GameGirl.com

This week's question comes from Ling:

Hey, I actually have two questions. My first one is rather silly but I just want to know, who do you at GameGirl view as your top 3 favorite game developers? The second is more serious and I felt it best to ask the all of you. What is the big appeal about Mirror's Edge? I've seen the trailers and the E3 demo footage and I'm just not seeing the wow factor of it all. It just seems really...boring at this point in time and it confuses me how nearly everyone seems so excited about it.

Read on to find out our answers!


As far as my top 3 developers go I would have to say hands-down: Square-Enix, Ubisoft and Atari.

I think the appeal that Mirror's Edge has is that its a bit different in that it takes the first person perspective to a whole new level to me. A very interesting element is the fact that the main character is trying to save her sister..which is quite contrary to what most of the female lead roles are in that they are usually spurred on by wanting to save a father/brother or even trying to become like them. But I am trying not to hype this game up to much for myself but I will be keeping a watchful eye on it.


For me personally, Blizzard, Activision and EA Games have always made good quality games I enjoy. I would even include RARE in that actually, although you dont hear much rom them anymore... they are the ones who brought us Donkey Kong Country, etc.

As for the 2nd question I dont have a clue. For me, I don't see the appeal of Mirror's Edge either quite frankly. I would hazard a guess that the free range platforming (similar to that of Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia) has something to do with it. I don't think I will be buying the game on release day personally.


Ling, I don't really look for specific game developers when I am looking to get a game. I look at the game play, screen shots, demo if there is one, etc. Some games come from companies just starting, while others are well known developers. But I don't limit myself or choose favorites, because one minute a developer can produce a very awesome game, and the next one they come out with can sucks. So I always go by the game itself.

As for the Mirror's Edge, the graphics look good, but I cannot really put a wow factor on it until I get more information on it. Like I stated before, I research or get more info before I ever really give a review. However, I do like having another game with a girl for the lead character. It also has the First Person genre on it, although it isn't a shooter, because most of the game your not suppose to be using a gun. But a girl kicking some butt is always a plus. Hopefully she holds her own in the gaming industry and isn't the next flop title to come out. But the developers did do the Battlefield games which I have liked, so as of right now, I'm keeping my eye it.


I honestly don't have a top 3 favorite game developers. I think they are all kick ass and work just as hard as the next one. Some might get more publicity and some prefer to stay more out of the light...I don't think any are better than another. They all do GREAT work and I appreciate all of it. Some times people seem to give one developer all the credit only b/c that one guy is putting himself out there into the media, and they tend to forget that a lot of other developers worked on that same game or games and a lot of those other developers don't get the recognition they deserve. So yeah, I don't think it's right to pick 3 favorites...b/c what makes those guys any better than the other developers working on these games?

Secondly, I agree with you, Mirror's Edge looks like a great game, probably a game I will enjoy...but I do not understand all the hype. I do not think it will be a Gears of War or a God of War, so I am not understanding the big deal around it. But we will see, who knows, maybe once it is out it will kick alot of ass and I will be eating my own words...or maybe it will come out and be disappointing. Who knows.


I never really thought of who my top favorite developers would be. I guess in order to choose, I will pick whoever makes my favorite games and go by that, seeing as these games so easily captivated me. Counter Strike, TF2 (Valve), Call of Duty, Spider-Man: Ultimate Alliance (Activision), and Jade Empire (BioWare)... BioWare probably takes number one actually, what with KotOR, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect, and all. and I'm really looking forward to Dragon Age!!

As for Mirror's Edge... It's pretty MEH to me. First off: Never been an EA gal, and second.. It looks like one of those games I would get queezy playing, like when I played Half Life (good game, just literally couldn't play it for more than 30 minutes without feeling like vomiting) Just watching M's E trailers got me all dizzy feeling. I personally don't understand the hype surrounding it myself. Hot Asian chick, mb!!????11 It may turn out to be cool, IDK... but I wouldn't be rushing to EB to purchase it on release day.


The top 3 game developers is a tough one because my all time favorite games aren't necessarily made by my favorite developers. In no particular order I would say BioWare, Valve, and Take Two Interactive.

There has been a significant amount of hype around Mirror's Edge. The main character is female and it uses the Unreal Engine, both very cool. I have every intention of giving this game a chance this November but I'm not too hyped about it. The trailer kinda gives me a headache to be totally honest.


Hey Ling! My favorite develops have been (in alphabetical order) BioWare, Epic Games, and Infinity Ward. BioWare was the mastermind behind such successes as the Neverwinter Nights series, Knights of the Old Republic and the upcoming Mass Effect series (Mass Effect 2 and 3 are already in production). BioWare has a proven staying power. Epic Games not only created my personal favorite Gears of War, and one the most anticipated games of 2008 (Gears of War 2), but their Unreal Engine helped to also fuel the popular Unreal Series (together with Valve, another great developer). I predict much more greatness to come from Epic. About 5 years ago, Infinity Ward started a little series we know as Call of Duty that continues to set a new standard for gameplay, especially in the war game genre and in competitive play. Some may already know that Infinity War only develops every other title because of their acquisition by Activision. Unfortunately, publishers are gobbling up developers and taking over in much the same way Barnes & Noble did with little bookstores or Starbucks did with the niche coffee shop. On the one hand, it gives independent developers the financial support they may not have otherwise obtained, but I think it can often do more harm than good.

As for Mirror's Edge, the first point of excitement for me is Faith. I must admit I get a bit buggigety (buh-jig-gety) whenever a game I am interested in playing has a heroine, and a heroine who is not all bust line and cleavage is great! In addition the developers, EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE), are using this game to "shake things up" and set new trends in the first person genre. Mislabeled first person shooter, this is more of a first person, action adventure game that will, allegedly, change the interaction between the character and the environment. They are also attempting a more stylized artistic take by using a new lighting engine which brightens things up significantly. I think the fact that this is a new take on evasion rather than contact and battle will be interesting. The rating is broader than the typical M-rated games that get the majority of the hype, another interesting note, in my opinion. They also announced at Comic Con that there will be a limited edition comic book based on the game done by DC Comics. DICE wants to get the community's attention in the broadest sense to help hype what they believe will be a trendsetting game. The appeal for me is in the concept and ideas they are pitching, and I rather liked the trailers. The rest remains to be seen. Until then I can hope that a young, girl gamer can play this game and be proud of the character, if not, I will still have Gears of War 2.

Who are your favorite developers? What is your view on Mirror's Edge? Let us know!



Got a question of your own for the GameGirls? Send an email to them at Tips4GameGirl@gmail.com. Your question may appear in the next segment!

• << prev
• next >>