Molyneux: Pub Games 'glitch' intentional, with consequences

by Ross Miller { Sep 16th 2008 at 9:00AM }

While we're sure you've already constructed your Scrooge McDuck-esque pool of golden, nefariously-obtained Fable II Pub Games earnings, Peter Molyneux might be preparing to pull off the biggest gamer prank since the anti-Spore Rick Roll.

According to a quick blurb in IGN's Fable II preview, "Just be warned. Molyneux has said that the cheat was no accident and that those who used it to earn their money will be in for a surprise." Something tells us that "surprise" isn't being filthy rich in-game. Is he bluffing? We'll find out soon enough when our sea of coins is quickly drained from under us. Fable 2 is due out October 21.

Need more Fable 2? We can't blame you. Check out our hands-on with the first three hours of the game, as well as our interview with Peter Molyneux, in which he talks about his game, Too Human and Lionhead's "shocking" secret project.

Tags: cheating, exploit, fable-2, fable-2-pub-games, molyneux, peter-molyeux, prank, pub-games, punkd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Bomberman2008 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:05AM

I knew it
Lol

That8 @ Sep 16th 2008 2:24PM

"If you are wondering about a 'much talked about' exploit, just ignore it (and know that a patch is on the way)."
- by Sam

"When you do build up debt in the Fable II Pub Games and merge these characters, your debt will be outstanding with the Pub Games Masters at one of Albion's many different pubs. It won't affect the wealth of your Fable II Hero character in a negative way, but owing too much money in Albion is considered a crime, for which you will need to pay a fine - or do community service." - by Sam

http://community.lionhead.com/blogs/fable_2_development/archive/2008/08/19/3021565.aspx

I really doubt they put the glitch in there on purpose. If they did however, this is some straight BAD PR!

flameofdoom666 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:12AM

So they can track who did it- or they are basing this on the amount of gold acquired?

domgbrown @ Sep 16th 2008 9:22AM

I believe it wasn't intentional and that they are just going to automatically give you some bad karma so that your character starts off on the evil side if you have "too much" gold.

J.Goodwin @ Sep 16th 2008 10:40AM

Yeah, earning free evil points. :D

Cole Mullenbach @ Sep 16th 2008 9:16AM

HAHA this is awesome! I wonder if they just added it later and pretended it was intentional.

Hot$auce_Magik @ Sep 16th 2008 9:20AM

If true, that's really cool. I mean it could mean the difference between how you look when you start. Or maybe it could change you're whole childhood scenario to be a poor whipping boy, rather than just a good natured little scamp.

Tim @ Sep 16th 2008 9:21AM

thats why my glitch money for is the second time I play it, when I am going to play the "bad" role. I think it will be a lot more fun to be good, and poor, and bad and rich.

Boffo the Sock @ Sep 16th 2008 9:23AM

Winners never cheat, and cheaters never win.

LordChimp @ Sep 16th 2008 9:31AM

Tell that to the New England Patriots.

j.howlett @ Sep 16th 2008 9:31AM

that sounds like loser talk

Eric H @ Sep 16th 2008 9:32AM

Except in real life.

chenry @ Sep 16th 2008 10:04AM

Winners never quit. Quitters never win. So who said quit while your ahead?

Boffo the Sock @ Sep 16th 2008 10:30AM

@LordChimp
Need I remind you that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl last year?

@j.howlett
How else am I supposed to ease the pain of sucking?

@chenry
Quitting while your ahead is also known as forfeiting. So it was obviously a loser who said that.

Top Cat @ Sep 16th 2008 11:10AM

bitter jets fan alert

...and i'm not even american!

Boffo the Sock @ Sep 16th 2008 11:44AM

Bitter Jets fan? Where? It couldn't possibly be me. I'm a Bucs fan, and I'm hardly bitter because there would be no point. It would be like being a bitter Cardinals or Lions fan, except that the Bucs have actually been to and won a Super Bowl game.

Spiza @ Sep 16th 2008 11:49AM

You guys really need to see the south park episode on cheating.

Rodney McKay @ Sep 16th 2008 1:50PM

"How do I REEEEEACH these KEEEEEEEEDS!"

LordChimp @ Sep 16th 2008 4:34PM

I can see it now, people who are fans of the Patriots are mad and trying to bring down my post. Geez, it's not like I was the first person to talk about their alleged cheating.

Grumpy @ Sep 16th 2008 9:23AM

I call BS. They are covering their @sses. They couldn't easily patch the glitch and now they say it will affect the actual game, which likely won't be true.

Dave @ Sep 16th 2008 9:36AM

If true, this is awesome! Your true character will reflect your in-game character. Very cool.

theturtle363 @ Sep 16th 2008 8:55PM

yeah, I don't think cheating on an online game that only has consequences in a game makes you a bad person, or really have any affect on character at all

F1 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:38AM

(Nervously looks at 360) Please dont hurt me like that!

Donald @ Sep 16th 2008 9:42AM

Im glad I never cheated on the game. I know my friend will be pissed.

Bo billy bob Jr. @ Sep 16th 2008 9:53AM

I'm sure this is BS.
Now that everyone knows, what is stopping them from just deleting the save file or not linking the account when they get the game?

Duke @ Sep 16th 2008 10:33AM

Well, if they dont link the file than the gold they got will be for nothing anyway. So their cheating failed.

BlaznGoldstein (Electric 6 Defense Force) @ Sep 16th 2008 10:49AM

Or, will we be able to import the gold/items with one character, give it to a friend, swap characters, and then receive my ill-gotten gains?

MC Double Def DP @ Sep 16th 2008 2:01PM

thank you BlaznGoldstein!

angryemu @ Sep 16th 2008 10:02AM

I call shenanigans on this one.

deaftly @ Sep 16th 2008 10:04AM

Im calling you a cheater!

Top Cat @ Sep 16th 2008 11:11AM

*grabs a broom*

capt_carl @ Sep 16th 2008 10:04AM

Knowing Molyneux, it's real.

MrKniceGuy @ Sep 16th 2008 10:32AM

I would have to agree. Sounds real to me. It would be a very EASY thing to patch if it weren't (I was wondering what was taking so long).

todd @ Sep 16th 2008 10:12AM

YA what-ev-er

Brother N @ Sep 16th 2008 10:24AM

Called this. http://ranttheory.blogspot.com/2008/08/fable-ii-pub-games-broken-or-devious.html

xGeneral DEATHx @ Sep 16th 2008 2:01PM

Want a cookie?

OTAM @ Sep 16th 2008 3:10PM

Good call man!

Aero @ Sep 16th 2008 10:51AM

I read somewhere before that using the glitch would mean the in-game characters would see you as a cheater and less likely to trust you.

Snowblind @ Sep 16th 2008 10:52AM

This is good, I'm glad there will be some consequences for those who cheated. But how will the game be able to tell who cheated? If it just peanalises people who clearly cheated because they have a ridiculous amount of gold, but what about everyone else?

It is VERY easy to peform the glitch by accident, my brother did it at least twice, unintentionally, and I did it myself more than a few times (although once I placed the bet and then put it down, instead of up, so I was basically screwing myself over).

If this affects everyone, then it's going to be very stupid, considering how easy it is to do by accicent.

AoE @ Sep 16th 2008 3:46PM

Just out of curiosity... why are you glad there are consequences for people who cheated in a singleplayer game?

Personally I think this is pretty funny, but I can't say I really have an opinion on what other gamers do in single-player games. Please explain why it bothers you, I'm genuinely curious (or anyone for that matter who takes offense at people cheating in single player games... please enlighten me)

Courtney @ Sep 16th 2008 3:51PM

IF the glitch is intentional, then it would make sense that the system would be able to track the number of times the glitch was used. Would seem to make sense that whatever the outcome is in F2 might be related to the number of times the glitch was used:

1-3 Times - No effect, probably accidental
4-10 Times - Modest effect
11+ Times - Major effect

That would seem like a fair way to do it.

It would be funny if there was an Achievement associated with it:

New Achievement Unlocked: Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater

JLe21 @ Sep 16th 2008 10:54AM

killing people and stealing stuff is so much cooler then being the good guy and dammit i kinda knew it was to easy to cheat bravo... i tink more games need to do this allow players to cheat but make them pay somehow... its probably gonna be a nickname people call you

Kyattsuai @ Sep 16th 2008 11:27AM

Hopefully it's more than that, since Link's Awakening already did that 15 years ago.

xtremeholymuffin @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:21PM

Yeah, they should make the shopkeeper who you're indebted to use a giant death beam attack on you when you enter the store.

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 16th 2008 10:56AM

My guess is that your character begins destitute with broken fingers because he tried to rip off Ace Rothstein's casino. :p

SneezyPorcupine @ Sep 16th 2008 1:24PM

Beautiful Casino reference. Its actually kind of scary cuz I was watching that movie a couple of nights ago for the 1000th time. Its such an epic film.

hsx5 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:27AM

If they were to do something like this intentionally couldn't they have come up with something better than what seems like nothing more than a glitch/exploit?

Couldn't they have made it so you could hide cards up your sleeve or something on Fortunes Tower and if you use it too much you get caught and get some gold taken away and possibly start off the game a little bit evil. But nope! Apparantly the dealer is so dim-witted you can trick him into taking only 150 gold but paying you according to a 1500 gold bet. Every. Single. Time.