Fast Company has released their list of the Top 10 most innovative companies in gaming for 2018, and the list features both Nintendo and the makers of Gloomhaven. The list is part of the larger list, “The World’s Most Innovative Companies 2018 Honorees By Sector”.
“The World’s Most Innovative Companies” list is one of the most high-profile features put forward by the well-regarded magazine and online presence. Fast Company, in the past, has called to attention growing trends such as Humble Bundle’s melding of game bundles and charity, and the gamification of exercise or other everyday tasks. With Nintendo in the lead spot and Cephalofair bringing up the rear for 2018, the list is rounded out by Activision Blizzard for their e-sports league, Intermedia Labs for the HQ Trivia phenomenon, Twitch, Super Evil Megacorp, Amino Apps, IMAX, Scopely, and the Punch Bowl Social restaurant chain.
Nintendo tops the gaming list for a number of reasons. The revitalization of its hardware focus with the home/handheld console hybrid, the Switch, is the chief reason– as it continues to sell in great numbers. The Nintendo Labo was pointed to as a clear indication of the company’s creative whimsy. Fast Company’s explanation also focuses on the recent moves Nintendo has made to dramatically increase their profile: teaming with Universal theme parks for Mario-based rides and areas, and the deal with Illumination to create a Mario CGI feature film in the near future. Cephalofair makes the list on the runaway success of its flagship game, Gloomhaven. The game, which was a monster success through Kickstarter, currently ranks as the best-rated board game of all-time on BoardGameGeek.com. A stand-alone prequel titled Founders of Gloomhaven is slated for early 2018.
Despite Nintendo’s easing into the FTP mobile market, they have continued to innovate and expound upon the quirky qualities that has made the company a beloved entertainment icon– with the Labo cardboard companion to the Switch being the latest example. It is difficult to proclaim them as being innovative for finally coming to the conclusion that adorable and long-running franchise properties that translate well across languages and borders would make for good theme park and animated movie fare. While the stigma of the Bob Hoskins-led Super Mario Bros. surely lingered over any feature film decisions, a foray into CGI movies was a logical move given even the cutscenes in Mario games. Cephalofair’s inclusion is a testament to the complex and innovative Gloomhaven, but also to the cultural moment that board games are having worldwide. The time to pronounce the movement as a fad has passed, and it is now clear that well-designed games for adults and children alike will continue to be a staple in spite of the trend towards digital entertainment over physical.
