Just before the New Years break, 4Gamer posted its annual mega feature looking back at the year prior and forward to the year to come. This year the site interviewed 80 developers, asking them to name their top game, entertainment content and personality from 2011, and to share a preview of what's to come in 2012.

Below, you'll find some of the responses. Visit the 4Gamer article for pics of all the developers and, if you read Japanese, further commentary from the responders.

Also be sure and check out last year's feature here.

Here are a few trends and news bits to look out for:

• Popular responses for top game were Skyrim and Dark Souls
• Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica was a popular response in the entertainment category. Steve Jobs was a popular response in the personality category.
• Fumito Ueda was listed without a company name
• Binary Domain will be getting a demo.
• There are some hints that DmC will get either a demo or a demo event where it can be sampled in advance.
• Vita's Shinobido 2 will have download content and a demo this month.
• The new game Gust teased a couple of weeks back is, as expected, a collaborative project with Flight Unit. It will be a completely original title (that presumably means it won't be Ar Tonelico)

Takumi Iguchiya

Arc System Works Director/Programer -- Work on Persona 4 The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena (Director), Arcana Heart 3 (PS3/X360 -- Director), BlazBlue Series (Lead Programmer)

• Top Game of 2011: Dark Souls. He joked that the reason for this is that Skyrim had yet to be released when he he was asked (the article was written on December 7)
• Challenges For 2012: Said that he'll be working hard on Persona 4 The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena. He said to look forward to the fighting part from Arc System Works and the story part from the Persona team.

Toshimichi Mori

Arc System Works Producer -- BlazBlue Series, Guilty Gear Series

• Top Game of 2011: Gears of War 3.
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011 PlayStation Vita's release, and Uncharted series.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He said that he hopes to challenge a variety of things. He wants to personally challenge a particular genre. He added that he'd like to, if possible, make the next entry in the BlazBlue series and asked that fans give their voice of support.

Shouji Meguro

Index/Atlus Director, Chief Composer

• Top Game of 2011: Disney Land Adventure. Last year, his response was PlayStation Move's Nikudan.
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Steve Jobs. Meguro has been using a Mac for all his composition work. He first got a Mac 18 years back. He said that he's a bit worried about Apple product from next year on...
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: This year, he worked on Persona 4 work, for the anime Persona 4, Persona 4 The Golden and Persona 4 The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena. These will be released in 2012. He believes there they may be able to announce a game that's not Persona 4, but he asks that players enjoy the three Persona 4 titles.

A few developers listed Catherine as their top pic for 2011.

Shigenobu Urano

Alchemist CEO

• Top Game of 2011: All popular social games
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Fringe 3rd Season
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Mentioned that Model Fashion Audition will be released in North America, Europe and Asia. Also said that he hopes Gal Gun on PS3 will sell 10 million copies throughout the universe.

Mr. Hiraki

Alvion Director -- Malicious

• Top Game of 2011: Dark Souls
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Siri
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Metal Gear Rising Revengeance (he admitted that it's not a person though)
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: They'll putting their effort into finishing the Vita version of Malicious, making sure to cover areas of complain they received about the PS3 version.

Dark Souls was a popular response for top game of 2011.

Tomonobu Itagaki

Valhalla Game Studios Chief Technology Officer -- Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive Xtreme

• Top Game of 2011: Call of Duty Modern Warfare Series, Battlefield Series
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011:District 9, Laputa (which was shown on television recently)
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: "Myself -- in a variety of senses."
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He said all the Valhalla staff are putting their all into Devil's Third. It's still a ways off, but he asked that we look forward to it.

Hajime Chikami

Experience Producer, CEO -- Labyrinth Xross Blood

• Top Game of 2011: Catherine
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: PC game Legend of Grimrock.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Experience is developing three titles in 2012. One of these is a new Xbox 360 game.

Yoshito Okamura

Gust Director -- Atelier Meruru

• Top Game of 2011: Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Steve Jobs.

Akira Tsuchiya

Gust Director/Sound/Value Business Manager -- Ar Tonelico Series

• Top Game of 2011: Portal 2
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Fringe
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He said that he will continue making games that are enjoyable and surprising. His next title will, naturally, be like this, he said.

Motohide Eshiro

Capcom Producer -- Ace Attorney Series, Okamiden

• Top Game of 2011: Battle Field 3
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Said he was impressed with the energy of the social game market for smartphones
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Valhalla Game Studios CEO Satoru Kanematsu because he's well informed about a variety of entertainment industry fields even outside of games, and he has a strong passion about game production.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said he would like to promote DmC Devil May Cry. He would like to give players an environment where they can play the game as quickly as possible and asked that we pay attention to upcoming information (I think he's hinting at either a demo or a demo event). Regarding Ace Attorney, he said that there will be a number of plans that will make fans of the series happy, starting with the Gyakuten Saiban 10th anniversary event on the 29th.

Masahiro Kawada

Capcom Producer -- Resident Evil Revelations, Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City

• Top Game of 2011: Infinity Blade. This is the game that gave him the most shock (although it was released last year, he admitted). For 2012, he says he's looking forward to Gravity Daze.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He mentioned Revelations and Raccoon City

Hironobu Takeshita

Capcom -- Producer. Ghost Trick, Monster Hunter 3G

• Top Game of 2011: Little Battler eXperience. Said he liked the developments across games, anime, manga and models which made the game extremely popular amongst kids. He himself watches the anime every week.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He mentioned Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney, saying that it looks like it will become a good product.

Ryota Niitsuma

Capcom Producer -- Marvel vs Capcom 3, Tatsunoko vs Capcom Series

• Top Game of 2011: Catherine. The game itself was fresh, but he also thought the marketing was extremely well done.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Admitting that Marvel vs Capcom 3 is more geared towards overseas audiences, he said that in 2012 he'd like to make a game that Japanese fans want. He also said that he'd like to continue trying out new genres, noting that he worked on Nazowakukan for 3DS.

Akira Yamaoka

Grasshopper Manufacture CCO -- Shadows of the Damned

• Top Game of 2011: Batman Arkham City
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: The movie Robot
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Lady Gaga and Jang-Keunsuk

Kou Shibusawa

Tecmo Koei General Producer -- Nobunaga's Ambition, Sangokushi, Kessen

• Top Game of 2011: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: AKB48
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Yasushi Akimoto, producer of AKB48. He wants to see what he does next.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that he's working on Ni-Oh and asked that fans look forward to it.

Yousuke Hayashi

Tecmo Games Team Ninja Leader -- Ninja Gaiden 3, Dead or Alive 5

• Top Game of 2011: Plants vs Zombies (iOS)
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Angry Birds
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: 2012 is the year of the dragon, or Ninja Gaiden's main character Ryu Hayabusa. Ninja Gaiden 3 will be released in March. Dead or Alive 5 will be released in the second half of the year.

Akari Uchida

Konami Love Plus Productions Senior Producer -- Love Plus series, Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side series, Tongari Boushi series

• Top Game of 2011: Mario Kart 7
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Fringe Season 3
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Fumito Ueda. He referred to Ueda as the "star of hope for domestic game creators."
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: 2012 is the 10th anniversary of the Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side series. Following the release of Girl's Side Premium 3rd Story on 3/15, they will have the first large scale event for the series that same month.

Nintendo's major year-end releases got a nod from a few developers.

Shinta Nojiri

Konami Producer -- Metal Gear Ghost Babel, Never Dead, Metal Gear Acid, Boktai

• Top Game of 2011: Groove Coaster (iOS)
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He said that he'd like to try out something different in 2012, maybe something targeting elementary school kids.

Shingo Mukaitouge

Konami Producer -- Frontier Gate, Beyond the Labyrinth, Terror of the Stratus, Genso Suikoden

• Top Game of 2011: Zelda Skyward Sword
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica. This is the first time since Evangelion that he's been shocked by a TV anime.

Masaki Yoneyama

Konami Director -- Beyond the Labyrinth

• Top Game of 2011: Dark Souls
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Shigeru Miyamoto. He apparently went to the same school and in the same field as Miyamoto (although separated by many years)

Keiji Inafune

Comcept CEO/Concepter -- Mega Man series, Resident Evil 2, Onimusha series, Lost Planet series, Dead Rising series

• Top Game of 2011: Angry Birds
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: 2011 was the start of his new company, and they have been slowly making preparations. In 2012, he would like to gradually show the results.

Hiroshi Matsuyama

CyberConnect2 CEO -- .hack Series, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series, Solatorobo

• Top Game of 2011: Infinity Blade II. He says he cleared the original and was able to defeat one of the secret bosses, but couldn't defeat the other.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: The Solatorobo Appreciation Festival 2012 event is being held on January 7, he reminded. Also, the .hack 3D CG movie hits on 1/21. This will be an important lead in to the .hack project that was recently announced. He also mentioned "the February 23 of destiny," as this is the day that Asura's Wrath and Naruto Ultimate Storm Generation see simultaneous release. The Naruto game has over 60 minutes of new animation and an online mode that was built around the concept of long play life. Closing off, he said to expect a number of new announcements in 2012.

Taichi Inuzuka

Square Enix Producer -- Dragon Quest Monsters Joker Series

• Top Game of 2011: Dragon Collection (mobile)

Yosuke Saito

Square Enix Executive Producer -- NieR

• Top Game of 2011: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said they're developing Dragon Quest X while keeping two points in mind: make it a Dragon Quest just like normal, and make it a Dragon Quest that's easy for anyone to play.

Takamasa Shiba

Square Enix Producer -- Drakengard, Lord of Vermilion, Lord of Apocalypse, Army Corps of Hell

• Top Game of 2011: The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said to expect a variety of announcements and releases in 2012.

Naoki Yoshida

Square Enix Producer/Director -- Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest Monsters Battle Road

• Top Game of 2011: The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. Says 2011 was his busiest year since birth, and outside of Skyrim, MH3rd is all he played.

Like Heavy Rain last year, Skyrim was the most frequently mentioned title in the top game category this year.

Yoshinori Terasawa

Spike Producer -- Danganronpa, Gachitora!, Way of the Samurai 4

• Top Game of 2011: Catherine
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said he's hard at work on Super Danganronpa 2 and Conception. He also noted hat 2012 will mark the birth of Spike Chunsoft.

Kazuhiro Watanabe

Spike Producer -- Shinobio 2, Kenka Bancho Series, Way of the Samurai Series

• Top Game of 2011: Grand Knights History
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Toshihiro Nagoshi. Said he's a fan of Nagoshi the person, and would like to have drinks with him some time.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that starting in January, they will release a demo and have download content for PlayStation Vita's Shinobido 2.

Youjiro Ogawa

Sega Producer -- Yakuza Black Panther Series

• Top Game of 2011: Portal2
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that development on Yakuza Black Panther 2 is nearing completion.

Satoshi Sakai

Sega Producer -- Phantasy Star Portable

• Top Game of 2011: The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: glee, Kamen Riders Fourze
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said they're putting their full effort towards starting official service for Phantasy Star Online 2 in 2012. There will be some major new unannounced elements in the second alpha test which begins in early 2012.

Daisuke Sato

Sega 1st CS R&D Division Sub Division Head

• Top Game of 2011: None (He was busy with his own titles)
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He said to look forward to Binary Domain, which will be released on 2/16. He suggested that players try it out in advance through an upcoming demo.

Toshihiro Nagoshi

Sega R&D Senior Creative Officer -- Yakuza, Super Monkey Ball, etc.

• Top Game of 2011: While he could name a number of game, there weren't really any that "stood out." He did find himself frequently surprised with how far smartphones could be pushed.
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: He paid close attention to Japanese politicians in the wake of the March tsunami.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He noted that while differences between the Japanese and international markets are accelerating, the whole world is sharing the trend of expanding mobile and social gaming. Within this, what will happen to the current game market? He believes the answer will present itself soon. For himself, he says that he'll make games in his natural form, sometimes going with the flow, sometimes going against it.

Daisaku Ikejiri

Sony Computer Entertainment Executive Producer -- Hot Shots Golf, Afrika

• Top Game of 2011: Super Mario 3D Land
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Transformers Dark Side of the Moon

Fumito Ueda

Creative Director of Last Guardian

• Top Game of 2011: Portal 2. He praised the game's natural and believable expression, but described one area of expression in particular as exceptional: the turret cube.
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: In movies, he said Never Let Me Go, True Grit, and Youkame no Semi remain in his memory. For television shows, he watched Hako x Tate.
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Steve Jobs
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: The Last Guardian is in development, he said, with the staff hoping to meet expectations even though with each game they taste the difficulties of creation.

Keiichiro Toyama

Sony Computer Entertainment Creative Director -- Gravity Daze

• Top Game of 2011: Saints Row
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Garage Band (iPad)

Masaaki Yamagiwa

Sony Computer Entertainment Associate Producer, Tokyo Jungle

• Top Game of 2011: Dark Soul
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Steve Jobs
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: He apologized for the long wait for Tokyo Jungle and said that many things will be announced early in the new year.

Shuhei Yoshida

Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President

• Top Game of 2011: Dark Souls
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Steve Jobs. For movies, he said Super 8, noting that the main heroine is cute.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said to expect lots of new software that make even more use of the Vita hardware.

Kotaro Uchigoshi

Chunsoft Director/Scenario -- 999, Good People Die

• Top Game of 2011: Steins;Gate -- He played the game for the first time through the PSP version this year.
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica

Yuzo Amano

tri-Ace Producer -- Frontier Gate

• Top Game of 2011: Zelda Skyward Sword

Takayuki Suguro

tri-Ace Director -- Beyond the Labyrinth

• Top Game of 2011: Infamous 2

Toshihiro Kondo

Falcom CEO

• Top Game of 2011: Uncharted 3
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Steve Jobs. He recalled that Falcom originally started as an Apple product sales shop. The Falcom reception room still has a working Apple II set up.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Mentioned the recently announced Nayuta no Kiseki, saying that it will have a completely new cast of characters and will be filled with new challenges not seen in the past Kiseki games. Also mentioned Vita's Zero no Kiseki Full Voice Version. In addition to the voice, this will have various elements updated to match the Vita's functionality.

Hifumi Kouno

Nudemaker CEO/Director -- Clock Tower, Steel Battalion (Tekki), Terror of Stratus

• Top Game of 2011: Minecraft
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Nudemaker is at the start of a three year project

Yozo Sakagami

Namco Bandai 1st Business Division 2nd Strategy Division Manager -- Idolmaster, Family Ski

• Top Game of 2011: Uncharted 3
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Dexter Season 5
• Person he most paid attention to in 2011: Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that he'd like to try out a variety of things on PlayStation Vita

ntny

Flight Unit Art Director -- ShiningForce EXA, Ar Tonelico 1-3, Atelier series 3D movies

• Top Game of 2011: Portal2
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Little bits of information about their new title have started to appear (See this story). The new game is a completely original title that takes a number of challenges. Look forward to the new Gust x Flight Unit title, said Ntny.

Atsushi Inaba

Platinum Games Producer -- Anarchy Reigns, Vanquish

• Top Game of 2011: L.A. Noire
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: Nintendo 3DS. Described the system as a revolution in entertainment.
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that he believes 2012 will be the ultimate year for Platinum Games.

Hideki Kamiya

Platinum Games Game Designer -- Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Okami, Bayonetta

• Top Game of 2011: Nothing in particular
• Top Entertainment Content From 2011: 3D Classics on Nintendo 3DS
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Kamiya said that he would like to announce a new game and make a comeback on the game scene and be known as more than just some guy who posts on Twitter.

Jiro Ishii

Level-5 Director -- Time Travelers, Kamaitachi no Yoru, 428

• Top Game of 2011: Uncharted 3
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that Time Travelers is gradually coming together. He feels that they've crossed two initial hurdles: a story that can only be done in games, and a time travel work that can only be done in games. Also, they're on the final spurt of a new challenge for both Level-5 and himself, releasing a game simultaneously on three platforms.

Uncharted 3 got a few top game mentions.

Akihiro Hino

Level-5 CEO -- Inazuma Eleven, Layton, Ni no Kuni

• Top Game of 2011: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that Level-5 will release five new titles in 2012: Fantasy Life, Girl's RPG, Time Travelers, Guild 01 and Yokai Watch.

Yasumi Matsuno

Level-5 Director -- Final Fantasy Tactis, Tactics Ogre, Guild 01

• Top Game of 2011: Army of Darkness Defense (iOS)
• Challenge for 2012/Message to Fans: Said that he's working away at Crimson Shroud, one of the games in Guild 01. It's a simple and compact game, but it's being made with love. They're aiming to make it like a rich meaty food.