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Molyneux: Fable 3 news at X10 will make you 'super pissed off'
Speaking to Gamereactor, Lionhead maestro Peter Molyneux revealed that there will be some big Fable 3 news at the X10 event this week. "There's some very, very big things happening in Fable," said Molyneux, "Bigger than you think, and it's going to really upset people." Molyneux added that he is "really scared" about telling people the news, saying, "They're going to get super pissed off, they really are." Still, he concluded that it's "the right thing to do," and confirmed that he will be demonstrating the mystery announcement at X10 in San Francisco. Joystiq's theory: The entire story of Fable 2 was a dream sequence. Whatever it is, we'll be delivering the news directly from X10, so Joystiq's staff and readers can all get pissed off together. In the meantime, be sure to watch the whole interview, which also contains some really interesting talk about Project Natal. [Via VG247]
Halo Wars, Fable 2 join Europe's Xbox 360 Classics
Eurogamer reports that two new games have been added to the Xbox 360 Classics budget line in EU territories. The two games are Fable II and Halo Wars. If you need a refresher, Fable II is Lionhead's brilliant, charming adventure that we kind of liked back in 2008. Halo Wars on the other hand, serves as both the first Halo RTS spin-off and the swan song of Ensemble Studios. The games can now be had for the tempting price of £19.99 ($31) apiece. Both are worth picking up -- just be sure to watch out for those Warthog rushes.
Fable 3 'almost at its final edit' stage, says Molyneux
The head of MGS Europe assuredly has a few more things on his plate than the third game in a franchise he helped create, but in a recent feature on Peter Molyneux at Develop, the British creator calmly pronounced the game to be nearing its "final edit" stage of production. Whether he means "ready for submission to Microsoft" or "we haven't started polishing it yet" (or, heck, anywhere in between) remains unclear, though we'd certainly like to get our hands on the final product sooner rather than later. Additionally, Molyneux triple dips on his love for Valve, proclaiming Half-Life 2 as his "favourite" game ever (you crazy Brits!) as well as the game he would most like to have worked on, and also notes the developer as the one he most admires (get a room, you two!). And hey, if you've been hankering to know his "favourite" album, it's Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." (Yep, we were kind of disappointed too.)
Xbox 360 Platinum Hits lineup adds Halo Wars, Orange Box and others
Xbox.com has listed several new games as Platinum Hits, including Fable II (aka Game of the Year Edition), Halo Wars, Left 4 Dead, The Orange Box, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Ninja Gaiden II, Kung-Fu Panda, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Sonic The Hedgehog, and Sonic Unleashed. A Microsoft PR agent couldn't confirm the full list of new Platinum Hits (are we missing any above?), but said that if a game is listed as such on Xbox.com, it's a Platinum Hits title. The changes seem to have taken effect on major retailer sites, as GameStop and Amazon now reflect the discounted Platinum prices (if not always the the Platinum Hits branding), which range from $20–30. With Orange Box requiring only one Jackson ($20), it's now literally a crime to not own it. Conversely, if you're dead-set on committing a crime, buy someone Sonic The Hedgehog or Sonic Unleashed at $20 each. [Thanks, Stephen]
Job listing points to unannounced Lionhead project
Most would think that Lionhead is already plenty busy with both Fable III and Milo & Kate, both of which will support Project Natal. Apparently that's not busy enough for Peter Molyneux & Co., as Lionhead has posted a job listing for a network programmer who will take part "developing and maintaining the network code of an unannounced title." The listing gives no clues as to what the game might be, though it does ask that potential candidates be familiar with both the Xbox 360 and PC. With any luck, maybe we'll see the mystery project alongside next month's Fable III reveal. We're not counting on it though. What the game is -- if it's even a full game -- is anyone's guess. A new Populous, perhaps? A Fable application similar to Halo Waypoint? Our best guess: Peter Molyneux's Hype. [Via VG247]
Fable III to see the light of day next month
Lionhead community manager Sam Van Tilburgh recently teased his Twitter followers with a pair of less-than-140-character missives. Tilburgh spent this past weekend "writing storyboard summaries for two new Fable 3 videos," which will apparently "come out when we show Fable 3 for the 1st time at an event next month in SF." Of course, for that second Tweet, we're assuming "SF" stands for San Francisco, and not a much smaller venue, such as "Sam's Foyer." We're not certain what event Tilburgh is talking about -- it's possible that Lionhead might be planning its own event to introduce the world to the flatulence-simulating technology it's discovered over the past year. Regardless, we're not too far off from seeing more of Fable 3, and that fills us with joy. [Via Eurogamer]
Capcom employee recreates Fable II's Fortune's Tower pub game
This has to be the most endearing display of cross-developer love we've seen during our games writing careers. Capcom's Shawn Baxter (a.k.a. "Snow,") recently posted on the company's community blog about his latest D.I.Y. project -- a real-life version of Fortune's Tower, one of the pub games featured in Fable II. Oh, and in Fable II Pub Games, though you probably didn't need us to tell you that. Words can't really describe this two-month, $400 project as well as pictures, so hop on over to Capcom's blog and check out the delectable fruits of Baxter's labor. If you're of a crafty ilk, the post also contains a few blueprints you can follow to make your own Fortune's Tower set. We probably won't post about yours, though. This is a one-time thing.
Tattooed dude is more into Lionhead than you
That's a bold statement in the headline, but it's one we can back up pretty easily by revealing that those are his pecs just above. They've been adorned, as you can see, with not one but two mirrored logos for Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios. Though the end product is pretty impressive, we can't help but be a little disappointed to see that it doesn't cover his entire body, glow in the dark and emit soothing jazz music at opportune moments as Molyneux originally promised.
Molyneux: Milo will boast collective object recognition, accept half-eaten fruit
From a four-by-four pixel face, to a loyal pooch, to an inquisitive youth -- that's the path Peter Molyneux has taken in his quest to find life within technology. "Right, can we dare to create a character which anybody interacting with that character would truly believe was alive?" the renowned designer recently asked attendees of the annual BAFTA Video Game Lecture (transcribed by The Guardian). Harnessing the motion-sensitive camera in Microsoft's Project Natal, Molyneux hopes to breathe that life into a young boy -- or girl! -- named Milo (or Millie!). While he admits that much of it is "smoke and mirrors and tricks," he provided some interesting insight into the technology put to use behind the scenes. It seems Milo won't just recognize you (his imaginary, otherworldly friend), but everyday objects as well. "Firstly the process of scanning is really lovely, you just reach your arm up, you can also scan in three dimensional objects, for example if you are eating an apple you can give that apple to Milo and he will carry on eating the apple," the Lionhead lead explained. But will Milo scan candy held aloft by strangers?"Or the other thing that is amazing about this technology and this is the online portion of inspiration, we are collecting continuing to collect and improve his object recognition skills." If his plans come to fruition, Molyneux envisions "all the Milos that will be released" feeding their observations into a centralized recognition of "everything in the world." To Skynet alarmists: Have you seen this boy?
Reminder: Fable II Pub Games is Xbox Live 'deal' of the week
Fable 2's Pub Games was a brilliant way to prep players for adventures in Albion before the game's release last year, but its post-launch price of $10 seemed like a bit of a gamble. It's this week's Xbox Marketplace "deal" at 400 ($5). Considering that Pub Games was designed as a glorified piece of marketing, wouldn't it make sense to release it for free to generate renewed interest in the Fable 2: Game of the Year Edition (in which it is also included) or the episodic download? Surely that's the better bet. Add Fable II Pub Games to your queue %Gallery-27142%
In-game 'shop' will bring microtransactions to Fable 3
Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux isn't just pushing the curve on Xbox 360 with now-confirmed Project Natal support in Fable 3; during his speech at the annual BAFTA gathering, the legendary designer revealed his intent to integrate an "in-game shop" within the game world, enabling players to purchase DLC without disrupting the game experience (i.e. exiting to the Xbox Live Marketplace). In a report on the presentation, That VideoGame Blog noted that Molyneux had suggested special weapons, for example, could be sold for about £1 ($1.70).Also mentioned were plans to offer "travel" to new areas of the game world (think Fable 2's DLC destinations) for a fee. Molyneux thankfully didn't suggest that such things as tattoos, hair dye and the like -- which were purchased using the in-game currency of Fable 2 -- would be for-pay in its sequel. We imagine that getting the town crier to announce you as "Supreme Ruler of the Universe Who's Better Than Anyone Else at Fable 3 Ever" will carry a modest fee.[Thanks, Rain!]
Microsoft details October's Xbox Live Deal of the Week specials [update]
Update: Houston, we have prices! As you already know, this week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week is none other than Prince of Persia's 'Epilogue' DLC. We're not here to talk about that, though -- instead, we're here to give you the heads up on what the rest of this month has in store for penny-pinching purchasers looking for goodies on Xbox Live. So let's get to it: October 12 Hasbro Family Game Night (Battleship, Connect 4, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Boggle and Sorry! Sliders discounted to 400) October 19 Resident Evil 5's Versus mode (discounted to 240) October 26 Fable II Pub Games (discounted to 400) Pub Games is the only title with its planned discount listed, so you'll have to wait until the appropriate time to know how much the others are discounted for. We're sorry we boggled your mind with savings, only to battle your ship -- ah, forget it, that joke could never work.
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.
Molyneux announces Fable III at GamesCom, coming 2010 [update]
Peter Molyneux has just announced Fable III is coming later in 2010. You'll play as the son or daughter of your Fable II hero and start a revolution to become the ruler of Albion. We'll update with more details soon. He's just dropping so much info right now. Be back soon!Update: Added details after the break.%Gallery-70430%
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)
