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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]
Normal service resumed: FIFA 14 reclaims UK No. 1, Fable Anniversary debuts third
FIFA 14 succumbed to a revamped re-release last week, but it fended off Fable Anniversary to resume its rule over the UK. Proving the intrusion by Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition was just a blip, EA's sporting superstar notched its 10th week total as the country's No. 1 - it's only the 11th game to achieve that feat in Chart-Track's ten-year history. As for Fable Anniversary, the Xbox 360 HD-ificiation debuted well at retail, taking third this week. It placed just behind perennial runner-up Call of Duty: Ghosts and just ahead of last week's chart leader, Tomb Raider DE. While FIFA 14 will no doubt continue to sell gazillions as the World Cup approaches, next week should see its pegged back by the first of February's big-hitters: Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13. After that, the next two weeks brings us Thief, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.
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Joystiq Weekly: Sonic's scarf, The Banner Saga and heart-monitoring horror
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. Sonic has a history of being a bit too social for his own good, but the roster shown for Sonic Boom's reveal on the 3DS and Wii U? Not bad! We can deal with Amy Rose and the newly tank-like Knuckles, but if Silver the Hedgehog shows up at some point? The deal is off. Aside from a new Sonic cycle, this week brought rough news from Sony, a review of The Banner Saga and an awards show that didn't hurt to watch! We've got that and much more ready for you to devour after the break.
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]
Joystiq Streams: Fable Anniversary with special guests from Lionhead [Update: Relive the stream!]
Joystiq Streams doesn't get dopey about the past. We play games that were released in 1992 because we're classicists! Nostalgia has nothing to do with it. We would be lying, however, if we said that Fable Anniversary doesn't make us just a bit misty, what with its fine HD rendering of Lionhead's first adventure in Albion. In today's special edition stream, Lionhead will join us as we play around in a preview build of of the game, kicking chickens, learning magic, and proposing to everyone who passes by. Richard Mitchell will be playing, Anthony John Agnello will be hanging in the chat. Be there at the Joystiq Twitch channel at 12p.m. EST and chat with Lionhead and the Joystiq crew live.
Fable Anniversary trailer looks back with bloom-colored glasses
' Ten years! Ten years since we got to hear the citizens of Albion yelp in unison as we ran through town holding up a monster's severed head, raising our notoriety as we went. Ten years since we flirted with bar patrons, married them, then scoffed at their criticisms of our new tattoos. This trailer for Fable Anniversary looks back a decade, contrasting the warm colors and aggressive bloom lighting in this HD remake of Lionhead's classic with footage of the original. The facelift looks quite nice, even on a game that's aged well in its original state.
Lionhead working on 'other sorts of games' that aren't 'Fable-esque'
Lionhead has something in the works that doesn't have anything to do with the Fable series. "We're working on other different sorts of games as well that we're not talking about right now and won't be Fable-esque," Lionhead boss John Needham enigmatically confirmed with Eurogamer. Producer Stuart Whyte added that Lionhead is "not just a Fable studio" and that "where we are at the moment we've had a lot of Fable games in recent times, but I wouldn't say that we're just Fable." Whyte concluded that he "can't really say any more" about Lionhead's current development slate. The studio's latest Fable game is the Fable Anniversary collection, due February 4, on Xbox 360 Lionhead was acquired by Microsoft in 2006 and has since worked entirely on the Fable series. Needham took over the role of studio boss last year, after serving stints at Cryptic Studios and Gazillion.
Fable Trilogy coming to Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is getting a Fable Trilogy package that includes Fable Anniversary, Fable 2 and Fable 3, Microsoft confirmed. "The Fable Trilogy bundle in the Xbox Marketplace is real and in development," a Microsoft spokesperson told Gamespot. "The bundle will include full Xbox 360 titles for Fable Anniversary, Fable II, and Fable III. We're excited to share official details regarding the release soon on Lionhead.com." The bundle has a release date of February 4 on Xbox Marketplace, though Microsoft hasn't confirmed launch plans. Fable Anniversary, the HD remake of Fable, is due out on February 4 (yep, that's the same day listed for the bundle) for Xbox 360. The Fable Trilogy description warns that those who already own any of the included games won't get a second copy if they buy the bundle, nor will they get a discount.
Fable Anniversary goes gold, pre-order bonuses detailed
Fable Anniversary, the HD re-tread of the first game in Lionhead's RPG series, is ready to be pressed to disc, the developer has announced on its blog. In fact, Lionhead writes that physical copies are being created "as we speak." That means that soon, they'll also be ready to be shipped, sold and played. Barring any unfortunate complications or mishaps, we should be ready to explore Albion again on February 4. Lionhead also announced the game's pre-order bonuses: a pirate outfit with sword, a guard outfit with Jackarse fish weapon, and an outfit based on the character Apollo with crossbow. The post didn't yet specify which retailer will be getting which bonus, but it did state that the pre-order bonuses will be made available for purchase "later in the year."
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.
Molyneux on Fable Legends: 'I'm a fan'
After a report emerged on Peter Molyneux's "mixed feelings" towards the recently unveiled Fable Legends, I asked the veteran designer if he had any resentment over seeing a major Fable entry crafted without his involvement. His answer was a quick, cheerful "Not at all." "I'm now more of a fan than a person involved in it," Molyneux told me. "They're very talented people [at Lionhead], I'd just be fascinated to see where they're taking it. They've announced the Legends route which I find intriguing." Molyneux previously expressed surprise that Lionhead isn't carrying over the Fable story to make Fable 4, saying "there was a great prize to be won there." Instead, the upcoming Xbox One game will be multiplayer-centric, trading character creation for more defined heroes. Speaking to me at last week's Eurogamer Expo, Molyneux was upbeat, albeit somewhat cautious about the project. "I'm a fan. I like the idea, it seems to be a playful idea, and I'm gonna be fascinated to see how that evolves. Until they make a game and I can get my hands on it... then maybe I'll think to myself 'Oh God why did they do this and that?' But at the moment I'm intrigued and fascinated."
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.
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%
