Some video game companies have become household names over the years. Big-name publishers and developers like Activision, Naughty Dog and EA have etched their place in video game history as some of the most successful video game companies of all time. However, just because a company is successful doesn't always mean it's the cream of the crop. Sometimes gamers need to dig a little deeper to find passionate video game studios who pour their heart and souls into each game. Video game fans would be hard-pressed to find a more passionate publisher than Working Designs.

Working Designs is a video game publisher that specializes in localizing Japanese video games for American audiences. It entered the industry in the early 1990s and quickly became a favorite among hardcore gamers. The company built up a reputation for releasing polished RPGs with extravagant packaging. Its common for a Working Designs game to come with loads of collectibles like art books, maps, soundtracks, and other knick-knacks that appeal to collectors. Most of the games also had impressive foil box art that would glimmer in the sunlight. The publisher's passion for gaming made it stand out from the competition and meshed with gamers more than most other video game companies at the time.

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The underground video game company is best known for its work on the Sega CD and Sega Saturn. Some of the best RPGs on both systems came from Working Designs. Amazing titles such as Lunar: The Silver Star Story, Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean, Dragon Force, and Magic Knight Rayearth were all published by Working Designs. Although these games aren't the most popular RPGs on the planet, they quickly became cult classics and built up respectable fanbases for their polished gameplay and gripping storylines.

One of the main reasons Working Designs focused on Sega systems is the feud between Sony Computer Entertainment America's then-President Bernie Stolar and Working Designs President Victor Ireland. Bernie Stolar had no interest in bringing JRPS to the original PlayStation and told Ireland that the Working Designs RPGs didn't help the Sega systems in any form or fashion. This was before Final Fantasy VII debuted and kicked off the RPG boom of the mid to late 1990s. Insulted by this, Ireland decided to concentrate on making games for Sega despite its dwindling appeal. Coincidentally, Sega hired Stolar in 1996 after Sony let him go, resulting in Ireland jumping ship back to Sony.

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Working Designs continued having issues with Sony despite Stolar's departure. Although Working Designs published a slew of amazing RPGs on the original PlayStation, including Alundra, Lunar: Silver Star Complete and the Arc the Lad Collection, the company had a hard time getting their games approved by Sony. Many Working Designs games utilized 2D graphics instead of 3D. Sony didn't believe its games showed off the PlayStation's true power, causing friction between the two companies. Sometimes Sony would force the company to bundle its games together instead of releasing them on their own, making it harder for Working Designs to turn a profit.

As the years went by, Sony's lackluster approval process, along with a sharp decline in sales, lead to Working Designs closing its doors in 2005. Victor Ireland released a public statement explaining that a complicated turn of events dealing with its upcoming PlayStation 2 titles led to the publishers' untimely demise.

Working Designs is one of those rare video game companies that put everything it had into its games. The publisher oozed passion, putting quality and enjoyable experiences above all else. Although Working Designs isn't a household name, it is considered one of the best JRPG publishers by many hardcore video game fans. It's a shame Sony didn't utilize Working Designs to its full potential. It would be interesting to see how the company would have performed if given more freedom. Nevertheless, Working Designs lives on in the hearts of its adoring fans.

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