SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
Being a switched-on, plugged-in, pulse-feeling sort of gamer (yep, we mean you) we're 111% certain that you've not only heard of Sony, but you'll have played a PlayStation title. Unless, of course, if you're a rabid world-hating fanboy. In which case, Christ, grow up.
Anyway. Sony, probably only after Nintendo, is one of the biggest and most important companies in the whole shebang that is the videogames industry. It reinvented the way we played with PlayStation, pushed boundaries with PS2 and, er... well. Despite PS3's first faltering steps, Sony isn't about to quit now - by contrast, the Microsoft/Nintendo/Sony battle has only just started.
PUBLISHER SCORE: 80%
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THE STUDIOS
Polyphony Digital| Original studio
Yes, yes, the Gran Turismo guys. Amazingly, though, despite the first GT having been released roughly a decade ago, we're still waiting on Gran Turismo 5. And online play. In between car-nography releases, though Polyphony also found time for bike-sim Tourist Trophy.
Studio score: 82%
SCE Studio Liverpool| Acquired 1993
Formerly (and, for us, preferably) known as Psygnosis, this studio brought techno neon-fest Wipeout to PlayStation, as well as the criminally forgotten Colony Wars. Studio Liverpool also holds Sony's F1 series, and is currently working on a PS3 Wipeout, due sometime next year.
Studio score: 75%
SCE London Studio | Founded 1993
The Getaway was created by Sony's London-based dev team, but this studio is also responsible (interpret that as you like) for EyeToy, SingStar, This is Football, World Tour Soccer and Hardware: Online Arena.
Studio score: 74%
Zipper Interactive | Founded 1995
The dependable quality of Zipper's SOCOM squad action series (particularly the early instalments) still hasn't been enough to earn it the sort of reputation it deserves. Which is quite sad, really.
Studio score: 77%
Incognito| Founded 1999
Though part of a larger SCE studio structure, Incognito's super-high quality multiplayer blast Warhawk and David Jaffe's involvement as producer/designer more than gives it the clout to exist (at least in our minds) as a separate, instantly recognisable studio.
Studio score: 80%
Team ICO| Founded pre-2001
For any other developer, a back catalogue of two games wouldn't be nearly enough to build a quality reputation on. But those two games are Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, two of the most cohesive and brilliant titles ever made. The thought of Team ICO's PS3 project is enough to make us weak at the knees.
Studio score: 91%
Naughty Dog| Acquired 2001
The creator of Crash Bandicoot, who for a short time became Sony's semi-official mascot, has also made a huge impression on the platform genre with its jokey, cartoon-style Jak and Daxter series. Its newest title however, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, is a wholly different but similarly accomplished outing.
Studio score: 82%
Guerilla Games| Acquired 2004
Guerilla is another developer with only a handful of games to its name, but an already huge reputation. Killzone wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but was still a big hit, and PSP's Killzone Liberation was an underrated gem. Meanwhile, PS3's Killzone 2 looks better every time we see it.
Studio score: 63%
SCE Worldwide Studios| Founded 2005
Headed by Phil "Tallest man in gaming" Harrison, SCE Worldwide Studios is the umbrella home for Sony's old Santa Monica studios, the creator of the massively successful action series God of War, and several other dev teams.
Studio score: 94%
Evolution Studios| Acquired 2007
Along with BigBig (the dev team behind PSP actioner Pursuit Force), Evolution was picked up by Sony only a few months ago. You'll know it as the MotorStorm developer, but Evolution also created the WRC: World Rally Championship series.
Studio score: 77%
