Fable-2
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PSA: Fable 2 Episodes now available, first hit's free
The first installment of Fable II Episodes is available now on Xbox Live -- for free. Think of it as an extended demo for the magical adventure that became the Joystiq Game of the Year for 2008. We have no idea where exactly the first episode ends and, more importantly, we have no idea how much the next servings will cost (we're waiting for confirmation).Depending on the total price, it may be better to pick up a physical copy of the game or wait for the "game of the year" edition. Don't let the first-hit-is-free drug dealer tactic reel you in while alternatives exist, friend.
TGS 2009: Microsoft's Phil Spencer easily envisions Fable, Natal crossover
Microsoft Game Studios' corporate vice president, Phil Spencer, doesn't seem like the easily startled type. In fact, on the list of things that wouldn't catch him off guard, the incorporation of Project Natal into a high-profile, Xbox 360-exclusive franchise probably doesn't sit very high. Perhaps a few spots below lots of people buying a new Halo game.During a Tokyo Game Show interview (look for the full transcript soon), Spencer told Joystiq that the innovation fostered inside Lionhead Studios made it a good match for Microsoft's forthcoming motion control system. "You know, Lionhead's been a real innovation studio for us," he said. "We have the release of Fable 2 episodic this week, where they're taking Fable 2 and breaking it up into chunks, allowing people to buy the content at their pace. Fable 2, I thought, was a great release, with the orbs they added with Live, adding new functionality to the franchise. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Natal found its way into future iterations of Fable."Whether or not motion functionality will show up in 2010's Fable 3 is a matter of speculation, though your role as king in that game would certainly lend itself to some interesting ... regal maneuvers. Waving your hand to permanently dispense with an annoying peasant? That's our kind of role playing.
Xbox 360's 'Deal of the Week,' Games on Demand, Avatar DLC for Sept.
Tossing the usual drip-fed weekly schedule aside for the moment, Microsoft has released the full details for its "Deal of the Week," Games on Demand and Avatar DLC releases (in the US) for the entire month of September. Let's start with Games on Demand: Games on Demand (no prices noted) Sept 8: Civilization Revolution Sept. 15: FIFA Street 3 Sept. 22: Shaun White Snowboarding Sept. 29: Fable II: Game Episodes -- (we'd hold out for that "game of the year" edition) Check after the break for the "Deal of the Week" and Avatar DLC details.
Fable 2: Game of the Year Edition confirmed
Eurogamer reports that Fable II: Game of the Year Edition has been confirmed by Microsoft. Furthermore, the site notes that the title will release in Europe on September 18 for €64.99/£39.99. Doing a little digging of our own, we uncovered the box art for the game (pictured above), which gives us some idea of what to expect in the package. According to the box, purchasers will receive: "More Quests! More Locations! More Choices!" If previous retail listings for the title are to be believed, all that "more" will be comprised of both the Knothole Island and See the Future DLC packs. So far, the Game of the Year Edition has only been confirmed for Europe, but we've contacted Microsoft for confirmation and details regarding a North American release.
Fable 3 will question the foundations on which Fable is built, says Molyneux
Hot off the announcement this morning of Fable 3 coming to Xbox 360 in 2010, Microsoft Game Studios of Europe head Peter Molyneux sat down to discuss the franchise a bit with GamesIndustry.biz. Though the acutely over-promising developer kept tight-lipped about details on the upcoming sequel, he did let slip that Fable 3 will question "some of the foundations that Fable [the franchise] is built on." We're not sure exactly what that means, but we already know that the gesture system has been given a major facelift. The moral choice aims to be a lot deeper than in Fable 2 as well, with Molyneux saying promises you make in your rise to power will affect your position as the people's ruler. We'll be sure to remember these promises when the game releases next year (that's three promises so far, Molyneux!). %Gallery-70430%
Fable II 'Episodic' revealed, pay-as-you-play starts Sept. 29 [update]
Peter Molyneux announced, during the Lionhead press conference at GamesCom, that Fable II episodic adventures are on the way. The first chapter is free. Once players get to the ending they can opt to buy the next chapter or buy the rest of the game. The purchase takes place in-game and there are five episodes.The first episode will release on September 29 and no prices have been revealed. The game is fully compatible with Knothole Island and See the Future. We'll keep working on getting more information.Update: Microsoft has clarified that this is not an extension of Fable II, but rather the retail game broken up into serialized chapters formally titled Fable II: Game Episodes. Xbox Live users will be able to download the initial episode, which serves as a "shell" for the rest of the game, on September 29. The original game disc is not required to play, and those who grab part one will have the option to purchase subsequent pieces or the entirety of Fable II (think of it like an XBLA trial). If you've downloaded any of the game episodes and decide to spring for the retail disc, your saves will carry over. No per-episode pricing has been announced but we're chasing more details.
Fable II Game of the Year Edition spotted
Console Monster reports that a listing for a Game of the Year Edition of Fable II has popped up on a pair of UK websites. The listing appears on both Play.com and ShopTo.net, and mentions exactly the kind of goodies you'd expect in a GOTY package. With a suggested retail price of £39.99 (~$65), the package includes both the Knothole Island and See the Future DLC, which normally cost 800 ($10) and 560 ($7), respectively. So, essentially, the package offers the original game and both pieces of DLC for standard retail price. Not a bad deal for those that have yet to set a next-gen foot in the world of Albion. This might be what the "revolutionary" countdown on Lionhead.com is all about -- though that seems unlikely. Either way, as the countdown isn't set to expire for another two days, we've asked both Microsoft and Lionhead to confirm if the listing is real, and also to clarify any plans for a North American release. We'll update this post with any new information. Source - Play.com -- Fable II: Game Of The Year Edition Source - ShopTo.net -- Fable II (2) (Game Of The Year)
Lionhead Studios website overthrown by Che Guevara [update]
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Lionhead_Studios_website_overthrown_by_Che_Guevara'; Update: It would appear as though Lionhead Studios' website has been overthrown by not one revolutionary but a series of them, as the site has updated today with a numeral five (countdown!) and an image of Maximilien Robespierre. Oh, you don't know who he is? He's one of those copycat French revolutionaries. A famous one, we promise. Now we're just hoping that at the end of the countdown, Lionhead doesn't overthrow the Internet.Don't you just hate it when your website gets overthrown by a long-dead South American revolutionary? Happens all the time! Well, okay, we're embellishing a bit, but it seems as though that's happened to Fable 2 developer Lionhead Studios' website. As you can see in the image above, Che Guevara's questioning gaze posits, "At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love," accompanied by a massive six. Sure, that could be six years or six celestial bodies orbiting around Lionhead prez Peter Molyneux's head at any given time, but we're thinking it pertains to a "special announcement" at next week's Euro convention, Gamescom, by the (in)famous developer. The email from Microsoft says, "Peter Molyneux, visionary developer and Creative Director of MGS Europe, will make a special announcement, so be sure to join us for this reveal." In the meantime, we'll be busily clicking between the thumbs up or down choice below Che's silhouette, watching as the sidebars change. It's called moral choice, folks. It's kind of popular.
The origin of Fable II's soundtrack
Develop has posted an interesting feature about the creation of the soundtrack to Fable II. The article tells the story behind the score through the words of its composer, Russell Shaw. Shaw says that he wanted the music "to convey the world of Albion but also enhance the story," noting that each region has its own particular sound. The music of Bowerstone, according to Shaw, is based on the keywords "Celtic, Scottish, folk and gentle," for example. Shaw also discusses the combat music, which flows and changes based on the size of the fight and on the actions taken by the player.On the state of music in the game industry, Shaw says, "This is a brilliant time to be in game music," noting that the barriers between game and movie composers have "pretty much eroded completely." If you've ever found yourself humming a Fable II tune -- if you've played the game, you probably have -- you should definitely give the article a read.
Fast travel, and why it's hard to find in MMO games
Rock Paper Shotgun has an interesting piece up looking at travel in massively multiplayer games, and while the analysis is really about travel in all MMOs, of course World of Warcraft gets placed front and center -- with the notable exceptions of Mages and Warlock summons, it's a game that squarely places you in its vast world, and asks you to make some solid decisions about where you want to be. While travel has certainly gotten easier (and will continue to do so), it's still an important part of the world -- sometimes, when you're in a backwater zone and your hearthstone is down and there's no summons available to you, you've just got to get on a griffon and put the time in to fly around.Why is that? Why can't we just teleport around at will to places we've been before (a la Fallout 3 or Fable 2, if you've ever played those games)? Why does Blizzard make us traverse the wide world? RPS lands on two solutions: either they just want you to play the game more (certainly possible, especially since big worlds with long travel times and subscription fees are a trademark of the MMO genre), or they're just being jerks about it. But their panelists, and Blizzard, have offered one more suggestion: they want this world to feel vast, and one way to do that is to make you move around it rather than warp anywhere you want at a moment's notice.Then again, that's some deep psychology, and sometimes you just want to get in an instance with your friends and fight (hence the recent changes to summoning anywhere, queueing from anywhere, and so on). Travel definitely serves a purpose in MMOs, but the genre has shown in the past few years that while instant travel all the time might shrink the world a little too much, sometimes you just need to get to where you want to be.[via Slashdot]
Xbox Live Deal of the Week: Fable 2's Knothole Island [update]
Update: Okay folks, it seems to be showing up at the discounted price now (make sure you're signed in to Xbox.com). The deal is for Gold members only.For all of you wannabe Meteorologists out there, the problematic weather of Fable 2's Knothole Island awaits you and all of your cunning. The Lionhead community blog reveals the DLC will be discounted up until July 5. Normally 800, the DLC will receive a price cut of 30%, knocking it down to a more manageable 560. You already know our thoughts on the add-on, so we suggest you stock up on mainland items and head to Knothole Island for some rare goodies in the Box of Secrets. And, you know, tackle a dungeon or three.Add Knothole Island to your download queue%Gallery-38447%
Albionian hero spawns 537 babies, ye olde physicians baffled
"We've never seen anything like it," Bowerstone physician Bloodlettin' Sam said. "It defies the small amount of science we've been able to discern."Everyone, it seems, is at a loss for words over the unprecedentedly fruitful loins of Albionian hero "Evan1357," who, together with beloved wife Sadie the Farmer, has sired 537 children. Child Protection Services officials have been hesitant to investigate the hero ("he's just so handsome, all we want to do is marry him," they said in their defense), while Mrs. the Farmer's spirits were remarkably high, all things considered."People ask me how I manage to push so many human beings out of my body. The secret is to simply OOOHHHH NOOOO IIIIT'S HAPPENINIIIING AGAAAAIIN," said Mrs. the Farmer, proud mother of 537 538 children.
PSA: Fable 2 'See the Future' DLC now available
OK, so, as you'd know if you read our review, there's not a whole lot of future seeing to be done here. But, nomenclature issues aside, there are some beefy new Fable 2 missions in the "See the Future" DLC which, just a reminder, is now available on Xbox Live. If you're unwilling to part with the 560 MS Points ($7), there's still a chance you could win a free copy. But, as we're talking about Joystiq's 2008 Game of the Year, we think you owe it to Lionhead to pony up the cash. Heck, you owe it to us.
Joyswag: Fable 2 'See the Future' DLC [update]
Update: Entry into this giveaway is now closed. Winners have been selected and notified via electronic mail. Check your inbox to see if you won.Hopefully, you foresee good luck in your future, because we're awarding 25 random readers new Fable 2 downloadable content. That's right, to celebrate this Tuesday's release of the Fable 2 "See the Future" expansion, we're holding a giveaway. Simply follow the instructions below and, in no time at all, you may be wandering around Albion with a new Dalmatian dog and an extra 250 Gamerscore, free of charge. Leave a comment telling us what you see in your future five years from now You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) Limit 1 entry per person This entry period ends at 2:00 pm ET on Tuesday, May 12. At that time, we'll randomly select 25 winners to receive a redemption code for Fable 2 "See the Future" (ARV: $7). Please check your email! For a list of complete rules, click here %Gallery-49378%
Joystiq review: Fable 2: See the Future (DLC)
Click for more Blue Man Group You can't really trust that Murgo guy. A trader by profession and a swindler by nature, Murgo returns to Bowerstone Market in Fable 2's "See the Future" add-on to sell you some odds, some ends and a few more plot devices. Seemingly unaware of the true nature of his own wares, the smooth-talking salesman offers several cursed items to you, each with a very low cost of entry. It's getting out that's tricky.%Gallery-49378%
Lionhead gives a sneak video peek at next Fable 2 DLC
Oh Lionhead, we're going to miss these little chats. For nearly two years, Lionhead developer diaries have been our link to the company, and, in our darker moments, the only thing keeping us going. Now, we're getting our last sneak peek at Fable 2 in the final developer diary, this time centered on the upcoming "See the Future" DLC.We haven't watched it yet, but we're going to preemptively say "Oh God, it looks so good, we want to play it so bad. Oh please, oh please, just come out already." We'll be sure to edit the post if we're wrong ... which we're not.
See Fable 2's future on May 12
Information continues to trickle in from the trusty crystal ball regarding Fable 2's upcoming "See the Future" DLC, which Lionhead now reveals will be available on May 12. The content will cost 560 ($7) Microsoft Points, a currency that thankfully still holds value in the distant future.In addition to adding in new items, quests and fluffy companions, Lionhead also promises that all Xbox Live Silver account holders will be able to adventure alongside their Gold cousins for free from May 8 through May 11. So grab your dog and your favorite sword -- the future's waiting.%Gallery-49378%
More dog breeds with Fable 2's 'See the Future' DLC
Beyond Achievements for love making and nut shots (and many other items and quests), Lionhead's upcoming DLC for Fable 2, "See the Future," will also offer up more dog breeds. IGN has images of a hound, husky and dalmation. Lionhead's Mark Hill says the breed changes are mostly aesthetic, but some "may become slightly better fighters.""See the Future" should be available sometime next month for 560 ($7). Now, if we could only see the future enough to provide an exact release date.%Gallery-49378%
Lionhead sees the future, unveils Achievements for Fable 2 DLC
Bringing the game's grand total up to 1350 points, the full list of Achievements for Fable 2's upcoming DLC, "See the Future," has been unveiled by the Lionhead Community blog. Since it includes such classy Achievements as "The Paramour: Make love 25 times" and "The Nutcracker: Score 25 groin shots," we're quite certain those venturing back into Albion will find no shortage of buffoonery to engage in.We're still not quite certain what day in the next month the second add-on will arrive, but we do know it's fetching 560 ($7). Considering we're rounding the end of April any minute now, though, we imagine Fable 2 developer Lionhead Studios will see fit to announce a release date soon. Now that's seeing the future.[Thanks, Aaron!]
$400 Xbox 360 Elite Games of the Year bundle with Halo 3 and Fable 2 gets official
Those of you guessing that our mystery Xbox 360 birthday prize was that rumored new Elite bundle with Halo 3 and Fable 2 were exactly right -- and now that Microsoft's gotten official with it we can share the full details. $400 gets you a 120GB Elite 360 with the two games, a free Netflix trial, a 12-month Live Gold subscription and tokens for the Halo 3 "Mythic Map" and Fable 2 "Knothole Island" downloads. Not a bad deal at all, especially if you're looking to upgrade to a Jasper unit -- anyone going to pony up?Update: Microsoft pinged us to let us know that the free Live subscription and DLC tokens were just for the giveaway bundles they made up for us -- the regular GOTY bundles just have the games and the Netflix trial. Lame, we know.
