Best game developers of ALL time?

[F0X]

Mummelmann said:

Valve, Westwood, Bioware, Blizzard, Obsidian and Black Isle would disagree with you. You can't force people to "admit" that Nintendo are the best developers in the world on any subjective basis. In terms of renewing themselves, basically kick-starting digital distribution in gaming by themselves, allowing the most just and friendly developer environment the world has ever seen, several genre revolutions, some incredible reviews and audience receptions and overall massive success over the past 12-15 years, Valve is easily bigger than Nintendo on global impact and all forms of value proposition and across many more platforms.

They have had a continous and steep upwards curve on all matters since 1997, almost no one in the world can claim the same, regardless of industry and past endeavours (which is where Nintendo gets the most cred, if we're honest).

Nintendo do things for Nintendo, great things no doubt but it still detracts from their objective and overall value proposition globally. So, no, no one has to admit anything.

I'm not doubting Valve clout as a publisher and digital retailer.

But as a game developer, they don't match up to Nintendo EAD. Looking at the most critically acclaimed games of all time, and the best-selling games of all time, EAD is heads and shoulders above everyone else. For a couple reasons:
1. EAD consists of many teams, each typically assigned a specific major, long-running franchise with large fanbases.
2. A long head start.

To me, Valve is a clear candidate for best developer of the past decade, thanks to HL2, Portal, Left 4 Dead, and Portal 2. But all time? Eh.