Fable-2
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Shock! New Xbox Elite bundle with Halo 3, Fable II [Update]
Today, Microsoft revealed a new Xbox 360 Elite bundle headed to store shelves this May. The Xbox 360 Game of the Year bundle includes the little-known online shooter called Halo 3 and Joystiq's 2008 game of the year pick, Fable II. The M-rated bundle is priced at $399, making the two million-plus unit selling pack-in titles free of charge.Those of you keeping score at home will remember rumors of an elite bundle, which was set to include the two Microsoft Game Studios powerhouse titles, had been floating around the web earlier this month. Microsoft, continuing a long history of totally being able to keep a secret, confirmed the bundle today via Major Nelson's blog.Update: Major Nelson has clarified this bundle will be available in all regions where Xbox 360 is sold, except those in Europe.
Rumor: $400 Xbox 360 Elite bundle features Halo 3 and Fable 2
$400 will get you a lot these days. You can buy yourself any of the existing major consoles on the market, or you soon might be able to buy Microsoft's newer and more improved Elite console bundle. Word is that Microsoft will be jam-packing its existing Elite bundles with copies of Halo 3 and Fable 2, you know, just for fun. The best part is, the console won't be increasing in price. The bad news is that you're now furious if you already bought an Elite console.Ars Technica says that we'll have confirmation on this rumor by the end of next week, so that leaves us little time for the confirmation/debunking party. Who's on chips and dip duty?
The many (many) faces of Fable 2's hero
The Fable 2 community site has posted a vertically enhanced collage of the many forms the RPG's (anti-)hero can take. It's quite impressive and, after looking through the list, we realize our once-generic avatar can take on more traits than we ever expected. Check out the full image here.
Official Champions DevBlog: Randy Mosiondz, lead designer on roleplay and gameplay
It's been on a short hiatus, but Massively's official bi-weekly Champions Online DevBlog has returned with a column from lead designer Randy Mosiondz concerning the balance between roleplay and gameplay. If you happened to have missed the previous entries, simply follow our Champions Developer posts and easy access to even more thoughts and commentary from the likes of Randy Mosiondz, Bill Roper and Jack Emmert.
Fable II tried 'gimmicky' voice controls
Fable II's canine companion was introduced as a means to connect gamers to the world of Albion, and although players could interact with the four-legged friend at the touch of a button, Lionhead initially tested microphone interaction as well. In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Peter Molyneux said the team behind Joystiq's GOTY tested voice commands in the game but ultimately found them to be too gimmicky. Had the feature been included in the game, players would be able to whistle into their headsets to call on their loyal pet -- a concept Molyneux didn't criticize, but felt wouldn't add to Fable II's overall gameplay experience. Besides, wasn't including the dog revolutionary enough for you?
GDC09: Just how many words were in Fable 2?
The answer? A lot....Oh, you were hoping for something a bit more concrete? Well, as we just learned in a GDC session, the talky action-RPG included some 370,000 words, totaling 38 hours of speech. No, really, you can read it for yourself just above. And that, friends, is why Fable 2 was our 2008 Game of the Year: All those words.
Lionhead Studios graphic designer sues Microsoft for harassment
Jamie Durrant has been working for Lionhead Studios, stomping ground of Peter Molyneux and developer of the Fable franchise, for 11 years. In his time, he's worked on the Black & White series as well as both of the Fable games. As of last August though, Mr. Durrant has been out of work "sick" on half-pay, claiming sexual discrimination on the part of Microsoft. "I have been signed off sick since August with anxiety and depression," Durrant told us this morning. The Surrey, UK resident is suing his employer, Microsoft (owner of Lionhead Studios), for £45,000/$66,000, money which will make up for "lost earnings and injury to feelings," according to the report on Telegraph.co.uk. A variety of names, laden with derogatory terms, were purportedly circulated in Durrant's tenure with the company as of late, referencing his sexual orientation: "'I'm Jim and I'm Gay," "Me and My Favourite Men," and "Ladies Are Bad," among others. According to Durrant, when these abuses were reported to the Microsoft human resources department, the company did little to help him, apparently telling him they would circulate an email reminding employees of the company policy -- but they never followed through. When he inquired as to why it hadn't been sent a few weeks later, he was supposedly told that Microsoft would have to draft policy on the matter first. He told the Telegraph, "I was very surprised that Microsoft did not have any policies relating to this sexual orientation harassment." Less than a month ago we found out that the Microsoft Xbox Live team also have little-to-no policy written regarding sexual orientation discrimination.When asked for more information, both Microsoft and Mr. Durrant have said they cannot comment on the still pending litigation. We'll have to wait until the London South Employment Tribunal hears his case "later this year" for more info.
Molyneux: Fable destroyed developer lives, Fable II not so much
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.
Fable, Alien Hominid HD get slashed for March Deals of the Week
Before Peter Molyneux and Co. captured our GOTY hearts with Fable II, Lionhead introduced the world to Albion in Fable -- on the original Xbox. Next week -- billed as the figurative pot of gold for St. Paddy's Day -- the Xbox Originals release of Fable will be discounted to 800 ($10) on March 16, down one third the standard (Read: Overpriced) tag of 1200. March 23's Deal of the Week isn't nearly exciting, discounting the Iowa Mission Pack for Battlestations Midway by 20%. Finally, to put an Irish kiss on the end of the month, the Deal of the Week beginning March 30 will be the XBLA title Alien Hominid HD, discounted by 50% to 400 ($5). Those are some quality price drops... Irish I had some more MS Points.
More DLC confirmed for Fable II
Hmm, see, this is one of those cases where you didn't really need to read the post. Fable II is definitely getting more DLC and here's all we know about it, just in from our friends at Lionhead:"Will there be any more DLC for Fable II? The answer is quite simple: 'Yes'."That's like, the whole thing. There's more DLC, it's in the works, confirmed. But hey, maybe you can nab one of 20 Knothole Island NXE Theme codes they posted, if you're quick enough. See, aren't you glad you read the post now? Yeah, we thought so.
Rumor: British talk show host lending voice to Fable 3
British talk show gadabout Jonathan Ross let slip on his Twitter feed that he's lending his voice to none other than Fable 3. Writes Ross, "Goodnight all. Must go to bed. Got asked to do voice in Fable 3 tonight. Subarashi. Oyasuminasia. Woss out." Now, it goes without saying that a follow-up to Joystiq's favorite game of 2008 will someday be made, but it seems far too early to be recording voices already. Still, could this latest remark mean that the sequel is further along than we dare hoped? Microsoft has offered no comment. However, Ross' following tweets read like mild psychosis mixed with a panic attack; Molyneux and his goon squad are not to be trifled with.
Wheelman, Crackdown designers join Ruffian Games
It's fully a month on and we're still no closer to discovering just what newly founded Ruffian Games is up to than we were when it first broke ground. The fledgling company was first announced in January, formed by team members having worked on such titles and franchises as Fable 2, Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown. Now a pair of new faces have joined the Scotland-based studio's eclectic cast, including Steve Iannetta, former lead world designer on Wheelman for Midway Newcastle. Iannetta was also a designer on Crackdown alongside Ed Campbell, who also joined the company. With so much former Crackdown talent on Ruffian Games' payroll (most everyone at the company had at least some part in the game's development), the smell of open worlds and explosions coming out of the Ruffian's kitchen is unmistakable.
Unleash your inner Hobbe with this wearable latex mask
Those interested in setting free their inner Fable 2 Hobbe will be pleased to know that a custom latex Hobbe mask is now available for purchase on eBay. The horrifying creation was expertly crafted by Lionhead employee Jamie Durrant from (what we guess is) the finest latex and Earth-friendly paints. The highest bid on the auction, which wraps up on March 1st, is currently £26.While we're aware that Halloween is still months away, it doesn't mean you couldn't wear the mask to the grocery store, to a cousin's wedding or, the most likely event, while playing Fable 2. Not actually being able to see the television could be a (minor) problem, though.[Via Fable 2 Development Blog]
Game Developers Choice Awards finalists announced
The finalists for this year's Game Developers Choice Awards have been announced, with Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet adoring judges with nine nominations, including one for Game of the Year. Other titles up for the prestigious award include Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, Grand Theft Auto IV and, of course, Fable 2. The Joystiq darling is also a shoe-in for snub of the year with Lionhead's opus going overlooked entirely in the Best Writing category. Seriously, what's the deal?Braid, Far Cry 2, Spore, World of Goo, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gears of War 2 are all up for multiple awards, with winners set to take the stage during next month's gala event as part of the 2009 Game Developers Conference. The show will be hosted by Grim Fandango and Brütal Legend's Tim Schafer, promising a tongue-in-cheek good time even if our personal faves leave empty handed.
NPD: Console exclusives performed with mixed results in '08
According to the NPD, a good exclusive does not necessarily equal good sales. The group has collected data for 2008's exclusives on each platform and, well, there have been some under-performers. On the Xbox 360 side, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was a disappointment, selling only 140,000 units. The other exclusive on Microsoft's console, Fable 2 (Joystiq's GOTY), was more of your traditional success story with a respectable 1.2 million copies sold.And what about the industry-leading PS3? We already know MGS4 sold extremely well, but the same cannot be said (yet) for LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2, both of which seemed to perform lower than expectations; LBP sold 611,000 copies in North America while R2 unloaded 600,000 units. As for Nintendo, well ... it won. It always does. Last we heard, Nintendo stopped making games and was in the process of building a Kirby-shaped Death Star to orbit the planet.
Lionhead: We're not working on Fable 2 PC
While we're certain the point-and-click enthusiasts among us would like to get their paws on Joystiq's favorite game of 2008, Fable 2, it looks like they'll be waiting for a while longer -- on a Lionhead forum post asking whether or not the Albionic caper would be making its way to computers, community manager Woody swiftly answered, "We're not working on a PC version of Fable 2." As far as we can tell, no winks, nods or suggestive elbow nudges were included in the dispatch.Woody's statement seems contrary to a report which made the rounds late last week -- a report which claimed that a Lionhead rep confirmed that a PC version of Fable 2 was "likely imminent". Why the discrepancy? We contacted Lionhead's senior community manager, Sam Van Tilburgh, who explained that the quote embedded in said report wasn't legit. Get comfortable, WASDers -- it's looking like Molyneux's hero sim won't be hitting your platform of choice in the near future.[Via VideoGamer]
LittleBigPlanet leads in AIAS award nominations
The game industry's closest approximation of Hollywood's Academy Awards has to be the Interactive Achievement Awards. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has revealed its nominees for 2008, and LittleBigPlanet has managed to run away with ten category nominations, the most of any game this year. Ahem. And the nominees are: Overall Game of the Year: Fallout 3 Grand Theft Auto IV Left 4 Dead LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid 4 Console Game of the Year: Fallout 3 Gears of War 2 Grand Theft Auto IV LittleBigPlanet Metal Gear Solid 4 See the rest, after the break.
Underworld movie sponsors Fable 2 Play & Win
160,000 Microsoft points are up for grabs during this weekend's Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Sweepstakes and all you need to do to attempt to win your share of the MS point pot is to play Fable 2. Registration into the sweeps can be done online or via the XBLM and, once completed, you're required to play a Fable 2 co-op game. First prize is 80,000 MS points (enough to buy even the most expensive XBLM content) and the giveaway fun ends Monday, January 19th.
Molyneux says LittleBigPlanet is 2008's most creative innovation
You have to hand it to Peter Molyneux. Even though his game, Fable 2 can be proven in a court of law to be the best title of 2008, he chose another game, LittleBigPlanet, as the most creative innovation of 2008 in C&binet's (Creative and Business International Network) review of the creative economy. Now that's humility."LittleBigPlanet has outstanding creative vision," Molyneux said. "It's from a British start-up studio and is one of the defining titles on Japan's Sony PS3." Ohh, now we get it. It's because they're British. This is sceptred isle home cooking if we've ever seen it, friends. For shame, Pete. For shame.
Joystiq review: Fable 2's Knothole Island (DLC)
There's a man waiting for you at the Bowerstone docks. He's eager to stick you into his aquatic taxi and drop you off on the shores of Knothole Island. Like most helpful RPG citizens, he's been roped into a fetch quest: Find a hero and bring him or her back to the island community, which currently finds itself immobilized by frigid weather. At least, that's what you gather from the chief's note, gracelessly read to you word for word. Whether intentional or not, the sequence works as a cheeky parody of the add-on's Xbox Live Marketplace description.Is it worth the $10 asking price? Well, the truth is that your feelings on the main game will have already pushed you to the brink of a decision, and you just want us to push you that little bit further. We can tell you that everything you love (or loathe) about Fable 2 is on Knothole Island: the unwaveringly witty writing; the real estate opportunities; the charming townsfolk; and treasure. Oh, the treasure.%Gallery-38447%
