Konnichi wa, minna-san!

I'll upload my actual top 10 tomorrow night. The reason I'm putting my honourable mentions on a seperate blog post is because I went over the character limit and I couldn't find a good way to shorten it. Besides listing off the development teams and giving a reason for their spot, I also listed off some famous people from the companies, their respective jobs, and the team's current project(s) if they have any. It's probably better if I divide my list like this so this way my main article is more focused. This is a list of development teams that didn't quite make the cut for me but I still love them regardless.

Honourable Mentions:

Intelligent Systems (based in Kyoto, Japan) Parent Company: Nintendo

Notable Games: Fire Emblem series, Advance Wars series, Paper Mario series, Pushmo

Current Projects: Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (Wii U), Game and Wario (Wii U)

While I love most of their games, a couple of them left a sour taste in my mouth so I had to cut them from the list.

Monolith Soft (based in Tokyo, Japan) Parent Company: Namco (former), Namco Bandai (former), Nintendo (current)

Notable Games: Xeno series

Current Projects: Project X Zone (3DS), "X" (Wii U), unannounced 3DS game

Notable People: Tetsuya Takahashi (writer of the Xeno series and director of "X")

The only game I've played so far that they've made is Xenoblade Chronicles. I do have Xenosaga as well and I'll be playing that sometime soon. I'll definetely be picking up Project X Zone and "X". "X" simply looks astounding.

Retro Studios (based in Austin, USA) Parent Company: Nintendo

Notable Games: Metroid Prime trilogy, Donkey Kong Country Returns

Current Projects: Unannounced Wii U game

Notable People: Jeff Spangenberg (founder)

These guys are my #11 for sure. Retro Studios is often known as "the next Rare" to the Nintendo faithful especially after their fantastic work on Donkey Kong Country Returns. I'm really looking forward to hearing what Wii U game they're making. It's been promised as "something spectacular" and "something everyone wants us to make."

The Creative Assembly (based in Horsham, UK) Parent Company: Electronic Arts (former), Sega (current)

Notable Games: Total War series

Current Projects: Rome II Total War

Notable People: Jeff van Dyck (composer)

If you're into strategy games, you have to play the Total War series. It's the perfect blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics. The series beats out Civilization for me. It's that good.

Blizzard Entertainment (based in Irvine, USA) Parent Company: Independent (former), Activision-Blizzard (current)

Notable Games: World of Warcraft series, Warcraft series, Starcraft series, Diablo series

Current Projects: Starcraft II Legacy of the Void (PC), Diablo III (PS3, PS4), Titan (PC), Blizzard All-Stars (PC)

There's no real need to talk about Blizzard is there? If you're a PC gamer, you know who they are. Even if you're a console gamer you know who they are.

Pandemic Studios [defunct] (based in Santa Monica, USA) Parent company: None [contracts] (former), Electronic Arts (2007 - 2009)

Notable Games: Star Wars Battlefront I and II, Destroy All Humans series

I was really sad when they announced that Pandemic Studios closed down. All my hopes for Star Wars Battlefront III were dashed forever...

Ensemble Studios [disbanded] (based in Dallas, USA) Parent Company: None [contracts] (former), Microsoft (2001 - 2009)

Notable Games: Age of Empires series

It really is a shame that Ensemble Studios was shut down. I hope that another studio picks up the Age of Empires series since I only got into it after they closed down. I really want to play a brand-new Age of Empires.

Epic Games (based in Cary, USA) Parent Company: Independent

Notable Games: Unreal Tournament series, Gears of War series

Current Projects: Fortnite (PC)

Notable People: Cliff Blezinski AKA CliffyB (designer) [no longer with the company]

While I've only played a couple of Unreal Tournament games, the Gears of War series is one of the reasons I got a 360 in the first place. I hope the studio's quality doesn't drop now that CliffyB is gone.

Camelot Software Planning (based in Tokyo, Japan) Parent Company: Sega (former), Nintendo (current)

Notable Games [Sega]: Shining series

Notable Games [Nintendo]: Mario Golf series, Mario Tennis series, Golden Sun series

Current Projects: Mario Golf World Tour (3DS)

I've always loved the Mario sports games that Camelot has made and I just recently picked up all the Golden Sun games. If it wasn't for Mario Tennis Open, there might have been a spot on the list for them...

Naughty Dog (based in Santa Monica, USA) Parent Company: Independent (former), Sony (current)

Notable Games: Crash Bandicoot series, Jak and Daxter series, Uncharted series

Current Projects: The Last of Us (PS3)

While I'm not a huge fan of their games, I cannot deny the fact that they're really good. The Last of Us is looking great as well; I hope it does well.

Bungie (based in Bellevue, USA) Parent Company: Independent (1991-2000), Microsoft (2000-2007), Independent (2007-present)

Notable Games: Halo series

Current Projects: Destiny (Multiplatform)

Halo. 'Nuff said.

Konami (based in Tokyo, Japan) Parent Company: Independent

Notable Games: Metal Gear series, Contra series, Castlevania series, Silent Hill series, Dance Dance Revolution series

Current Projects: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, untitled 3DS Contra game

Notable People: Hideo Kojima (creator and director of the Metal Gear series), Akira Yamaoka (composer of the Silent Hill series) [no longer with the company]

I'm not a Metal Gear fan and that's one of the reasons why Konami didn't make the list. It's not that I don't like the series; it's just not my kind of game. Hideo Kojima is one heck of a funny guy though. I love hearing about all the jokes he throws into his games for fun.

Valve Corporation (based in Bellevue, USA) Parent Comapny: Independent

Notable Games: Half-Life series, Team Fortress series, Portal series, Left 4 Dead series, DotA 2

Current Projects: Half-Life 3???

Notable People: Gabe Newell (founder and managing director)

FLAME SHIELD UP! Why is Valve not on the list? I HATE Steam's service. FLAME SHIELD UP!

So that concludes my honourable mentions list. Look forward to my top 10 game developers tomorrow!

Mata ato de!