Winner: Shuhei Yoshida
If you were new to the games industry, and casually checked out Shuhei Yoshida’s Twitter feed, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was simply one of the best PR workers out there, answering a multitude of consumer queries with refreshing frankness and a dash of his trademark wit at all hours of the day.
But Shuhei’s actual job is that of President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, meaning he is essentially in charge of all of PlayStation’s first party offerings, helping bring about masterpieces like The Last of Us, Uncharted and… The Last Gua– well a lot of awesome games. He helps oversee a publisher who routinely puts out GOTY contenders, invests heavily in new IP, and isn’t afraid of taking risks.
It’s hard not to fall for the affable gaming exec – even his colleagues find him cute – but perhaps what is most likeable about Shuhei is his ability to admit PlayStation’s shortcomings, as well as his clear love of gaming that even extends to other platforms. Just the other day he said that Super Mario 3D World was really good, that he owned two Wii Us, that the struggling platform was just getting started, and that “Nintendo helps raise and teaches the fun of games to people just starting out. I think that’s a very important thing in this industry.”
But while he can be kind to other platforms, Shuhei has a darker side – that of a troll. And it’s hilarious.
Shu, we love you.
Runners Up:
- Troy Baker
- Shahid Ahmad*
- Adam Boyes
*Happy birthday!
Be sure to stick to PlayStation LifeStyle for the next few hours as our Best of 2013 Awards week comes to a close, and for more on our awards and the process behind them, go here. For all the awards given out so far, go here.
