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Lionhead alumni turn to Kickstarter to fund 'Fable' card game
Lionhead Studios may have been shuttered, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the beloved Fable franchise. Flaming Fowl Studios, a studio created from the ashes of Lionhead's closing in March, is looking to revive the series, albeit in a very different format.
Fable Legends confirmed for Windows 10, cross-plays with Xbox One [Update]
Fable Legends is in development for Windows 10 PCs, Lionhead Studios confirmed during Microsoft's Windows 10 briefing today. The game was announced in August 2013 as an Xbox One exclusive. PC and Xbox One players will be able to partake in cross-platform cooperative multiplayer. Fable Legends' multiplayer beta launched in October. The developer did not offer a release date for the PC version of the game, though it is expected to arrive this year for Xbox One. Update: Check out the latest screens (below) and a trailer (above) of the game. [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Take a look, Lionhead prototype Inkquest is in a book (and free)
Fable Legends isn't the only game that's been cooking in the labs of Lionhead Studios. A game called Inkquest, which told the story of a girl trapped inside a book, was revealed back in September - though it was only a prototype and not destined to become a full-fledged game. Still, the concept and gameplay were at a point where the project was playable, so Lionhead has released the unfinished build for free to PC users. "This is the exact build that was featured in the [September] video - we haven't developed it any further," the company posted to their blog this week. "As such, there's bugs and rough edges, and none of the gameplay, visuals or features should be considered 'done.' That's the caveaty bit. Please do let us know what you think all the same – just bear in mind it's little more than a 'sketch,' and should be viewed as such." Inkquest comes from Lionhead Incubation, a department within Lionhead aimed at giving players a better look at the inner workings and incomplete projects of the studio. "We want the community to share in our failures-that-are-not-failures, and so over time we're going to be sharing some of those ideas with you, hopefully evolving into a regular cycle of interesting things for you to see or play," the company wrote in September. [Image: Lionhead]
Lionhead accepting applications for Fable Legends beta
Lionhead and Microsoft have opened up beta registration for Fable Legends, meaning brave heroes ready to join together and save the world of Albion can now take their first steps toward glory. To register for the beta, head over to the Fable Legends website and enter your email address. Confirm it by clicking the appropriate link provided in a follow-up email. Lastly, link your Xbox Live account. It's not clear if those who register are guaranteed entry, but we imagine we'll find out more as we inch closer and closer to October 16, the beta's start date. Fable Legends is a multiplayer-centric entry in the traditionally single-player Fable series, where four players take on the role of customizable heroes while another controls the world's monsters and traps. There has not been a final release date yet announced. [Image: Lionhead]
Fable Legends multiplayer beta set for October [UPDATE: Trailer added!]
The multiplayer beta for Fable Legends will be available on October 16, Microsoft announced during its Gamescom 2014 press conference in Cologne, Germany. Microsoft first announced the beta phase of the game at E3. Fable Legends has players completing quests in Albion, the land featured throughout the series. Unlike past games, up to four players can team up to tackle missions, or players can split off to play as a villain, influencing quests themselves to slow the progress of the heroic group. Microsoft revealed Fable Legends at last year's Gamescom event in August 2013 as an Xbox One-exclusive game. [Image: Microsoft]
Joystiq Weekly: Battlefield 4's launch, an Entwined review, E3 previews and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. Joystiq celebrated its tenth anniversary of existence this week, which means ... we're teetering on that edge of middle school angst? No, no, we're thankfully immune to that. What it does mean is that we're still alive, and we think being alive is pretty okay! While the site has presumably made it this far because of its content, quality isn't sustainable on its own – we've been able to write news, produce videos, record podcasts and talk about video games for years because of all of you. Whether you stop in every day, have only read a single breaking news story from us, or you've just fallen down an impressive wrong turn on the Internet and have no idea why you're here: Thank you. Your patronage is a huge part of why we get to cover this industry, and we look forward to creating compelling content for you for another 10 years. Speaking of content, there's a ton of it this week: EA CEO Andrew Wilson addressed Battlefield 4's launch, we have reviews for Entwined and Pushmo World, and there's an avalanche of written previews and video interviews from E3, all waiting for you in a neat pile of bulletpoints. Dive in after the break, right after you drop off our presents next to the cake.
Lionhead bringing Fable Anniversary to PC
While Fable Anniversary was previously exclusive to Xbox 360 owners, a clamoring cacophony of Fable fans has apparently persuaded Lionhead and Microsoft to bring the HD remake of the 2004 Xbox game to Steam. When and for how much, however, are tales yet to be told. [Image: Microsoft]
Fable Anniversary lead designer exits Lionhead
Fable Anniversary lead designer Ted Timmins has announced his departure from Lionhead Studios. In a multi-tweet explanation of his exit, Timmins said the Microsoft-owned company has been "such an integral part" of his life. Citing that his time at Lionhead made up more than one third of his life, "it's a good time for change." Timmins' first project with Lionhead was the original Xbox action-role playing game Fable in 2004. Microsoft purchased the studio in 2006. Timmins thanked former Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux for establishing the company that would "give a spotty 18-year-old with no talent or qualifications a chance." "There's also something quite special that Fable 1 was the first game I was a part of, and Fable Anniversary is my last," Timmins wrote. [Image: Lionhead]
Lionhead Studios embracing games-as-service model with Fable Legends
Fable Legends, the upcoming multiplayer-centric spin on the Fable universe, may end up being quite a different beast than its predecessors. Although new Lionhead CEO John Needham hasn't announced any business model for the game, he describes his job as one based around the "games-as-a-service" model: "I think the real magic in the industry now is taking great traditional gameplay and IP, and this new connected world, and mashing them together," Needham recently told Edge Magazine. "I am the person pivoting Lionhead into a games-as-service studio." Needham also said that Legends can act as a platform for additional Fable-related projects. "It's a long-range plan, of five to ten years, where we're going to build and keep building onto Fable Legends. That's the nature of games as a service – you keep adding systems and features and content." [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Deja Review: Fable Anniversary
This is a Deja Review: A quick, unscored look at the new features and relative agelessness of a remade, revived or re-released game. Ten years after hitting the original Xbox, Fable proves that, contrary to popular belief, Peter Molyneux is a man of his word. The eccentric former chief of Lionhead, prone to exclamations about the insane emotional experiences hiding in the games he makes, actually never delivered on dreams of simulating a hero's life in exhaustive detail. No acorns are planted at the beginning, and no mammoth trees sprout in their wake by the time its shaggy dog revenge story comes to a close. All the basics Molyneux promised, however, made it in. In interview after interview during the development of Project Ego – Fable's early code name – he passionately described a role-playing game that would change depending on how it was played, a deeply personal reflection of your choices. Use a sword more than the bow, and your hero will gain better opportunities to build up strength and stamina. Cast lightning on the regular, your hero's flowing locks will turn shock white and arcane sigils will coat his body. Play the bandit, people will fear you; escort the weak through dangerous lands, citizens will cheer when you walk through town. Fable Anniversary, Lionhead's admirably spit-shined remaster, has a surprise for those looking back at Project Ego. It's Albion, not the hero fated to save it from certain doom, that makes Fable worth playing today. How you play about its countryside, not how you build your character's stats, is what reflects and rewards the player.
PSA: Fable Anniversary goes live, Trilogy bundle available too
Ready those fowl-punting leg swings, because Fable Anniversary is live now on the Xbox 360 Games Store. Lionhead's 10-years-on HD remaster is priced $40, while for $20 more you can add Fable 2 and 3 as part of the Trilogy bundle. In addition to upping the resolution to 1080p, Anniversary brings in other tweaks and improvements including new textures and models, a checkpoint-based save system with manual options, a new interface, improved lighting, and even some SmartGlass features. Fans of the Lost Chapters expansion will be pleased to know its content is in there too. If you'd prefer to see before you buy or re-buy, check out our stream from last month when we revisited the pastures of Albion in the company of Lionhead devs. [Image: Microsoft]
Fable Anniversary set for February 4, 2014
The 1080P HDification of Lionhead's original Fable, known as Fable Anniversary in its evolved state, will arrive on February 4,6 and 7 in North America, Asia and Europe, respectively. The game is planned for Xbox 360. As enticement to revisit Albion and the previous console generation, the game will include a "Launch Day Weapons & Outfits Pack." The highlight in there is "a lute weapon," because next to a keyblade, nothing else could sound more ridiculously glorious.
Fable Anniversary delayed to February 2014
Fable Anniversary won't cluck in until February next year after Lionhead Studios pushed back its due date today. In a blog post, Lead Designer Ted Timmins didn't give a reason for the delay to the chicken-kickin' remake, originally announced for this holiday, but noted that when Anniversary does arrive it will be available both online and at retail. Lionhead unveiled Anniversary in June as an HD revamp of Fable and its Lost Chapters expansion. Anniversary won't look to just improve the visuals, but also the user interface, loading times, controls, save system, and other features.
Fable Legends beta expected next year
Fable Legends, the multiplayer adventure set in Albion and announced at this week's Gamescom show, is scheduled to have a beta test next year. Eurogamer noticed the mention on the game's FAQ page. Fable Legends currently has no release window. Those interested in being the first in the beta line can sign up on the game's website to access future information.
Fable Legends trades character creation for character definition
In the first three Fable games, the player's character has essentially been a blank slate, a hunk of marble waiting to be chiseled by player choices (and the occasional player mistake). It has always been up to the player to decide what their hero specialized in, to choose exactly how their hero looked and to govern their hero's morality. The character was yours from top to bottom. Fable Legends, just announced for the Xbox One, is taking a different approach. You'll still be able to customize your hero to a certain degree – at the barber shop, etc. – but Fable Legends ditches the blank slate of previous games for more defined characters. They all have unique voices, personalities and abilities. Yes, that means the sorceress you see in the video above will always be a sorceress. This more rigid character system is a fundamental change to the Fable formula, but the interesting part is it may not even be the most significant departure.
Fable 3 currently free on Xbox Marketplace
Fable 3, the game in the series we all tried to forget until something worse came along in Fable Heroes, is currently free on the Xbox Marketplace. It's still unclear if this is a bug, since the way you obtain it gratis is a little convoluted, or if this is some portent to today's Microsoft press conference. Here's how to get the game for free (which we've tested): You must be an Xbox Gold member. Head on over to the game's page and click purchase. Yes, it says that it's $20 (or whatever it is in your regional currency). Now comes the important part. Make sure you are paying with Microsoft Points, not with your credit card. You should see a final confirmation screen identical to the image above listing the game for free. Enjoy! As much as anybody can enjoy Fable 3. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Lionhead teases Fable HD remake [update: Fable Anniversary announced]
Update: Xbox's Major Nelson announced Fable Anniversary, coming "holiday this year" for Xbox 360. As expected, it's a HD remake of the first Fable and its Lost Chapters expansion. Speaking to the Major in a podcast, Lionhead's Ted Timmins noted improvements to the user interface, loading times, controls, and save system in the remake, as well as a visual update up to "360-quality level." Fable Anniversary also features SmartGlass integration, as well as leaderboards for an array of things, one of which is chicken-kicking. As teasers go, this one's as blunt as a war hammer. Going by it, Lionhead Studios is set to unveil an Xbox 360 HD remake of the first Fable and its The Lost Chapters expansion. The vid shows various tweets directed at Lionhead requesting the remake. One asks for "better graphics and sound quality," while another makes mention of "Fable Anniversary." The original Fable launched on the Xbox in September 2004. %Gallery-190298%
Lionhead launches new Fable forums with suspicious timing [update]
Lionhead Studios has launched a brand new set of Fable-related forums, now available on the developer's website for users to discuss and dissect the popular series of role-playing games. Lionhead's also giving away virtual founders' medals to anyone who signs up in the forums' first two weeks of existence, and you can log right in using your Xbox Live ID. The last game in the series, Fable: The Journey, arrived back in October of 2012, which raises the question of why the Microsoft-owned developer would announce brand new forums for an IP that's all but fallen off of the radar. Don't forget, though, that E3 is next week, and Microsoft has $1 billion worth of games coming to the Xbox One. The fates may dictate a return to Albion very soon. Update: That didn't take long. Lionhead is teasing a Fable HD remake.
Lionhead job openings point to Unreal Engine 4 powering next game
Fable series developer Lionhead Studios is currently seeking a gameplay programmer and an automation engineer for an upcoming unannounced project, emphasizing that knowledge of Epic's Unreal Engine 3 or 4 is required for consideration. The company additionally seeks a core technology programmer and an animation director. Lionhead notes that the animation director position requires a "background working on new franchises or reimaginings of existing franchises." Previous Lionhead job listings sought online multiplayer level designers, hinting that the developer was working on "an MMO-like title for next generation consoles." Ex-Cryptic CEO John Needham was recently named Lionhead's Studio Head following the departure of co-founder Peter Molyneux.
Ex-Cryptic, Gazillion CEO John Needham is new Lionhead boss
John Needham is now the new boss of Lionhead Studios. Needham's previous posts include CEO of Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online) for nearly three years and CEO at Gazillion Entertainment (Marvel Universe Online) for almost two years. "Our vision is focused on building innovative gaming services and triple-A experiences at Lionhead, and the rest of Microsoft Studios, which take advantage of Microsoft's incredible hardware and software platforms," Needham says in the MCV report. A glance at Needham's LinkedIn profile shows a legacy well-versed in MMOs, subscription-based services and free-to-play games. Lionhead was in the headlines last year when longtime boss Peter Molyneux left to start 22 Cans and put out his first experiment, Curiosity. Lionhead Studios was purchased by Microsoft in 2006. The studio's last game was the Kinect action-adventure game, Fable: The Journey.
