Joystiq

Molyneux talks three new Fables and a secret project

Ross Miller — 2008-07-29T09:45:00+00:00

Lionhead's head lion Peter Molyneux recently said in an interview with GameTrailers that it took three years to make Fable 2. We note this because in the same interview, he also talks about doing three more Fable games. "We've got plans for Fable 3, 4 and 5 actually," he said. "It's a big story arc and if you play Fable II you'll recognize things from Fable 1." Extrapolating on Fable 2's development time, expect to see the series continue in 2011, 2014 and 2017, respectively.

Additionally, Molyneux said that Lionhead is working on another, secret project that was the "kind of the result of an experiment that went incredibly well." He then went on to say that he likes projects that are challenging and made references to the sports genre, which may or may not indicate we'll see a fantasy RPG based on Brockian Ultra Cricket.

[Via IGN]

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Lionhead's Molyneux open to revisiting his past catalog

Jason Dobson — 2008-03-20T04:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Retro, Microsoft Xbox 360

Though his vision usually outstrips his games' technical prowess, super developer Peter Molyneux is still responsible for some the most unique gaming experiences ever put to code. He's let us soar through the air on an enchanted rug, mow down civilians in a near-future dystopia, and has even let us play god once or twice.

Unfortunately, after having the distinct 'pleasure' of being absorbed by larger studios on two separate occasions, many of his most memorable creations have since been left to the pages of history. Even so, while Molyneux is currently courting players with his canine-friendly Fable 2, he recently told Shacknews that he's open to revisiting his earlier games, particularly Syndicate.

"I really would love to redo a version of Syndicate," he commented, adding that while he has not been given the go ahead to knock the dust off his past achievements, "one day, I'm sure that opportunity is going to come up and I'd love to do it." Of course, he's said this all before, but we continue to hold out hope. In a world filled with one mundane first-person shooter after the next, we could really use another Magic Carpet.

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Molyneux boasts about his post-Fable 2 project

Ross Miller — 2008-03-10T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360

Mad scientist extraordinaire Peter Molyneux has made a great discovery! In an interview with GamersGlobal, the Fable 2 designer talked about an AI-focused experiment codenamed Dmitri. The experiment became a game six months ago after "a discovery was made." Said Molyneux, "I think that discovery is so significant... This discovery has lead us to start a game and that game will be on the front cover of Nature magazines and Science magazines." That's assuming the AI project doesn't develop self-awareness and kill us all.

As for a release date, Molyneux said it would come out when "trees still [have] leaves, but with a brownish tint." Though our first thought is September, we've gone ahead and sent to Microsoft a picture of the official Joystiq elm tree spray-painted with the proper color in the hopes of an early review copy.

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Fable 2, Alan Wake and more confirmed for 2008

Ross Miller — 2008-01-07T17:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, RPGs, Strategy

Microsoft Games chief Don Mattrick has confirmed (or, in some cases, reaffirmed) via a memo a handful of exclusive titles to arrive on Xbox 360 in 2008. The list of assuredly not canceled titles include Halo Wars, Too Human, Fable 2, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction and "several exciting yet-to-be-announced titles."

Following the list of 2008 exclusives, Mattrick continues to say that "Xbox 360 will be home to the next versions of great franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil ... Madden and FIFA." We're not sure if he meant to imply Resident Evil 5 is due out this year, but it's certainly a suspicious line. Other than this year, no schedule was given as to the release of these titles, although we now get a sense of what Microsoft feels will keep gamers happy in this post-Halo 3 world.

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Bid for a role in Fable 2 at Child's Play dinner auction

Dan Dormer — 2007-11-07T17:59:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Adventure

Sure, it's tough to break into video games, but what about actually being a digital, non-breathing, non-playable character part of a virtual world? Unless you're a celebrity, such as Kristen Bell, or an athlete like, uh ... Slash, average humans like us have little or no chance to ever be "Annoying Quest Giver #72" or "Dude I Jacked for Bonus Gold #19." However, there's still hope, thanks to Lionhead Studios and the Child's Play Charity.

At the Child's Play's Fundraiser Dinner Auction, Lionhead Studios will auction off, amongst other things, naming rights for five NPCs in their upcoming title, Fable 2. You could be a shopkeeper, farmer, "important" villager, monk, or quest giver, depending on if you can part with the necessary coinage (think of the children!). And while Joystiq writers can't accept bribes, if you wanted to use your winning bid to name a character in Fable 2 "Dan Dormer," I, errr, we wouldn't mind in the slightest. Now, would you kindly make that happen?

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Molyneux: Xbox Live 'far more impactful' than Wii waggle

James Ransom-Wiley — 2007-09-06T11:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

During an otherwise pedestrian interview, Peter Molyneux opened that big mouth again, this time putting the burden of another potential overstatement squarely on Microsoft's shoulders. The Fable man has predicted that Xbox Live "will ultimately be far more impactful on video games in the long term than something like the Wii controller."

Molyneux isn't alone, but his view goes against the current (but possibly transitory) trend, which sees Wii demand reaching nothing short of phenomenon. Though, in practice, Wii is still an inconsistent technology; whereas Xbox Live is a stable and consistently growing platform that has changed the way publishers and developers create and deliver game content, and is inspiring competitors, namely Sony, to launch their own grand social networks for the console market. Is Molyneux dead on?

[Via NeoGAF]

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Joystiq impressions: Fable 2 'Combat Testbed'

James Ransom-Wiley — 2007-07-16T11:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, RPGs, E3, Galleries

Peter Molyneux describes Fable 2's combat as "kind of a little bit mad." It's just one blue button; a system that doesn't punish casual gamers (button-mashers), but still satisfies hardcore players. The number of experience points earned in any given skirmish is determined by how skillfully one uses the X-button. Timed button presses, including counters, are worth more than mashing, while incorporating blocking and charge attacks (both accomplished by holding X) will net you even more points to build your hero. The attack button is also context sensitive, as you'll automatically pick up and toss items strewn about the ground if your foes are at a distance, or you'll grab an enemy and shove him into a wall if you're battling in close quarters.

Magic and ranged attacks (mapped to the Y- and B-buttons) will apparently operate in much the same way, but only the X-attack was on display at E3 in Lionhead's "Combat Testbed," a visually-lacking demo not meant to impress, but to arouse curiosity. "I know, it's bloody awful," Molyneux said of the current level of polish, while urging us to focus on more abstract concepts, like the amount of dedication that the development team has put into Fable 2's design. Molyneux is still haunted by his bold claims about the original Fable, lamenting his infamous 'greatest RPG evar' comment, made while Fable was still a rough draft. But the celebrated game designer insists that this -- to be the greatest -- is the goal for Fable 2, he's just not as (publicly) convinced he'll get there.

Gallery: Fable 2

As demoed, Fable 2's combat was looking good (but not great). It played like a simplified version of the system Ubisoft has designed for Assassin's Creed; an assessment that Molyneux would likely approve. The danger of being so inclusive is that Lionhead's game will probably end up too easy for much of the core gaming audience. To balance the issue, the team is going to have to work hard on other elements that will hold our attention. Like polish. With much of Microsoft's E3 presentation focused on the near-future, Fable 2, tucked away into a small room on the fourth floor of the Viceroy, is a reminder that there are still some far-off projects worth remembering.

Also at E3: No death in Fable 2; Seafaring nixed, ninjas added?

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Molyneux heavily alludes to co-op in Fable 2

Alexander Sliwinski — 2007-07-13T13:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, RPGs

We hope that Peter Molyneux isn't up to his old tricks with Fable 2 of saying too much and then having to take it all back. Last evening, during a special session, he reshowed Fable 2 again to a small group. He fully admitted, "[Fable] was a little bit sh*t." It looks like Molyneux is really trying to make this game good and Fable 2 will be his redemption for the promises made in the original.

Molyneux added that there will be achievements for purchasing half the houses in a town and becoming the mayor ... there will also be an achievement for purchasing every house in the game (we hope he's exaggerating about it taking 1000 hours). He also strongly implied that co-op will be part of the experience. "I love multiplayer and I love co-op," he said. We have Crackdown for the precedent that this is possible. Now the real question is if the visiting player will be able to steal your spouse, burn down your house and purchase half your city thus usurping your mayorship. Hey, we're just excited about being able to play a pregnant female warrior -- Molyneux says there will not be a birthing minigame.

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Molyneux talks death in Fable 2, regrets Black and White 2

Alexander Sliwinski — 2007-05-21T20:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

According to Peter Molyneux, death in Fable 2 will be different than what we've seen in any other game. Fan website Loinhead (not a typo) recently landed an interview with Molyneux and they had a little chat about Fable 2, Black and White 2 and exposition ruining immersion.

Right off the bat the Black and White 2 issues get taken care of. Molyneux admits the problems are a "list" and although there is plenty of blame to go around, ultimately they were "forced to finish the game." The money just ran out. He says if he could go back and do it again, they'd have started from scratch instead of looking back on Black and White, using that code as a jumping off point, and building from there. Molyneux says, "I wish we could go back to the start of the development ... start with a blank sheet of paper and plan it better."

But that's the past, Molyneux says that one of the big announcements coming up about Fable 2 involves death (although Molyneux gives it proper dramatic fashion in the video after the break). He says that death isn't handled well in most games, "You go back in time twenty minutes to do the same thing over again. That's fine if I'm playing a platformer, not so fine if you're doing an RPG game." World of Warcraft has the death run, Prey turned death into a minigame ... we'll just have to see how Fable 2 handles the life hereafter. Wonder if the dog goes through the same issue when he dies, or maybe the dog fetches you from the afterlife?

[Via Xbox360Fanboy]

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Molyneux becomes French knight, farts in our general direction

Tony Carnevale — 2007-04-05T15:54:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Business

Peter Molyneux, responsible for such mixed blessings as Fable, Black and White, and The Movies, has received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et de Lettres award from the French government, just like Mario mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto did last year. The award makes both gentlemen honorary French knights. No word on whether they get to prance about in suits of armor, but we'll keep you posted.

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Fable 2 dog is the 'totally unexpected' feature?

James Ransom-Wiley — 2007-03-07T16:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, RPGs, GDC

French gaming site Xboxygen has posted some pictures of a dog. Not just any dog, but Fable 2's dog. Could this be the "totally unexpected" feature Molyneux teased us about?

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

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Microsoft's Lionhead acquisition official

Jennie Lees — 2006-04-06T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Business

The GDC rumour mill had its finger on the pulse where Lionhead and Microsoft were concerned; Microsoft has acquired the British developer, beating out rumoured competition from EA and Ubisoft. It looks as though Microsoft were especially keen to grab Peter Molyneux -- they'll be putting his innovative approach to gaming to use on the Xbox 360 and Vista platforms.

This is good news for the struggling Lionhead, although whether it will help Molyneux's games sell any better is yet to be seen. As far as the UK games industry is concerned, international acquisitions like this (and Rare's before it) are interesting -- while there will always be smaller guys going it alone, there's a short supply of big-name British developers who are staying home-grown.

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