Ranking the Most Iconic Figures in the Video Game Industry
The video game industry couldn’t have gotten nearly as big as it is without a handful of key figures. From the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto to the beloved Hideo Kojima, some iconic figures in the video game industry are known by countless gamers worldwide, regardless of their choice of platform.
This article aims to rank the most iconic video game figures. The rankings aren’t necessarily determined by how popular the figures are, but more so by how big of an impact they’ve had on the industry.
Todd Howard
Todd Howard is definitely known by countless gamers, but it’s hard to call him the most impactful. While his role in Bethesda has shaped how multiple games were made, he was never the sort of pioneer that most other names on this list are.
Still, Howard definitely deserves his flowers. His work in The Elder Scrolls and later Fallout, Starfield, and Bethesda’s identity as a whole is undeniable. He’s one of the defining personalities of modern Western RPGs, and while the games he’s associated with likely could have been made without him, the memes that came out of his many quotes alone ensure he deserves a spot on this list.
Hideo Kojima
Kojima is easily the most recognizable figure in the video game industry, especially among modern games. He created the Metal Gear franchise and took the entire stealth genre to a new level with its cinematic sequences and unconventional storytelling. He later took his work to other franchises.
From Death Stranding and its unconventional premise that somehow works to his very active social media presence, Hideo Kojima is seen as a modern genius by many gamers. He was also inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in 2016, showcasing his immense impact on the industry.
John Carmack
From a technical standpoint, it’s hard to name any video game figure more impactful than John Carmack. While he isn’t as well known today, he made several strides in the video game industry as co-founder of id Software.
In particular, Carmack’s work in games such as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake turned him into a pioneer of 3D graphics. He drove several techniques that changed gaming forever, before he ventured into the world of virtual reality to make strides there.
Sid Meier
This one is limited to one genre of games, but it isn’t a stretch to say that genre would have been dead without Sid Meier. We are, of course, talking about the strategy genre. Meier is the designer behind Civilization, one of the most influential strategy franchises ever created, primarily because of the sheer depth it has.
The Civilization games let players guide civilizations through thousands of years of technological, cultural, diplomatic, and military development. Meier also worked on games such as Railroad Tycoon and Pirates!, ensuring he was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in 1999.
Nolan Bushnell
Those who have been around in the game scene for a while will likely recognize Nolan Bushnell. Even those who don’t will realize his importance when learning that he founded Atari. He was one of the pioneers who helped turn video games from an emerging technology into a cultural phenomenon.
In particular, Pong became one of the earliest major arcade successes that helped demonstrate the potential video games had. While he didn’t exactly help create specific video game franchises, his contributions to the industry extend to the entire genre of video games as a whole.
Gabe Newell
PC players, in particular, absolutely adore Gabe Newell, and it’s clear to see why. Newell co-founded Valve in 1996, the studio that went on to create games such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, and Left 4 Dead. Still, Newell’s greatest contribution to video games comes in the form of Steam.
Steam fundamentally changed how PC players purchased and accessed games. It turned into a distribution platform that made it easier for gamers to buy games and developers to ensure their games reach the right audience. It isn’t a stretch to say that PC gaming wouldn’t be nearly as convenient as today without Gabe Newell.
Shigeru Miyamoto
Finally, there’s Shigeru Miyamoto. Many modern gamers assume that Miyamoto’s contributions only extend to Nintendo-related games, though that isn’t the case. While it’s true that he joined Nintendo in 1977 and created franchises such as Donkey Kong, Super Mario, and The Legend of Zelda, his work also helped the video game industry flourish.
The Super Mario games still influence modern platformers, while The Legend of Zelda established ideas that would influence action-adventure games for decades. The shift to 3D with Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time further established Miyamoto as one of the key figures in the video game industry who pushed the genre in a new direction.
