Legendary Game Maker Peter Molyneux Talks Regrets and What's Next

When Peter Molyneux – the charismatic designer of Fable, Populous, and Black & White, among other seminal video games – announced a couple of years ago that he was going to stop talking so much, a lot of people didn't believe him. He was the seventh person inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, after designers like Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, Civilization creator Sid Meier, Id Software founder John Carmack, and SimCity creator Will Wright. He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards in 2011. He was even honored with an OBE, the Order of the British Empire, in the 2004 New Year's Honors list. Yet by the point in his career that he was for this particular announcement, Molyneux had became almost as famous for not delivering on grand pronouncements as he was for delivering extraordinary video games.

[Nyxus]

No one should sell any studio they care about to EA.

[indysurfn]

This is the same jerk that said they will not fix the game because only 1.5% of all gamers get to the end anyway? I still wasted 59 dollars and hours of game play and especially the frustration trying to get around the bug until I heard his reply to it.

[Mr Pumblechook]

This interview is from March 31st!

[indysurfn]

Yes this interview is WAY after He said that. I don't forget people that screw me over.

[stuna1]

EA and Microsoft are the destroyer of studio's!

[Cyborgg]

Well said

[darthv72]

Only half right...

[Godmars290]

@darthv72:
The example of Rare, one of the few surviving studios - in name only - would disagree.

[Zeref]

Sony shuts down studios too...

[Bahamut]

Sony wouldn't let a franchise like Fable just die.

[Cyborgg]

It's not affecting them though.

[USMC_POLICE]

@Bahamut, they let socom and syphonfilter just die.

[darthv72]

Bahamut... did Fable die or is it just tucked away for the time being?

[AmstradAmiga]

@Bahamut

Pure speculation based on what? Regardless of what you think Sony is a business trying to remain profitable. FYI in 2014 Sony downsized by over 1,000 employees, Santa Monica Studios (i.e. Wipeout) being part of the casualties. The year before Sony had downsized by 10,000 employees.

[Auron]

Sony shuts down their handhelds too
@bahamut fable isnt dead.. lionhead just sucked and got shut down. FIII was garbage.

[michellelynn0976]

Yeah they do, but not nearly like Microsoft or EA. Sony has only done two.

[Juvia]

Are you really trying to say that Sony is at the same level as Microsoft or EA? That is madness, little kitten.

I realize you xbots are desperate to lash out at Sony for whumping you this gen, but there's something to be said for losing gracefully.

[madforaday]

@USMC_POLICE

How did they let Socom die? They came out with Confrontation and Socom 4. Confrontation was really good only after 6 months of it's release. Then they killed it with the DLC. Socom 4 was Zipper's redemption but failed even worse than Confrontation and with no way to fix because it was just awful. Zipper killed Socom. Zipper also messed up MAG towards the end with the crappy DLC that you couldn't even get into because you couldn't get enough people to play. Also, Zipper made a meh Vita game as well. Zipper had a lot of chances to redeem themselves has developers. I just think Bend Studios didn't want to make another Syphon shooter because they are still around and are now making a new IP.

[Bigpappy]

"Sony wouldn't let a franchise like Fable just die."

But they would kill Motor Storm?

[Knushwood Butt]

Socom 4 was a lot of fun in online co-op.

Confrontation was just pain.

[Bennibop]

@Zeref Sony has also opened new studios though

[Godmars290]

But they've made games before being shut down. Have long running histories of making games, while under Sony's umbrella, before being shut down. Versus being known for making games, being bought my MS, not making game for years or making one game after many years of nothing, only to be shut down before that one game under MS is released. If its released.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Brother man you sound pretty salty about Xbox. Alavrez kingdom king for a reason

[michellelynn0976]

So true.

[sk8ofmnd]

Ea and Ms are the black holes of the gaming industry... gamers are finally coming around to their bullshit.

[maybelovehate]

And I wish he hadn't sold us all so much BS

[gangsta_red]

100

[Bahamut]

I love his games, but yeah, he promises much more, every time. I remember when Fable used to be called "Project Ego" and the game he described in the years during creation... and then what he delivered. He's a visionary, but it's like he doesn't understand what the game developers are really capable of.

[Trez1234]

Fable was the game that made me fall in love with the xbox brand so I'll alwayd have a soft spot for him.

[nowitzki2004]

I hated him but the more I learned about the business the more I learn that he really might have had not much control over what he was paid to do.

[Knushwood Butt]

This guy is a disgrace.

He talks BS about his games until launch, then begs for forgiveness afterwards, time and time again.

Just shut up and deliver.

If not, just retire and suck on some Blackpool rock.

[MunchMiller00]

I'm sure he feels perfectly fine once gazing upon his sellout bank account, if he even truly regrets it at all anyways. Which I highly doubt he does.

[Mikelarry]

Exactly what i was thinking, didnt complain about all the monies tehy must have paid him

[FullmetalRoyale]

Love your name.

[DevilishSix]

He decided money was more important. Now he has to live with it.

[Bleucrunch]

Maaaaaaan play me the world's smallest violin, they came at you with those dollars and they found your price. It was business, people can understand that, but regretting the decision is silly to me because you "chose" to do that. boo freaking hoo man.

You really thought Microsoft was going to take good care of the fable franchise? You also thought EA would do anything short of screw up your work with bullfrog?? This guy Peter is a business man yes, but he is not too bright when it comes to leaving his work to other capable folks. FOH!

[FullmetalRoyale]

http://www.reactiongifs.com...

I agree. We’ll never know if he had his *heart in this business or not. But he seems to want to have his cake, and eat it too.
People will doubt your intentions when you willingly make a deal with the devil.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Out of all the publishers out there he chose the 2 of the worst. All because of money.

He over promised and under delivered, it's supposed to be the other way around.

Loves his work at BULLFROG, Populous and Flood being 2 of favourite AMIGA games.

He's a walking Meme at this point.

[iofhua]

Dungeon Keeper and Black & White are his only claims to fame. What has he done the past 15 years?

[Legion21]

I think you add the Fable series. At least the first 2 games seemed like good games.

[FullmetalRoyale]

Regardless of him running his mouth, Fable 1 *is one of my all time favorite games.

[TheColbertinator]

He could work for Sony and do keynotes. Seems the most suitable.

[jznrpg]

That makes no sense, he had ties to MicroSoft and they could make a game together called Fabled and make it free to play

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Nah he got bought by MS so they could wheel at out and oversell under performing software.

His name would be mentioned along side Miyamoto at one stage in his career.

MS needed somebody and Peter likes cash. Simple as that.

[Knushwood Butt]

In which case, he'd definitely secure one sale.

[jznrpg]

The last few articles I have read about Molyneux are about regret the last few years, he is done

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Legendary for lying?

[bluefox755]

I think he's more legendary for BSing than game making.

[Knushwood Butt]

Yeah, and when it comes down to it, he probably didn't make ****

[Jman1553]

Peter Molyneux, Todd Howard, and Sean Murray should collaborate on a game sometime.

[Doomeduk]

I fired up dungeon keeper 2 a few weeks ago for a bit of nostalgia and ended up finishing the campaign again now just give me 3 allready

[Auron]

I washed my hands of this guy..

[Segata]

The only L word I'd use for him is Liar.

[moomin]

It'd be nice to see Peter return to the gaming community and be passionate about games again instead of the lure of corporate greed. Hey Peter don't forget how little money you had when you made Populous or Theme Park, all without a corporate ruling over you! We all make mistakes and get tempted along the way. By God's grace He can lead you back to good ways and thoughts. Game on dude... Don't give up. Be reborn and show EA that you can build up a successful gaming studio BUT for the right reasons!

[NohansenBoy]

Legendary?

[Pricey]

Did this guy ask to have legendary in the title because he’s not a legend

[MadLad]

His next game is going to be an open-world roleplaying experience where you watch your character age in real time. A fire spell has the chance to ignite forest fires, decimating the landscape for years to come, having harsh economic ramifications for nearby towns and settlements. There will be no classes. Every character defines their skills through actions and practice, meaning each and every character will be unique. It will have a real time bartering system, affected by the economies of towns and potential trade routes, and can be affected by the actions of, say, bandits, which also introduces a separate black market system following similar rules.

And what you get?
It will be a linear, Gauntlet-like experience with three playable character/classes and an auto-leveling system.

[Scatpants]

I bet whatever's next for him will seem like the greatest thing ever but then end up being sort of average.

[sk8ofmnd]

I really fncking hope he does a fable reboot or shit ms can I can get a remake of fable 1&2?? Can I get an amen?!?

[kungfuian]

Seriously just No to anything this guy says! He's promised to stop talking to the press a while back because he's been proven to be a habitual liar who over promises and under delivers over and over and over. We didn't forget Peter, nothing you can say will bring back your credibility! NOTHING!!! Just focus on making some good games and hire a PR firm or rep to do any talking you need done.

[nismo370]

Legendary? hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lonnie18]

Working with Microsoft lol!

[Knushwood Butt]

This guy should have his mouth washed out with soap and water.

[G20WLY]

And then sewn shut.

[ocelot07]

What ever happened to that curiosity game he was making? Sounded like a cash grab when I read about it a few years ago?

[Saijahn]

Ahhh the guy that always overpromised and never delivered.