To start off I want to clarify what a Second Party Developer is for those of you who don’t know. In the video game industry, a second party developer is a developer who, while being a separate entity from the console manufacturer, is tied to a specific one usually through contract or partial ownership and makes games specifically for that console manufacturer (like Insomniac or Epic Games ). So now that we got that out of the way, let’s start this.
Welcome back to another Top Ten presented by KokuGamer.com. In the last Top Ten we talked about Nintendo’s First and Second Party developers. Now it’s Microsoft’s turn. In the short years that Microsoft Game Studios has been in the industry, it has gotten itself a handful of popular and loved franchises. Of course this segment isn’t about the games. It’s about the developers who make these games. Which studios made it in and which one got the title of Microsoft’s Number 1 First or Second Party developer? If you want to know, well then keep scrolling down.
10 – Realtime Worlds
Realtime Worlds have been around for short period of time but it only took one game for them to become one of Microsoft’s greatest assets. Crackdown, an open world, third person shooter catapulted the company from unknown to super-stardom. They are currently developing APB for Microsoft Windows, although it is reportedly coming to the Xbox 360. Only time will tell if the game comes to the console side. These developers are great at what they do and make polished, fun games. Which earns them the number 10 spot.
9 – Artoon
Although it was a short lived partnership, Artoon created many liked franchises for the Xbox and the Xbox 360. They are the creators of the much loved Blinx series and also Blue Dragon. While some may not like Blinx, I personally loved the game and its time aspects. The Blinx franchise is one of my favorite platformer/adventure franchises. Which is why this developer made number 9.
8 – feelplus Inc.
Responsible for the development of many Xbox 360 RPG’s, feelplus Inc. are one of Xbox 360′s best RPG developers. With games like Lost Odyssey, to the support work of Star Ocean: The Last Hope, these developers have produced AAA RPG’s for the 360. They are also responsible for the art direction on Infinite Undiscovery. They are also in development right now of another Xbox 360 exclusive, Nintey-Nine Nights II. Which is why it is number 8 on our list.
7 – FASA Studio
While they didn’t make many Xbox games ( they only made 2 Xbox and Xbox 360 games called: Crimson Skies and Shadowrun ), they made one of the most popular PC franchises: the MechWarrior franchise. Still to this day as one of my most favorite franchises, MechWarrior was a popular mech fighting game with which you had many weapons and upgrades at your disposal. Some of you may disagree, but FASA Studios gets the number 7 spot on our list.
6 – Ensemble Studios
Responsible for the Age of Empires series, Age of Mythology, and Halo Wars games, Ensemble Studios was a great RTS developer and they truly made the first great RTS on a console, Halo Wars. Halo Wars was Ensemble Studios’ swan song game before they were disbanded by Microsoft Game Studios earlier this year. This studio was truly one of Microsoft’s best studios, and that is why it is number 6 on this list.
5 – Turn 10 Studios
Responsible for the phenomenal Forza Motorsport series, Turn 10 has truly made a fantastic arcade/sim racer. Forza in recent years has put up some stiff competition against Sony’s racer Gran Turismo. If the trailer above is any indication of the game, it’s going to be a beautiful game. Also thanks to Turn 10′s awesome development of their games, their games are now considered one of the best racing games in recent history. Which is why they are number 5 on our list.
4 – Rare Ltd.
Back in 2002, Microsoft Game Studios made one of the biggest game company purchases they’ve ever done. The company they bought was Rare and they bought the studio for $375 million. So the studio need to be a top notch to make up that difference for Microsoft and they didn’t disappoint. The studio since 2002 has made many games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 including: Viva Pinata, Perfect Dark, Conker and the Banjo-Kazooie series. So we can all see now why this developer is so important to Microsoft and the Xbox. For all these superb games, Rare Ltd. gets number 4 on the list.
3 – Lionhead Studios
Lionhead Studios is headed by the legendary developer Peter Molyneux. While there have been only a few games that Lionhead released for the Xbox consoles, they have all been fantastic. Fable and Fable II are the better known games for the Xbox and Xbox 360. Recently at E3 2009, Molyneux showed his creativeness for games in the form of his Milo project. While there are doubts and speculation surrounding Milo, you can’t deny the creativeness behind it. Peter Molyneux and his team at Lionhead are so creative that they deserved the number 3 spot on the list.
2 – Epic Games
Epic Games, known for their Unreal Engine and Unreal Tournament series, has made one of the best third person shooters, if not the best, on the Xbox 360. Gears of War helped give the Xbox 360 a proper AAA title before the next Halo game. Epic has always promised a lot, but they have always been able to achieve what they promised. Some may even argue that Gears of War is better then Halo. That is why Epic is number 2.
1 – Bungie
You know it, I know it, we all know it, Bungie is Microsoft’s best studio. I mean, the Xbox may have never became popular if it wasn’t for Bungie or their multi- million selling game Halo. It is because of this singular game that people get tattoos of Master Chief on their arms. It is (arguably) the reason FPS’ became so popular on consoles. Bungie knows how to make games and how to make them fun. Each game has sold over 8 million copies. The Halo games have a universal cultural impact and have been praised even by Time magazine. There’s no question that Bungie is/was Microsoft’s best studio. That is why it was chosen as our number 1 studio for Microsoft.
Want to read Top 10 First and Second Party Studios: Nintendo ? Then click here
This Friday come back to read – The Top 10 First and Second Party Studios: Sony
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Hmm, I would have put Ensemble at number two…but other than that, good list!
Epic games isn’t 2nd party, they are 3rd. They don’t tied to 1 company via contract, thats why there are games made by epic on PS3.
Also, I know ensemble created a game exclusively for 360, all but 1 game was for PC. Halo Wars, which was a bad excuse for a RTS. Age of Empires/Mythologies, while awesome, were only on PC.
Why is Bungie up there as well? They made Halo 1 – 3, but they are no longer affiliated to MS by contract, so they CAN make a PS3 game if they wanted (which I doubt, but they can) so they are also 3rd party. I guess if you want to include whoever WAS 1st/2nd party… then I guess those guys can go up there.
As you can see, when it comes to developers, MS is screwing up. Their best developers are going away, now they have Rare, and Lionhead. Turn 10 if you want, but they are “relatively” new compared to other devs.
@Phos
I just want to clarify. At one point or another, these studios had a contract to the point where Microsoft owns the IP. Microsoft owns the Halo and Gears of War IP’s. Microsoft also published their games for a period of time. Now while the companies may now be their own entity, Microsoft Game Studios at one point had exclusive deals to make games for their hardware ( the defination of a Second Party Studio ). That is why they are on the list.
http://dictionary.babylon.com/second-party%20developer
“In the video game industry, a second-party developer is a developer who, while being a separate entity from any console manufacturer, is tied to a specific one usually through contract or partial ownership and makes games specifically for that console manufacturer.
The defining characteristic is that a second-party developer is a company completely separate from the manufacturer, while first-party developers are considered to be a “division” of the console maker itself.
…”
Epic / Bungie are not tied by partial ownership or contract nor do they make games specifically for one platform, thus not second party.
Oh, ok, nvm. I misread that. “At one point or another”. Yeah, Bungie is fine, but Epic is still not part of that definition.
Phos is correct, Epic Games is a third party publisher and the “Gears of War” IP belongs to Epic, not Microsoft.
Epic came out to clarify that they own the IP, not Microsoft.
Phos, you better brush up on your reading comprehension skills:
“is tied to a specific one usually through contract or partial ownership”
When MGS releases a game developed by Epic, epic is therefore bound by *A CONTRACT* to develop that game exclusively for the. They receive money and in exchange they produce a game published by the console manufacturer.
A developer can be second party when it comes to one contract, and first party when it comes to another contract (Team Ninja for example). Bungie is now considered a second-party developer for Halo ODST and Halo Reach, Epic is a second party developer for Gears games – and a living proof that good game development doesn’t have to be first party. Microsoft is relying more on second and third party games then Sony, and in the bottom line they get more games and better games.
Third party is something different: it’s a game developed and published by another company, and there are no developer-publisher relationship between the console manufacturer and the developer, even when the game is exclusive. Two such examples are the upcoming Splinter Cell conviction and Mass Effect for the X360, and Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3.
Now that we’ve established that,
I for one, don’t understand how come Bioware is not mentioned here. Bioware was for a while the best second party RPG studio in the industry (they still are the best, only now they’re owned by EA). Digital Anvil also made some great games back in the days.
correction:
“A developer can be second party when it comes to one contract, and first party when it comes to another contract (Team Ninja for example)”
Sorry: What I meant was second party on one contract and third party on another contract. Team Ninja is obviously not first party.
And now I also see that Bizzare creations are nowhere to be seen on the list as well…
The thing is, Bungie has a contract for Halo Reach, but isn’t bound by contract as a whole. The whole contract thing means they work specifically for that company. Epic isn’t BOUND as a COMPANY by contract, only as a developer FOR THE GEARS IP. On the other hand, companies like Naughty Dog and Insomniac have contracts with Sony. They aren’t internal studios, but they make games EXCLUSIVELY FOR SONY. Epic / Bungie are not bound to that single company, thats why they ARE NOT 2nd party but instead 3rd party.
Note again, that contract refers to contracting themselves out as a whole to a single company, not for a single project, otherwise by that logic, Konami was 2nd party for Sony due to MGS, and saying that makes no sense.
Artoon isn’t 2nd party, its 3rd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artoon
I would say FeelPlus isn’t one as well, but since they were made by MGS (I’m assuming they are still a part of it..) then they are probably 2nd party throw partial ownership. I know FeelPlus made Blue Dragon on DS.
Also, correction on my part. Insomniac isn’t tied to Sony by contract, while they have made games exclusively for Sony, it’s been 100% their choice.
Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch Productions on the other hand have a contract with SCE.
One more thing. Fasa hasn’t been a developer since 2001, after the release of Crimson Skies. All they are now is an IP Company to keep rights of… well, certain IPs.
So here is a roundup of the list
Realtime – 2nd? (contract?)
Artoon – 3rd (made games for Wii/DS as well)
FeelPlus – 2nd (via partial ownership)
Fasa – Closed
Ensemble – Closed
Turn 10 – 1st
Rare – 1st
Lionhead – 1st
Epic – 3rd (makes games for PC/PS3 as well)
So 5/10 of those are 1st or 2nd party for MS.
Bungie
Ugh, definitely didn’t mention what bungie was.
Bungie – 3rd. They make games exclusively, but like Insomniac (also 3rd party) they have no ties to MS (or Sony…respectively) by contract or partial ownership.
MS dont own the gears of war IP.
they were in a 2 game deal with epic so from now on it could be on which ever platform epic sees fit.
but considering the sales i doubt they will change, except this time bring gears 3 on the 360 AND PC AT THE SAME TIME.
SAME not months later.
@ Name
Yeah, you’re right. I forgot about that. It’s one of those things fanboys like to mention. “Oh gears 3 can come to ps3″ …ok >_>… w/e. But anyway, you knew what i meant with my example. =P
@Phos
You still don’t get it, do you?
A contract can be per project, it’s not bounding the developer as a whole. A single developer can have both 2nd party ties and 3rd party ties with a console owner, which makes them both 2nd party and 3rd party studio DEPENDING on the game.
Also, developers can jump ship from 1st to 2nd and 3rd party and vice versa, like Bungie just did (BTW, Microsoft is still invested in Bungie with minority shares, so it’s still partial ownership).
And another wrong statement here:
“otherwise by that logic, Konami was 2nd party for Sony due to MGS, and saying that makes no sense.”
But you’re missing the entire point: MGS4 is not 2nd party because Sony didn’t publish MGS4, Konami did. That’s why it’s a 3rd party game (just like Ace Combat 6 or Left 4 Dead on the X360).
Another good example is Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 VS Ninja Gaiden 2:
Ninja Gaiden 2 was developed by Team Ninja and published by Microsoft, so it acts as a 2nd party game
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo, so it acts as a 3rd party game
You see the difference:
Microsoft/Sony publisher and studio owned by Microsoft/Sony => 1st party game
Microsoft/Sony publisher and studio not owned by Microsoft/Sony, they only serve as a publisher => 2nd party game
Microsoft/Sony NOT publisher => 3rd party game
It’s not that complicated to comprehend, is it?
BTW, according to your fuzzy logic, Rare is also a 3rd party developer for Microsoft, because they don’t develop exclusively for Microsoft platforms: They made Viva Pinata for the DS after all (and also some games for Nintendo back in the days). I think you fail to understand two things here:
1) What 2nd and 3rd party studios are
1) That the article discusses Microsoft 1st/2nd party studios at any point in the past. Not just the Studios that are 1st/2nd party RIGHT NOW, and not just X360 developers.
10. Realtime Worlds
Third Party, have struck a publisher-deal with Electronic Arts, they are making APB, a MMO for PC.
Maybe it will become multiplatform.
9. Artoon
Third party studio. Blue Dragon (2006) were a commisioned game. Vampire Rain (2007) a multiplatform-game.
In 2008/9 they made Vampire Rain: Altered Species (PS3), The World of Golden Eggs: Nori Nori Rhythm-kei (Wii/DS), Away Shuffle Dungeon (DS)
Currently working on: Span Smasher (Wii)
So obviously not first or second party.
8 – Feelplus Inc.
Relatively new studio, when they were formed they funded by Mistwalker and Microsoft to help on Lost Oddysey.
Now they are getting funds by working with several publishers, on several platforms.
Third party aswell.
7. FASA
Disbanded on September 12, 2007.
6. Ensemble Studios
Disbanded on January 29, 2009.
5. Turn 10 Studios
First Party.
4. Rare Ltd.
First Party.
3. Lionhead Studios
First party.
2. Epic
Third party, working on all platforms.
1. Bungie
Could be concidered second party.
Are actually third party, but only working on Microsofts IP now.
——
There are only 4 studios wich could be concidered eligable on this list, in my opinion, I’d rate them like this.
4. Rare
3. Lionhead
2. Turn 10 studios
1. Bungie
——
Phos… let it go man, let it go.
@ Guy
….
“Microsoft/Sony publisher and studio not owned by Microsoft/Sony, they only serve as a publisher => 2nd party game”
No that means they (MS/Sony) are publishing the game. You know why? Because they are game publishers. They just happened to be the ones to publish the games.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-party_developer
Tell me. Why the fuck is Epic on the “Independent Developers” list? Also, no MS isn’t tied to Bungie through partial ownership.
Don’t try to tell me off if you don’t know wtf you are talking about.
basically microsoft has nothing and sony has everything? is that what the guy is saying?
Lets be honest, MGS loves shutting down studios to save their own hide. IMO The Nintendo and Sony ones are more interesting. Sony have a tonne of first party devs and even more second party including third party like Quantic Dream too!
LOL, using wiki poor-mans knowledge. Epic is indeed Microsoft’s retard.
@ Phos
Insomniac Games is an independent developer but they even consider themselves a second party. Independent studios do take pride in being independent, but just because their independent dosent mean their third party.
I like how you can’t refute jack shit, so you resort in calling me retarded.
Wtf is this game? I believe its on the GOD DAMN PS3.
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/unrealtournament2007/index.html
And at Tyler, like I said, they are 3rd party, but they make games exclusively for Sony, because they have a good relationship with the company.
what a lame list…
those are besides the first few, those are mediocre developers who made mediocre games.
What about Bioware???
@Axys
Bioware was never a first or second party studio, nor does Microsoft own any of their franchises. If Microsoft owned the Mass Effect franchise, then they would be considered a second party and they might have made the list. But sadly they are just a 3 party partner.
playstation just beats the 360 imo
im starting to think M$ would be better off spending that bottomless check book of theirs on some 1st party studios.
instead of buying PS3 exclusives.
imagine who they could of bought if they dident spend that 50M on GTAIV DLC and the rest they spent on fallout 3 DLC.
I really enjoyed reading that and the Natal video is phenomenal
Ian W.
Honestly the list doesn’t get decent until #6 and they’re only really up their because of how good they were with rts’s like ages of empire on pc in the 90′s. Don’t get me wrong I love them for ages of empire but they haven’t contributed anything good to microsoft.