressive demo of Assassin’s Creed III and an all-around awesome press conference. Feb 20, 2012 Update: The confirmation of Assassin’s Creed…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

• 11. Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder

Feb 20, 2012 Update: No huge changes yet, but what’s with Amazon hiring a bunch of game developers? Hmm. Power play coming? Why He’s Powerful Jeff Bezos’ Amazon is a triple threat: powerhouse retailer with a wonderful games loyalty program and release-day shipping; the proprietors of the only other credible tablet in the Kindle Fire;…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 13. Paul Raines, Used GameStop CEO

Feb 20, 2012 Update: Given how much money GameStop likes to rake in from the sales of used games, Raines better hope that the next Xbox’s possible blocking of used games doesn’t become a reality. If it does, he drops. For now, it’s unconfirmed. Why He’s Powerful Nobody’s saying video game retail is fun. But…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 12. Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook

July 3, 2012 Update: Social-network video games are still very popular, but Facebook is a wounded company now, still stumbling after a debacle of an IPO and, in general, seeming more vulnerable, more prone to be challenged by a rival, than ever before. May 30, 2012 Update: Since Facebook opened up to the public and…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 14. Shigeru Miyamoto, Lead Game Designer at Nintendo

July 3, 2012 Update: No offense, Mr. Miyamoto, you had a solid E3. But Ubisoft had a great one, and so their boss’ surge is pushing you and a lot of the people near you on the list down. Feb 20, 2012 Update: We admit it. We put him too low last month. Miyamoto’s genius…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 15. Mark Rein, Epic Games Vice President

July 3, 2012 Update: Unreal Engine 4 looked fine last month. It’ll likely be a big deal next-gen, keeping Epic very relevant. An investment in Epic by Chinese gaming giant Tencent is useful, too, but Rein goes down a notch to make room for the surging chief of Ubisoft, which had an incredible E3. May…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↑ 16. Yoichi Wada, CEO of the Square-Enix-Eidos Empire

July 3, 2012 Update: Square Enix bumps up quite a bit for the month of June, with an impressive E3 line-up including Tomb Raider and Hitman, two games that have been the subjects of recent heated conversations. Square Enix’s CEO also gets the increased placement for the unveiling of an impressive new engine Why He’s…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012

↓ 17. Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, Who Invented Minecraft

May 30, 2012 Update: The release of Minecraft on the 360 was met with strong sales, and even bumped Call of Duty from the Xbox charts. Call of Duty! Feb 20, 2012 Update: He had a big month, but with all the movement around him he stays put. The power he wields continues to be…

Kotaku Published July 3, 2012