10 Most Influential Creators In Modern Video Games

Funding in the gaming industry doesn't always pivot around big-name producers that have an unhealthy obsession with loot boxes. If you want an example, look no further than Tim Schafer, head of double fine productions and the indie sensation who spear-headed titles such as Psychonauts, Grim Fandango and Broken Age. Infamous for his wacky and whimsical writing, Schafer's wit has played host to some of the most influential titles in the modern era.

But what he will always be more notorious for is his integration of crowdfunding into the industry, in turn allowing many small developers to make titles colossal in ambition. Raising over $3 million for 2014s Broken Age, he well and truly showed what gamers could do when they came together to make their dream project a reality.

Now, initially that may not seem as cool as giant open worlds or morally ambiguous character studies, but when you consider how many great titles have come from crowdfunding, it's clear how much we owe Schafer. Without his work on Broken Age, we'd never have seen projects such as Star Citizen, Oculus Rift or even the upcoming Shenmue sequel.

Schafer gave the fans a chance to assist in all his projects and this sense of community has become crucial to how the games industry operates today.