6. Todd Howard
Bethesda


On Xbox 360, Oblivion has sold over 800,000 copies in the U.S., generating $50 million in revenues. Todd Howard, the game’s executive producer, has spent four years on an RPG that captured many gamers who did not see themselves as the types to lope around grassy fields, collecting mushrooms and perhaps doing the odd bit of combat. The game’s goal was to allow players to “live another life” and it certainly succeeded. This is what makes Oblivion one of the most important games of the decade, as well as one of the best games. Oblivion has swept just about every awards ceremony you can name and is still the highest rated Xbox 360 game of all time according to Gamerankings.com. For Bethesda, it was a great way to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary.