Apr. 1, 2008 - 4 all of you guys that are waiting for Fable 2 here you go!!!!!!
Last year during the 2007 Game Developer’s Conference, Peter Molyneux gave the world its first significant look at the follow up to his million-selling action RPG for the Xbox by showing us… a dog. So what did we expect from the Lionhead founder and game designing iconoclast Molyneux when he showed us the next trick up Fable 2’s wizard’s sleeve? A cat, maybe? Not this time. Molyneux’s Fable 2 is promising us something we’ve been waiting a long time for out of the action RPG genre. Co-operative play. First it was Man’s Best Friend, now it’s all about the Gamer’s Best Friend.
That promising development for a game that’s been looking more promising all the time, is hardly the only nugget Molyneux dropped while demoing the game live for a huge audience (in person and watching the live video streams) at the Xbox Keynote event at this year’s GDC. Fable 2 will be innovating in a number of ways, not only over the previous game in the series, but also over action RPG’s as a genre. Recent successes like Mass Effect and Oblivion, have left many gamers wondering how awesome co-operative play would be in those kinds of games.
Well, once Fable 2 shows up on store shelves in time for the next holiday season we’ll at least have a game to test the theory on. What’s been revealed so far about exactly how that co-op system is going to work is this: you’ll be able to join your friend’s game dynamically. In other words, wherever you’re playing, your friend can join immediately and pick up in the story where you are. You will appear as a “henchman”, although your skills, level and abilities will be determined by one of two things: either they will match those of the host’s character, or if you bring your gamer profile over to your buddy’s house, the game will read it and give your henchman all the same stats as your player. Even though you’re not playing as your own actual character (at least, not visually), it should be some great consolation that all the XP and gold you earn while playing as a friend’s henchman carries over to your profile.
And speaking of gold carrying over, Molyneux kicked off his presentation by playing a gambling game called TK that exists inside the world of Fable 2 and is sort of a mix between old casino stand-bys roulette and craps, and lets gamers bet on different outcomes and win money. But this game won’t just be playable in the world of Fable 2, it’s also an Xbox Live Arcade game. And not just that, whatever money you win in TK will carry over to your account in Fable 2. Since it will be available on Live before Fable 2 hits the system, you’ll actually be able to start Fable 2 with a bankroll of winnings you made on XBLA.
The game is looking better than ever, with the world looking more lush and gloriously lit. You can go almost anywhere now, as opposed to the first Fable which often made gamers feel fenced in, even when enjoying the great outdoors. Your dog is looking better than ever, with incredibly detailed fur and lots of new animations. In fact, when we asked Mr. Molyneux why a friend can’t bring their dog to your game when playing co-op, he said the animators weren’t too keen on animating the way dogs greet each other by sniffing each other’s butts. Can’t they just mo-cap that?
Combat was another area that has undergone some serious changes from the prior game. Your player equips a gun now, to go along with their melee weapon, and controls seem to follow a fairly intuitive scheme. Combat controls are spread over three buttons; X for sword attack, Y for ranged attack and B for magic. Of course you can generate combo attacks with different button combinations, but pulling off certain combos in co-op play – namely, one player using a gun and the other using a sword on the same enemy with just the right timing – can generate double gold and double xp for both players.
The last major element of the game that Mr. Molyneux proudly put on display, was the more human side of the game. The character he was playing as was a woman – you can play as either gender in Fable 2 – and previously he had married a man. He had even let his female character become pregnant and subsequently have a child.
When he returned to his farm that he bought for his female character’s husband and young son (lady adventurers must make a pretty decent chunk of change) after being away for a good deal of time, he got interesting reactions from the family. The boy was very happy to see his mother after so much time, and the husband was rather irritated and started nagging her. My Molyneux was sure to point out that none of this action was scripted, that it was pure simulation and that the entire game would play out this way. For instance, say a starving child is standing in front of you, begging for food and you’ve got a huge delicious looking pie. You can eat that pie right in front of that kid without giving him a crumb, and the reactions that generates will seem genuine.
As if to drive this point home, the henchman then shot the husband, showing that actions have consequences. That child is now an orphan (well, his Mom is never home, off slaying beasts and such) and your character is now a widow. The promise of characters actually living lives – growing older, getting married, having children, etc. – is what makes Fable 2 look so unique and interesting compared to other games of its ilk on the market. This holiday season we’ll see if it really turns out to be the emotionally resonant gaming experience that developer Lionhead is hoping for.
PREVIEW BY
Peter Molyneux
Comments
Apr. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by GacktFanGirl
......................................................................................................... That......... looks..................... AWESOME!!!! OMG I WANT IT NOW!!!!!! Lol
Apr. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LesandSmiley
Cool!
Hey! I'm Leslie! Want to be friends?
Apr. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by AnAmericanGirl
Wow, cool....ok, honestly I have no idea what you were saying. I'm not a video game person at all. But I do have fun watching my brother play xbox sometimes. Probably because he can make anyone in the world laugh. Gotta go, talk to you later.
God bless
Hannah
Apr. 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by JeterFan2
Cool!!!!
Now you owe me one. lol!
Apr. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by LesandSmiley
Awesome! I'll comment you when our we post our first webshow thingy! Thanks!
-Leslie
Apr. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by babyrach91
LoL! Awww I`m sorry :*( I didn`t know it was hard to find... But yeah...anyways....I get terribley car sick...if I ride in the back.. which usally I do so I like to sleep. LoL! <3
Apr. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Mydogfoxy
Hey!
Neat template! I like your playlist. =D
Brianna
Apr. 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Kalene
it only took us 3 hours! it was rly fun...and cool....lol...:]
Apr. 12, 2008 - Hey
Posted by Tink92
Just saying hey...
Nice blog
Mandy
May. 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Randomer
Those graphics dazzle my eyes....O.o must get xbox!!
