Peter Molyneux became creative director of MGS Europe three months ago

by Ben Gilbert on Jun 4th 2009 7:00AM

According to sources at GamesIndustry.biz, Peter Molyneux has been promoted to European creative director for Microsoft Game Studios. Strangely, it appears as though he was promoted to the position as far as three months ago. Phil Spencer, general manager at MGS, confirmed the promotion, and said, "the best way for us to make sure our platforms evolve in a way that enables the best creative experiences is to make sure our creative leaders are closely tied into the work that's going on with the platform team."

Molyneux says the promotion won't put him in a position to turn down game titles but rather to foster creative development. Molyneux said, "I'm definitely not going to go in and say 'this is a dumb idea' and 'this is a good idea' ... I'm more about making sure they really are doing the experiences they're passionate about, because passion is really central." The man responsible for Joystiq's 2008 Game of the Year award will remain in charge of Lionhead Studios.

Source

Tags: business, development, gamesindustry.biz, lionhead-studios, microsoft, microsoft-game-studios, peter-molyneux, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (39)

I think this is great. Say what you will about the guy, but he was some really great ideas (he just needs to hype them less :P) and really deserves this.

I think he should just leave the game hyping to someone else. He really can't restrain himself from explaining in every detail about how everything he touches will shine with the brightness of a thousand suns, and how it will be bathed in solid gold and then delivered to you on a platter made of the finest jewels you've ever seen! And then it falls short of the impossibly high standards he set for us.

But congrats on the promotion Mr. Molyneux and I hope we see some of your marvelous ideas coming to fruition in the next few years!

His ideas, coupled with the execution-power of Valve, Naughty Dog or Bungie would be epic

Indeed Baron. By the way, yes he shoots for the stars, but at least he delivers on some level. Folks act like the Fable series is a complete failure when in fact I've had more fun in those RPG's than the last 3 Final Fantasy games combined.

However I do agree he should keep his enthusiasm to a bare minimum. I mean the Milo prototype is just WAAAAAAAY too good to be true. If it even falls short a little poor Peter will be ripped apart by critics.

Oh no I agree he and Lionhead can deliver. I loved The Movies and Fable, haven't played 2 yet but intend to if it comes to PC or I get a 360.

Unplugged's comment just made my day! XD

Also yay for Peter! he really deserves this!

Hey...shoot for the stars so if you fall, you'll land on a cloud. Nothing wrong with that.

Exception: Sony's Home. They shot for the stars and still somehow fell on their asses.

Anyway, good for PM. Congratulations! Make the technology behind Milo available and prove the haters wrong!

MOOVING ON UPPP.
Good Luck Peter Megazord.

Giving Molyneux even more ideas to over-sell and overhype? Yay...
The man's got a patchy history, though rarely does he drop into the poor end of the spectrum, but several of his projects have had a distinct aroma of "meh" about them once you get hold of them after being promised the earth.

Ya he might, "overhype", some shit, but at least he still dares to dream and come up with original or unique idea, (whether they come to fruition or not).

He could instead be like a lot of other companies, *cough* EA *cough*, and just keep rehashing the same shit year after year like clockwork.

I applaud anyone on the planet that does not give up on their dreams, (I know I went all, "after school special", but who cares because I actually mean it).

I still say he throws out some average games, Black and white 1 and 2 had some fairly serious "issues". Yes they had potential and some sparks of greatness but they didn't deliver fully, same as Fable, though I haven't played Fable 2 or The movies so I'm not up to speed on his latest work.
Like so many things, he was better in the olden days. Populous 1 and 2? No problems from me with those!

anyone else read MGS and metal gear solid? :P

lol me 2, took me a while to understand what is going on

I was incredibly confused for a second.

Kojima Molyneux tag team deluxe action

I was like huh? He's in charge of Metal Gear? But why?

more like Milo Gear Solid

There should be a law that forced game news reporters to not use the MGS acronym away from a Metal Gear Solid context.

This is both good and bad... As Unplugged mentioned, he really needs to get off the hype train, but unfortunately his new 'job' places him in a position where his entire, well, job really is just too hype everything he dreams off whilst in the bath/on the loo/whatever multi-millionaire visionaries do (otherwise how could they justify his salary?)

Maybe he could push the company in new innovative directions (although Microsoft is the only company who seem to be chasing the fundamental 'games console' part of their business plan with any serious conviction, what with all their recent developments being pure 'me too' output) but it really just seems like an excuse to piss money up the wall on PR, marketing and hype with nothing to show for it.

I'm not sure how you could complain about Microsoft doing a "me too" strategy and not Sony. Natal was at least a lot more original, they've taken the basic concept of Nintendo's motion controls/gaming for everyone and gone with a completely different direction with it, where as Sony's isn't really any different from the Wii-remote.

And things like Facebook, Twitter,Last.fm, TV on demand and generally the whole online community aspect are pretty much exclusive to Microsoft - anything Sony's been doing in that department, is just copying what MS has already done, with the exception of Home (and even then, using MSN or simple messages is a much better method of meeting and orginising games with friends, IMO, Home is just a distraction). Which isn't a bad thing, just pointing out your error.

When the most creative thing this man can come up with is to talk with a 9 year old boy MGS is in trouble. Come on, what if Milo was a space alien, a criminal in an interrogation (The Usual Suspects style) or someone who would be fascinating to talk to like Leonardo Da Vinci. Anything but a boring little kid who obviously was never told not to talk to strangers!

You're absolutely right.

Why wasn't Schindler's List set in space?

Ohh! Space Jews! Pchew! Pchew!

I wonder if getting a speech from him as a boss is extremely patronizing.

yeah, but he's got a cool accent.

Man, oh man, oh man.... I recall reading this guy's article about his trip to a Japanese gaming expo, in a British gaming magazine titled 'Super Play', dedicated to pure Nintendo goodness.

He had bought something from the vending machine which made him puke and feel nauseated all day. He was a much smaller fry back then compared to now a days!

Personally though, I believe he is very much over rated, as much as I do like him - apart from his effusively over hyped talk - his dreams would not be realized without his team. So does the above apply to his likes, like; Kojima san and Miyamoto san as well, especially when in this day and age, it's the team that delivers the FINAL product, as opposed to a single person doing just that.

Anyway, kudos to his promotion though.

I agree about Kojima BUT Miyamoto pretty much single handedly brings the idea to the table and executes it....lol....Obviously they have star teams also but Miyamoto is the best designer EVER period no questions asked. Dude is just a genious

It seems to me like the progression of things is thus:

1. Man comes up with great idea, and slaves over a computer with a small team to make it happen.
2. Game sells like gangbusters
3. Man makes sequel
4. Man never has to code another line again, but gets all the credit nonetheless, and continues to come up with the basic ideas/plot/script of the game

For one I applaud the idea...MS needs GREAT leaders and developers in high places if they want to get to the next level as a Game studio like Sony and Nintendo. This is a step towards getting consistent games from their first party guys for the next decade. Congrats Peter M. If your responsible for any games CLOSE to Fable 2 you already did your job!

=D I laughed out loud when I read this! Sometimes the internet never stops amazing me with the amount of... interesting perspectives. I guess it's the way this kid doesn't even realize how biased he's being.

Dad, I thought the surprise was going to be that you and mommy Spielberg were pregnant with baby brother, @MiloMolyneux.....http://twitter.com/MiloMolyneux

I love that man!!!

Peter is a legend without a doubt.

I think Molyneux will make a great creative director. The thing that is undeniable about him is his passion. We he speaks about games, it is easy to get caught up in the "hype" because he appears so passionate about his work/ideas. He is definitely a visionary and I think that kind of person can drive this industry further. Good luck Pete!

YOU WILL SEE SUCH PRETTY THINGS

...I need to stop reading 'MGS' as 'MGS'.....

That's fucking fantastic news! Maybe some of the magic/crazy will seep into other European MS games. So who'd he replace, or is this a new position just for him (with no raise; times are tough).

That's fucking fantastic news! Maybe some of the magic/crazy will seep into other European MS games. So who'd he replace, or is this a new position just for him (with no raise; times are tough)?

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Peter Molyneux became creative director of MGS Europe three months ago

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