8 Biggest Unsung Heroes Working In The Video Game Industry
You know the studios, but who really makes the industry special?
Every industry has its unsung heroes; the talents that never get the praise they deserve. Still they persist, emboldening in this case, a medium that continues to grow and flourish as an artistic avenue of creation, despite some forces doing their best - though however well intentioned - to bring it all crashing down.
These are the people you see, yet don't remember; the creators who may not revel in the spotlight, but almost certainly deserve to be there. Ultimately, they're the talents that create, captivate and innovate. Without them, the medium would, imaginably, be a far less exciting place to be in.
Though I can only highlight but a fraction of the talent that is involved in bringing the industry's projects to life, the people listed ahead are more than deserving of recognition within their respective fields. Not all of them may operate exclusively within video games - indeed, most have made waves in films, comic books and more - but they demonstrably make it better.
Because of these creators, your games are more nuanced, mature, and enthralling. They affect change through various means and at various levels, but this transformative impact cannot be understated; these are the folks that make gaming what it is today.
8. Haden Blackman - Directing The Best The Industry Has
If you remember LucasArts' twilight years, prior to their eventual demise at the hands of Disney, you should at least be vaguely familiar with Haden Blackman.
The game director of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Blackman has taken his passion for character-driven storytelling to video games, film and beyond, receiving widespread recognition for his trailblazing run on DC Comics' Batwoman, which he and co-author J.H. Williams III were forced to depart prematurely at the hands of the company's overbearing and degrading editorial oversight.
His impact did not go unnoticed however, as the writer was nominated for a GLAAD award in 2012, namely for his amazing work in bringing Kate Kane to the forefront of DC's lineup.
Blackman has, however, been propelled back into the spotlight, serving as game director on Hangar 13's hotly-anticipated entry in the Mafia franchise. The game is currently receiving praise from all sorts of outlets for its convincing portrayal of 1960s New Orleans. Scholars of the era would most likely agree that the title is perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of the late '60s, with Blackman and 13 doing so by refusing to shy away from the more tumultuous aspects of the decade, as well as through a wonderful deployment of era-appropriate iconography, music and social commentary.
Indeed, over the course of his decades-long career, Blackman has contributed to all sorts of games and comics, with his presence at LucasArts proving to be invaluable as the company progressed through the mid to late 2000s. The director looks to have brought his skills in abundance to Mafia III, and if his work on Batwoman is anything to go by, the story for this particular title could be incredible.