I wasn't exactly sure in which part of the forum to put this, but I think this one will be for it.

I was wondering how other gamers felt about the direction Lionhead has been going in with it's choice of what games to make.

After Black and White and The Movies, it appears that by far most attention is put on the Fable series. Part 3 is in the works allready. Fable has a lot of fans, but with Lionhead's foundation being firmly in god-games, not RPGs, I was wondering what the whole of the fan-base felt about where Lionhead is going as a company. Do you prefer that they keep working on their Fable franchise and the occational 'odd game out' like Milo, or do you want to see more of their god-game roots come back? Do you want them to make lots of sequals, or lots of completely new concepts? And how do you think Lionhead has done in the past decade or so? (when whas Lionhead founded again?)

Peter Molyneux has proven himself and the companies he has founded to be masters of the god game. This is where Peter excels, in my opinion.
Fable was a fun, yet remarkably average action adventure. I'd hesitate to call it an RPG. There's no doubt the Fable series is , and it's obvious it's appealing to a bigger market in today's game industry climate. But it's disappointing for gamers like me to see Lionhead stuck in this kind of game, because there's a recession or because of Microsoft or for whatever reason.
Milo is a far more interesting thing than Fable to me, despite the concept being something that wouldn't appeal to me. I was really hoping for a Natal Black and White to be honest. I can't see how that wouldn't be a wonderful, amazing thing. I have absolutely no interest in Fable III at current time, because Lionhead and Microsoft are obtusely ignoring the PC gamers that have supported this company for a long time.
If this is going to be the continued direction of Lionhead, I shall only be here for the beer. That's found in OT.

Ideally what I'd like to see from Peter Molyneux is his creativity once again. In a magical fantasy world, I'd want to see new concepts, new IP's. Bringing new features to the Fable series is all well and , but it's basically like polishing a rock. It never stops being one, no matter how much attention you give it. If you'd let me be pathetic and poetic for a moment, I want to see those gems that I'm fairly certain Molyneux has thought up in the back of his head. I want to see the things that made me buy every single Bullfrog game and every single Lionhead game, save Fable II which I've been thus far been denied of for this 'Xbox exclusive' nonsense.
It's a bad direction for me. Might be a one for Lionhead. I'm a gamer, so I'm selfish, and that means I don't want regurgitated sequels.

---

The only thing worse than beating a dead horse is betting on one.

Like Del said Fable is more appealing to the majority. I myself don't really care for god games but I like Fable. However I could see them making another Black and White down the road because of natal they would work so well together if Natal actually works the way they say it does. Lionhead has been  focused on Fable as of late but they have two teams, (The other is making Milo). I expect the other team will make another natal game after Milo maybe Black and White 3 which I would get. 

---

*Warning 'Officially Awesome!' is a registered phrase of Fata1moose Corporation using it will result in lawsuit.*

Aynen:

Fable has a lot of fans, but with Lionhead's foundation being firmly in god-games, not RPGs, I was wondering what the whole of the fan-base felt about where Lionhead is going as a company. Do you prefer that they keep working on their Fable franchise and the occational 'odd game out' like Milo, or do you want to see more of their god-game roots come back? Do you want them to make lots of sequals, or lots of completely new concepts?

I think if a studio is producing consistently titles, then the creative direction or the coice of genre shouldn't really matter to any but the most hard won, hardcore fans, who fear change in all its guises, and who want obviously, more and more of what they like.

Some can sing about wanting innovation and ground-breaking ideas, setting benchmarks and rasing bars, but in my opinion, and unlike a lot of other studios' releases, Lionhead titles don't seem to age. I can still sit and play Fable on Xbox, or Black & White on PC, and enjoy myself. They're games. Those ground-breaking ideas, while they haven't in the past, can potentially flop, may as well strike while the iron's lukewarm, and offer new titles through different channels (different, offshoot dev teams).

Of course, with the announcement of another Fable so soon after Fable II, there's a fear that the EA-esque monster of The Sims franchise is taking hold, and that it's more important to have a title on the shelves while the going is , than it is to have something that made your studio what it is... something NEW!

The Sims virus is more of the same for those more of the same hardcore fans who'll buy anything from a rucksack with the logo on it, to a mobile phone ringtone with the theme of Bowerstone playing. But if the titles are consistently - I picked faults with Fable II and was a slightly underwhelmed, but I played it through three times in about four days and certainly got my money's worth - then how can a fan of the studio complain, or suggest changes?

I would say, Black & White 2 does what most God games don't, offers easy access and is still graphically superior to the SimCity's and Civs out there, another expansion could have been sold at any time in the past four years and it would have done all right, if not well. Because there didn't seem to be a desire to add any fuel to the B&W fanbase by offering multiplayer, leads me to believe B&W has been buried and won't make another showing for a while yet.

Aynen:

And how do you think Lionhead has done in the past decade or so? (when whas Lionhead founded again?)

Not a bad title to date, in my opinion.

deliriousstudios:

I have absolutely no interest in Fable III at current time, because Lionhead and Microsoft are obtusely ignoring the PC gamers that have supported this company for a long time. I want to see the things that made me buy every single Bullfrog game and every single Lionhead game, save Fable II which I've been thus far been denied of for this 'Xbox exclusive' nonsense.

I'm not sure by reading that you're saying you haven't played Fable II because it was a 360 exclusive? If so, if you haven't played Fable 2, it would be a stretch and a half to imagine that you'd be looking forward to Fable 3.

deliriousstudios:

t's a bad direction for me. Might be a one for Lionhead. I'm a gamer, so I'm selfish, and that means I don't want regurgitated sequels.

Looking at Fable to Fable 2, you'd think there was ten years seperating them. Xbox to 360, it's an amazing leap in visuals and potential from my POV. I wouldn't write Fable 2 off as a regurgitated sequel, but a natural progression of the series. But I do think Fable 3 should have been held back for another leap in the generation of consoles... it's too soon for another installment in my opinion.

I think nobody could deny that a Fable 3 on the next generation of consoles (or console if an exclusive title) would have been a mouth-watering prospect over more of the same (or let's say slightly improved over Fable 2) on the current generation of consoles (console). But then, there are those hardcore fans who can't wait and have their money ready for more. Fable will grow udders and is ready to be milked.

For me, though I own various platforms and don't really favour any if the games are , I think for the PC gamers, an expansion for B&W2 here, or a fresh idea in God games over there through the years would have been nice.

I still think, at the risk of repeating myself three times in one post, B&W2 still has more to offer than most God games out there, even as old as it is, and could use that expansion. Multiplayer... anyone? Dowloadable content? Creatures, buildings... it's a ready made cow, just needs letting out of the barn once in a while to be milked.

---

"Deus lo vult!"

Personally, I'm at a point where I'm doubting if I'll buy Fable 3, but then, Lionhead has a way of pulling very unique bunnies out of their hat, even with sequals. And at this point I don't know if Fable 3 will have one such bunny that'll make me change my mind. I do, however, actually miss the B&W series. The Movies went a little bit 'over my head', BC didn't really interest me, even though I beta-tested it at the time, but that was being made by a satelite company, so let's pretend that it doesn't count.

And I'll be honest, agreeing with Onione here, having Fable 3 come so soon after Fable 2 has me worried. Might be unfounded, might not be. But since a B&W 3 wouldn't worry me at this point I'd say there is a defenite difference in my expentancy pattern of each series.

Also, since the bunnies this team pulled out of it's hat in their Bullfrog days where definit classics in my book, I'd say they are capable of a lot more than Fable and Black & White sequels. And I'd want that originallity to be put to better use than sequels.

deliriousstudios:

It's a bad direction for me. Might be a one for Lionhead. I'm a gamer, so I'm selfish, and that means I don't want regurgitated sequels.

Don't think I don't understand (or partially agree) with where you're coming from, I surely do!  But in Fable III's defense it seems to be the most god-like of all the three Fables.  Ruling a kingdom, trying to please the masses, being able to be cruel or kind to your people, etc.  To be honest, of the three Fable titles it holds the potential for being my favorite, if only because of the heightened "god game" theme it seems to be moving towards.

Mortalitis_Infinitas:

deliriousstudios:

It's a bad direction for me. Might be a one for Lionhead. I'm a gamer, so I'm selfish, and that means I don't want regurgitated sequels.

Don't think I don't understand (or partially agree) with where you're coming from, I surely do!  But in Fable III's defense it seems to be the most god-like of all the three Fables.  Ruling a kingdom, trying to please the masses, being able to be cruel or kind to your people, etc.  To be honest, of the three Fable titles it holds the potential for being my favorite, if only because of the heightened "god game" theme it seems to be moving towards.

And Lord know's Mort likes to play God with all those Human to Horse splicing experiments going on in his basement... ... in all honesty though this is what's giving me a little more interest in Fable 3 the ability to run a kingdom, however I don't know too much about how you will be able to run the kingdom so I'm still a little sceptical about all this, I wonder if you decide on the amount of taxing and funding your going to give to each district, it would be interesting to see a district with a very high amount of tax with a very low amount funding turn into a crime ridden gutter.

---

"IrishMorn"
If Adon and Sagat step in....ah, what the hell, I'll get drunk and join in on that one.

Perhaps Mort, perhaps. I shall wait and see. If they're going to continue to not bother with us Windows people though, I simply can't gather any enthusiasm.

---

The only thing worse than beating a dead horse is betting on one.