All software companies over a certain size seem to fall into three categories based on which personalities are dominant within the company. The characteristics of the software they produce also reflect these categories.

The first are the producer-centric companies. Microsoft, for example, is a company that is driven by producers. (Or managers.) In a producer driven company the products are often large and there is significant infrastructure. These companies can often deliver the largest software products, built by huge teams. They aim for mass market appeal. Producer-driven companies care about their bottom line before anything else and their corporate culture discourages risk-taking.

Second are the designer-centric companies. Designer-centric companies produce software that is incredible to use. Everything about the design of their products is impeccable. Apple is the perfect example. These companies are run by perfectionists and quality is their first concern. They often serve a niche or hardcore audience with their products, but that audience doesn’t just use the products—they love the products.

Third: engineer-centric companies. These companies are built on a bedrock of technology that none of their competitors can match. They produce high-quality products, but usually only for themselves and other engineers. Occasionally they get lucky with a technology that is mass-market and when they do they are phenomenally successful. These companies’ great strength is their ability to innovate. Only engineer-centric companies can create the Next Big Thing. Microsoft used to be an engineer-centric company; Google is still in this stage of its development, though it will probably start becoming producer-centric soon.

These categorizations can also be applied to the game industry:
Producer-centric: EA (Though certain EA studios might be classified otherwise.)
Designer-centric: Blizzard, Firaxis
Engineer-centric: Epic, id, Valve

It seems like there also should be a category for the other major role in these studios: artists. But I can’t think of a single artist-centric company. My explanation for this omission is that either the personality of most artists just isn’t conducive to running a company or, more likely, I’m an idiot and I’m overlooking all the wonderful artist-centric game studios and software companies out there.

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