Game Developer Research is pleased to announce the debut of its eighth report, the 'Game Developer Top 20 Publishers 2008 Survey'. This detailed supplement to the sixth Top 20 Publishers countdown, which appears in basic form in the October 2008 issue of Game Developer magazine, reveals the numerical reputation scores, written comments, and anonymous partner feedback for the major game publishers in this year's countdown, alongside game release and average review score specifics by platform.

The 2008 rankings were calculated by considering number of releases by SKU, average review scores, and estimated publisher revenue from August 2007 to July 2008. It also included the results of a survey conducted to gather opinions on the major video game software publishers.

More than 300 industry professionals from all parts of the game production process were asked to give their opinions – including comments – on the reputations of each publisher in the survey. In addition, scores and commentary were gathered from respondents who had direct experience with the publishers in the recent past, either as workers or partners, including milestone, marketing and pay feedback.

The full version of 'Top 20 Publishers' report spans more than 100 pages and almost 27,000 words, including many exclusive and detailed graphs, and should be of eminent interest to game publishers, game investors, and other businesspeople inside and outside the game industry.

Sample Data


However, the creators of the report are making available a sample from the 'Top 20 Publishers' research report [.PDF link] showing a small subsection of the final data - the entry in the research report for major publisher Activision. This includes the full listing for the publisher, with reputational and detailed survey comments, game listings, average review scores, and more information. [The extract doesn't include any graphs featuring Ubisoft compared against other publishers - this information is included in the complete report, however.]

Table Of Contents

The full table of contents for the 'Game Developer Top 20 Publishers 2008 Survey' is as follows:

Introduction 4

Methodology 5

1. Nintendo 6

  • Releases and Review Scores 7
  • Reputation Survey 8
  • Detailed Survey 9
2. Electronic Arts 10
  • Releases and Review Scores 11
  • Reputation Survey 14
  • Detailed Survey 16
3. Activision 17
  • Releases and Review Scores 18
  • Reputation Survey 20
  • Detailed Survey 22
4. Ubisoft 23
  • Releases and Review Scores 24
  • Reputation Survey 26
  • Detailed Survey 27
5. Sony Computer Entertainment 28
  • Releases and Review Scores 29
  • Reputation Survey 30
  • Detailed Survey 31
6. Take-Two Interactive 32
  • Releases and Review Scores 33
  • Reputation Survey 34
  • Detailed Survey 35
7. Sega Sammy Holdings 36
  • Releases and Review Scores 37
  • Reputation Survey 39
  • Detailed Survey 40
8. THQ 41
  • Releases and Review Scores 42
  • Reputation Survey 44
  • Detailed Survey 45
9. Microsoft Game Studios 46
  • Releases and Review Scores 47
  • Reputation Survey 48
  • Detailed Survey 49
10. Square Enix 50
  • Releases and Review Scores 51
  • Reputation Survey 52
  • Detailed Survey 53
11. Konami 54
  • Releases and Review Scores 55
  • Reputation Survey 56
  • Detailed Survey 57
12. Vivendi Games 58
  • Releases and Review Scores 59
  • Reputation Survey 60
  • Detailed Survey 60
13. Namco Bandai Games 61
  • Releases and Review Scores 62
  • Reputation Survey 63
  • Detailed Survey 64
14. Capcom 65
  • Releases and Review Scores 66
  • Reputation Survey 67
  • Detailed Survey 68
15. NCsoft 69
  • Releases and Review Scores 69
  • Reputation Survey 70
  • Detailed Survey 71
16. Disney Interactive Studios 72
  • Releases and Review Scores 73
  • Reputation Survey 74
  • Detailed Survey 75
17. Lucasarts 76
  • Releases and Review Scores 77
  • Reputation Survey 78
  • Detailed Survey 79
18. Codemasters 80
  • Releases and Review Scores 80
  • Reputation Survey 81
  • Detailed Survey 82
19. SCi/Eidos Interactive 83
  • Releases and Review Scores 84
  • Reputation Survey 85
  • Detailed Survey 86
20. Midway 87
  • Releases and Review Scores 88
  • Reputation Survey 89
  • Detailed Survey 90

Overview of Publishers Outside the Top 20 91

Reputation Survey Responses 91

Comparisons Across Top 20 Publishers 93

Financial Notes 99

Availability

The 'Game Developer Top 20 Publishers 2008' report is now available for paid digital download for a price of US $2,995. Any questions about payment (you can also invoice us for this report), delivery methods, or further licensing of the data can be directed to Game Developer Research at research@gdmag.com.

 

 



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