Molyneux: Fable destroyed developer lives, Fable II not so much

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 17th 2009 at 7:00PM }

The original Fable was a home wrecker, according to Lionhead guru Peter Molyneux. The developer with the buttery British voice tells Develop that the first Fable "just burnt people's lives" and "destroyed the team." He says the excessively long work hours ruined marriages, and that the studio just can't do that anymore.

Molyneux is happy to report that Fable II wasn't such a demon -- well, not until the "very, very end," when it consumed weekends (which is pretty standard). He states that, for the most part, the studio was empty on Sundays. We'd ask how he knows that, but we feel the answer involves him sadly sitting alone in the office over the weekends. Poor, poor Peter.

Tags: fable, fable-2, molyneux, peter-molyneux

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Latin_Trident @ Mar 17th 2009 7:04PM

don't you mean "rich, rich Peter"?

ittybittygirl @ Mar 17th 2009 7:05PM

I do seem to recall an oddly large amount of "Fable Babies" in the end credits...

Monkey Madness @ Mar 17th 2009 7:15PM

Was worth it in the end, I loved it and was in around my favorite game of the year last year tbh. I just hope the rumor about Fable 3 is true but Jonathon 'Woss' isn't in it because tbh it would ruin it for me.

Double J @ Mar 17th 2009 7:15PM

Great, now I have this image of Peter Molyneux sitting in a big office with his big double doors open staring out at nothing while the song "You're The Inspiration" plays in the background.

The Baron @ Mar 17th 2009 7:20PM

I can't think of a single thing about that image which isn't fantastic.

offday @ Mar 17th 2009 7:16PM

Gez, I'd to hate see what it would have done if we had got all the stuff that Monlyneux said would be in it.

John @ Mar 17th 2009 7:19PM

How about doing some real reporting and ask him about the saved game bug on the Xbox360 version.

Nothing like putting in 40+ hours on a game and have the save file become corrupted and being told by the only fix is to start over...

Give me a break...

John

Longhorn4Life (PSN MariusElijah) @ Mar 17th 2009 7:22PM

Im guessing the comment above me was made by someone named John

Longhorn4Life

Vcize @ Mar 17th 2009 7:44PM

I got the same bug in GTA4. I wish more people would get it there so they would think about addressing it.

Shagittarius @ Mar 17th 2009 7:18PM

The extremely long hours due to bad management and game redesign are really the 2 major reasons I choose to no longer work in the games industry.

I have no pitty for those that cause it.

JeffM @ Mar 17th 2009 9:47PM

Yea- there are plenty of other engineering related jobs that don't suffer from the exact same types cyclical schedules- hopefully you found an excellent job in program management- keep the misguided on track, you know? :)

kentuckyfried @ Mar 17th 2009 9:54PM

Engineering may not be as bad as being in the games industry, but trust me...it's still a shit job that's just as cyclical.

devilsei @ Mar 17th 2009 7:34PM

Wow, no wonder Fable 1 was a lot better than 2 to me, they actually spent time making it.

Seriously, Fable 2 sucked, melee isn't deep, jobs are monotonous beyond what they need to be, co-op is a joke even when compared to games released years ago. And guns single-handedly ruined the game.

Here's a hint. Lvl 3 Time stop and headshots will beat out anything in the game, don't waste time with anything else.

Oh, forgot the fact that money is a joke in the game as well, and that skill potions ruined the game as much, if not even more so, than the rifles.

Markez @ Mar 17th 2009 8:23PM

Sounds like you put a lot of time in a game you apparently despise.

devilsei @ Mar 17th 2009 8:33PM

Oh, should I have not bought, played the game, or anything and hate on it?
I bought the game hoping it was good, I fell for Molyneux's hype a bit, I'll admit. But honestly, it didn't take much time to get to where I'm at. I haven't saved the second hero yet. In all actuality, I rarely played. I had several places which gave me a lot of money, that money went to potions and master cleaver and rifle, which outclassed any and all legendaries. The potions at the point I'm at give 60k to a pool.

I haven't beaten the game yet though, and you know why? My sister's got addicted to how overly simple the game is and beat it already. They agree too, though their logic is "it must suck cause we beaten it". The ending is so horribly anti-climatic, and the fact you can revive your dog with the worthless expansion basically removes the choice of endings and consequences.

But hey, sorry that I actually tried the game before saying it sucked :P

Markez @ Mar 17th 2009 8:37PM

sweet yeah, who cares, I hope you get banned for posting with two accounts and spamming your stupid website here on your 2nd post, www.spammingspammersucks.com, so yeah peace

devilsei @ Mar 17th 2009 8:42PM

What the hell are you talking about?

Markez @ Mar 18th 2009 1:11PM

You're well aware, but if it makes you feel good to act like you're not doing that, then so be it. At least they already removed your other comment.

devilsei @ Mar 18th 2009 6:39PM

What other comment? That one who copied what I post? Wow, how long have you been on the internet? Just how stupid are you?
If you actually look around on major gaming sites, MMORPG.com for example, some spammers actually copy a story from something, then throw in links into it. That way, they don't seem like spammers. Now, here's another lesson for you. The moderators and admins, and whoever else is in charge on this site, can see your IP Address. Now, if they saw me spamming, they'd of banned me, if I had multiple accounts, those would be banned. Yet here I am, posting still.

Oooh, I see... you must be a Molyneax fanboy, you don't like people referring to your god as anything else but brilliant and perfect, and here I am saying just why him and his games suck, and you can't argue with it. It must be driving you nuts so you resort to trying to relate me to a spammer. Check around moron, I post around on several areas of joystiq, I post on WoWinsider, and on Bigdownload too.

DangerMouse @ Mar 17th 2009 7:53PM

You're trying too hard.

In A World (XBL) @ Mar 17th 2009 8:01PM

This explains a lot. Fable 2 always seemed to be missing something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Turns out... that thing it was missing? Dedication. Unyielding, reckless dedication.

Markez @ Mar 17th 2009 8:25PM

Wow, you're a tremendous tool. You needed to create 2 different accounts to post the same thing twice?

Codex @ Mar 17th 2009 8:31PM

Worst thing they ever did was stop having fun and give in to microshit

And dropping the black and white series

one of my favourite games of all time :@

And for what

fable 2?

no

for the m$ war machine

Riley @ Mar 17th 2009 9:37PM

some spambots make me giggle

Negativecool @ Mar 17th 2009 10:11PM

Off topic:

That Fable pic is an exact mirror image of the experience I had when I gazed upon my dad's porn stash for the first time.

TroubleMaker @ Mar 17th 2009 10:42PM

ROFLMAO

devilsei @ Mar 18th 2009 2:40AM

"What is this strange power flowing through me... is this the power of a hero?"
"No my son, that is the power of your second head awakening, and soon, he shall lead you to booty..."
"I think I like booty daddy..."
"We all do son, unless you are a pirate..."

The Dark Wayne @ Mar 18th 2009 12:13PM

You had swords and gigantic hands as a child?

devilsei @ Mar 18th 2009 12:52PM

Dark Wayne, I need those gigantic hands to handle my sword *wink wink nudge nudge*

CH3BURASHKA @ Mar 17th 2009 10:29PM

Does this mean that Molyneux is the Devil himself? He seems only slightly disappointed that his video game idea ruined many a relationship, and therefore taking the births away from potential babies.

So what I'm trying to say is that Molyneux has participated in numerous pre-abortions. Hope you enjoy playing your blood-game.