Fable 3 PC playable at Microsoft's CES booth; release date still in darkness
by Christopher Grant 
on Jan 6th 2011 9:30PM
36
Reader Comments (36)
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:36PM SgtDookie said
I personally thought there was a bit of a lack of content from the 360 version,i know they now have some DLC but for me it was just too little too late.
Hopefully Lionhead will decide to give the DLC available on the Xbox marketplace to the PC users for free.Also hopefully they have cleared up alot of the bugs and glitches that plauged the 360 launch.
Hopefully Lionhead will decide to give the DLC available on the Xbox marketplace to the PC users for free.Also hopefully they have cleared up alot of the bugs and glitches that plauged the 360 launch.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:36PM Haggard said
Aww, can't we have 2 instead?
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:40PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said
Where's Alan Wake for the PC? Fable 3 was good, but I'd rather have Alan Wake.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:44PM Shadowbender said
@The angry pro consumer gaming ga
Remedy and Microsoft said that Alan Wake worked better as a console experience. Maybe it's true, or maybe it's a load of PR diarrhea.
Reply
Remedy and Microsoft said that Alan Wake worked better as a console experience. Maybe it's true, or maybe it's a load of PR diarrhea.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 10:02PM RKN said
@Shadowbender Its obviously the 2nd one. Face it, ever since MS created the Xbox, they have shat on PC gaming. They want to kill it off and convert all PC gamers to the Xbox, where they can charge for online play, overprice accessories like hard drives, kill off mods and only have paid DLC, etc.
Now, I feel the only reason Microsoft is paying slightly more attention to the PC than it did just in the last few years is due to Steam being dominant and taking over PC gaming since MS willingly abandoned it to rot. They want to control everything and want to get the lucrative slice that Steam has.
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Now, I feel the only reason Microsoft is paying slightly more attention to the PC than it did just in the last few years is due to Steam being dominant and taking over PC gaming since MS willingly abandoned it to rot. They want to control everything and want to get the lucrative slice that Steam has.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 10:25PM Travis 6t6 said
@RKN
A couple of counter-arguments:
1) As much as you may or may not want to believe it, the console market is bigger than the PC market, that was long in the making and goes beyond Microsoft.
2) The reasons you list for Microsoft to not like PC as much as 360 are genuinely good excuses. PC games are riddled with mods, hacks, and pirates. To not like that just means they aren't running themselves like idiots.
3) There is a genuine difference in play styles from PC and consoles, some of the more intense scenes in Alan Wake probably seemed a bit better on a large HDTV with surround sound than the typical PC setup.
That is all.
Reply
A couple of counter-arguments:
1) As much as you may or may not want to believe it, the console market is bigger than the PC market, that was long in the making and goes beyond Microsoft.
2) The reasons you list for Microsoft to not like PC as much as 360 are genuinely good excuses. PC games are riddled with mods, hacks, and pirates. To not like that just means they aren't running themselves like idiots.
3) There is a genuine difference in play styles from PC and consoles, some of the more intense scenes in Alan Wake probably seemed a bit better on a large HDTV with surround sound than the typical PC setup.
That is all.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 11:04PM Walter42 said
@Travis 6t6 A couple of counter-counter-arguments.
1) Does it matter which is bigger? The PC market exists ($) and it is not small
2) Mods are a bad thing? Is it riddled with hacks? I sure PC gaming has more hackers but I play a ton of online multiplayer games on PC (TF2, L4D2, BC2, etc.) and I've seen probably a handful of hackers. About the same amount I saw on Halo 2 on the original Xbox back in the day.
Piracy. Good point, though I believe services like Steam have caused that to decline, and the games are still profitable, especially a mere port.
3) I have the exact setup you describe with my PC however I may be an outlier there. I also have a Xbox controller connected and have been enjoying Super Meat Boy for example.
The reason those games aren't out on PC is Microsoft wants exclusivity for its console.
Reply
1) Does it matter which is bigger? The PC market exists ($) and it is not small
2) Mods are a bad thing? Is it riddled with hacks? I sure PC gaming has more hackers but I play a ton of online multiplayer games on PC (TF2, L4D2, BC2, etc.) and I've seen probably a handful of hackers. About the same amount I saw on Halo 2 on the original Xbox back in the day.
Piracy. Good point, though I believe services like Steam have caused that to decline, and the games are still profitable, especially a mere port.
3) I have the exact setup you describe with my PC however I may be an outlier there. I also have a Xbox controller connected and have been enjoying Super Meat Boy for example.
The reason those games aren't out on PC is Microsoft wants exclusivity for its console.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 12:29AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said
@RKN
Because MS is the only publisher who can make games for PCs, oh wait.
Reply
Because MS is the only publisher who can make games for PCs, oh wait.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 1:27AM Travis 6t6 said
@Walter42
Counter-counter-counter arguments:
1) From a standpoint of deciding which to invest more time and money in, yes the bigger market matters.
2) Strictly from the development standpoint mods are a bad thing. And with hacks you bring up a good point, you see about as many on PC as you used to on Halo 2 for the original Xbox. That is another positive thing about consoles, they can decrease those numbers by changing the systems, upgrading the hardware, etc., thereby lowering exploitable parts in the system, where in PCs, they don't make them, they don't control the network, and people are given a lot more free will because they can't really control all of what a person does on PC.
Additionally, with the advent of Steam there has been a decline in piracy, though it is still possible, and of course it is not Microsoft's creation to have free reign over.
3) While some people may have excellent set-ups, many others do not, and that may have an effect on their opinion of PC gaming.
Also, not really a counter-argument, but you mentioned ports in your argument and I'd like to mention all of the work a port would involve, particularly the changes that would need to be developed and the licensing difficulties involved.
Reply
Counter-counter-counter arguments:
1) From a standpoint of deciding which to invest more time and money in, yes the bigger market matters.
2) Strictly from the development standpoint mods are a bad thing. And with hacks you bring up a good point, you see about as many on PC as you used to on Halo 2 for the original Xbox. That is another positive thing about consoles, they can decrease those numbers by changing the systems, upgrading the hardware, etc., thereby lowering exploitable parts in the system, where in PCs, they don't make them, they don't control the network, and people are given a lot more free will because they can't really control all of what a person does on PC.
Additionally, with the advent of Steam there has been a decline in piracy, though it is still possible, and of course it is not Microsoft's creation to have free reign over.
3) While some people may have excellent set-ups, many others do not, and that may have an effect on their opinion of PC gaming.
Also, not really a counter-argument, but you mentioned ports in your argument and I'd like to mention all of the work a port would involve, particularly the changes that would need to be developed and the licensing difficulties involved.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 12:14PM jmr1986 said
@Travis 6t6 All today graphics cards include a HDMI port so you can connect your PC with your HDTV and the TV includes the Home Theater connection itself so that's a horrbile excuse for not realeasing games on PC. Alan Wake must look stunning on a PC with a good graphic card
Reply
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 1:51PM Aberhams said
@Travis 6t6
regarding mods: I see no possible way that mods can be construed as a bad thing. developers do not have to provide support for modders, they do not have to make modding tools available. but those developers that do tend to develope fan communities that are insanely loyal and will buy anything that developer makes. seems worth the comparatively small investment it takes to make a game moddable and engender such good will and purchasing power for future games.
Reply
regarding mods: I see no possible way that mods can be construed as a bad thing. developers do not have to provide support for modders, they do not have to make modding tools available. but those developers that do tend to develope fan communities that are insanely loyal and will buy anything that developer makes. seems worth the comparatively small investment it takes to make a game moddable and engender such good will and purchasing power for future games.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 2:03PM Aberhams said
@Travis 6t6
also, on the arguments about market size, I don't get it. I'll agree that the 360 market is larger than the PC market, but with thier powers combined they form an even larger market! Why do people insist that it has to be one or the other? sure it takes time to port a game from one to the other, but if you build the core of the game for the larger market, then making the game work on the smaller market is going to take a lot less time and work that building it from scratch.
the only valid reason for 360 exclusivity is to sell hardware. Its a valid reason, but I can't say I like it much.
Reply
also, on the arguments about market size, I don't get it. I'll agree that the 360 market is larger than the PC market, but with thier powers combined they form an even larger market! Why do people insist that it has to be one or the other? sure it takes time to port a game from one to the other, but if you build the core of the game for the larger market, then making the game work on the smaller market is going to take a lot less time and work that building it from scratch.
the only valid reason for 360 exclusivity is to sell hardware. Its a valid reason, but I can't say I like it much.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:41PM Snowman said
is there gamepad support? The keyboard and mouse only controls for the first Fable (on PC) was a REAL let down.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:41PM Shadowbender said
How did the controls for this on the PC compare to that of the 360, Chris?
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:52PM Punkrawk Bbob said
Did they fix it so the second chapter of the game isn't an incoherent rush job of shit money grind for a kick in the nuts ending with no detailed explanation of a fking thing?
Cuz, that'd be amazing if they did.
Cuz, that'd be amazing if they did.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 9:53PM Punkrawk Bbob said
@Punkrawk Bbob
They could even make it like Fable: The Lost Chapters was on PC. It could be Fable 3: The Lost Fun.
Reply
They could even make it like Fable: The Lost Chapters was on PC. It could be Fable 3: The Lost Fun.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 10:32PM (Unverified) said
I'd be more interested in Halo 3+ on PC
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 10:47PM Marshillboy said
Screw you lionhead. We don't even have Fable 2 yet. We know you guys stopped giving a damn about PC gamers after 2005.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 11:44PM Enosoma said
@Marshillboy
Trust me, it would have been much better if Fable 2 were on PC, instead of Fable 3.
Personally, I thought Fable 3 felt... like a 'Langoliers' type of Fable 2 in terms of your character and his interactions. Everything just felt... bland. Like there wasn't enough to do with folks.
I still, however, think it's hilarious that Ol' Petey Mew thought having a dog was such a revolution for the second game, and hand-holding was the best thing since sliced bread when he "introduced" it in the third Fable.
The first thing that came to mind was that I've done both of those things on the SNES and probably before that; a dog buddy in Secret of Evermore (only he actually was useful in combat), and hand-holding in several games I don't feel like thinking of.
Reply
Trust me, it would have been much better if Fable 2 were on PC, instead of Fable 3.
Personally, I thought Fable 3 felt... like a 'Langoliers' type of Fable 2 in terms of your character and his interactions. Everything just felt... bland. Like there wasn't enough to do with folks.
I still, however, think it's hilarious that Ol' Petey Mew thought having a dog was such a revolution for the second game, and hand-holding was the best thing since sliced bread when he "introduced" it in the third Fable.
The first thing that came to mind was that I've done both of those things on the SNES and probably before that; a dog buddy in Secret of Evermore (only he actually was useful in combat), and hand-holding in several games I don't feel like thinking of.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 9:26AM penetraitor said
@Enosoma Shadow Dancer on the old sega. Dog was useful and i felt more emotional attachment to it.
Reply
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 11:17PM alucard3000 said
How about Red Dead Redemption?
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 11:22PM KungFuChaosNinja said
Fable III is great. Fable and Fable III are the best games, besides Black & White and The Movies, that have come out of Lionhead. Don't be disappointed about Fable II not releasing on PC, as it's the most disappointing of the bunch. While Fable III is more streamlined, it works in the game's favor. And the characters and overall story are just much better in Fable III than in Fable II.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 9:00PM Punkrawk Bbob said
@KungFuChaosNinja
... did you finish Fable 3? or play it even? What is the evil presence? Why is it so easy to defeat? Why does the second half of the game add no missions? Why is the map left half empty and unexplored? Why did they introduce the "hit with X dmg type" buttons mechanic in the games tutorial and not use it once in the game? Why is the second half of the game nothing but real estate gathering? Why are there no minigames?
These are my immediate complaints with Fable 3. Fable 2 felt like a fully fleshed out game. Fable 3 felt like a chopped up experience just waiting for DLC to be inserted to correct it.
Reply
... did you finish Fable 3? or play it even? What is the evil presence? Why is it so easy to defeat? Why does the second half of the game add no missions? Why is the map left half empty and unexplored? Why did they introduce the "hit with X dmg type" buttons mechanic in the games tutorial and not use it once in the game? Why is the second half of the game nothing but real estate gathering? Why are there no minigames?
These are my immediate complaints with Fable 3. Fable 2 felt like a fully fleshed out game. Fable 3 felt like a chopped up experience just waiting for DLC to be inserted to correct it.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 11:23PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@kgoo867
Microsoft has to sell the Xbox 360. Why compromise your exclusive lineup? We all know exclusivity matters in this bullcrap world of fanboys.
Microsoft has to sell the Xbox 360. Why compromise your exclusive lineup? We all know exclusivity matters in this bullcrap world of fanboys.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 1:32AM sammo21 said
Sweet, now PC gamers can play one of the most disappointing games of 2010! This game is bollocks, and I don't mean the dog's bollocks. I mean just plain, saggy, overrated bollocks.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 9:27AM penetraitor said
@sammo21 hehe I know. I love the expression. My friend was going to open a bar called the dog's bollocks but the town rejected the name. I was disappointed. Would have been fantastic.
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Posted: Jan 7th 2011 2:09AM GreyFox said
Now you can be disappointed on two platforms!
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 9:23AM penetraitor said
@kgoo867 Halo did come out on the pc. Where it was exposed for what it was, a derivitive dull shooter compared to what pc plaers are used to. It was successful on the console because that was a place where it was easy to impress. Nothing out on the console was even remotely good. On the pc, it was about 4 years dated by the time it finally came out.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 9:37AM penetraitor said
Hacks are easily counterable in multiplayer games. Implement punkbuster and you have built in tracking and update for exploits. On consoles it is much more difficult to track them. I have never seen a hack for more than 1 week on team fortress 2 on the pc and that game has been going strong sinc September of 2007.
Mods are not bad from a development standpoint either. Mods give your game longevity and an additional reason to purchase it. Mods are also the largest source of innovation in the gaming world. Think about every shooter since Counter Strike. That mod changed the entire genre and it was developed completely for free. How many people bought half life and never even fired up the game, they just immediately jumped to CS.
I would still also argue the size of the markets as well. What are you basing that off of? Console sales vs computer sales? Individual game sales per platform? I sincerely doubt there is a total number of all games sold on the pc vs all games sold on all the consoles. You also can't combine all console sales either because if it is a platform vs platform then each console counts as its own one because development is different for each one. PC is the largest gaming platform of all of them. Maybe not combined, but that is a completely different argument due to the fracture in the market.
Mods are not bad from a development standpoint either. Mods give your game longevity and an additional reason to purchase it. Mods are also the largest source of innovation in the gaming world. Think about every shooter since Counter Strike. That mod changed the entire genre and it was developed completely for free. How many people bought half life and never even fired up the game, they just immediately jumped to CS.
I would still also argue the size of the markets as well. What are you basing that off of? Console sales vs computer sales? Individual game sales per platform? I sincerely doubt there is a total number of all games sold on the pc vs all games sold on all the consoles. You also can't combine all console sales either because if it is a platform vs platform then each console counts as its own one because development is different for each one. PC is the largest gaming platform of all of them. Maybe not combined, but that is a completely different argument due to the fracture in the market.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 10:10AM DarkPinoy said
I say release Fable 2. Fable 2 > Fable 3
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 10:47AM arrrgh said
@kgoo867
Timed exclusivity is what is killing most of the reasons there were for owning an xbox 360. It's losing exclusives FAST. Seems like MS is betting entirely on Kinect for Wii-like success... sucks.
Timed exclusivity is what is killing most of the reasons there were for owning an xbox 360. It's losing exclusives FAST. Seems like MS is betting entirely on Kinect for Wii-like success... sucks.
Posted: Jan 7th 2011 12:06PM jmr1986 said
I hope they make a good job porting this game, with improved graphics for PC gaming, not like the crap they did with Halo 2.
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