Can Peter Molyneux Make a Comeback?

BNBGAMING:

"Change the world. An enthusiastic follower of all things Molyneuxian might have had his early warning system beep furiously at such a hyperbolic statement. After all, his other games, like Fable, Black & White, The Movies and Milo and Kate were, at some stage in their development, all earmarked to revolutionise this, or fundamentally alter that, but ultimately failed to deliver to the level close to what was promised, or never left the ground at all. These broken promises have come back to haunt a designer whose carefree talk of reinventing the wheel is now continuously met with rolled eyes and unwavering disbelief. Do gamers have any reason to believe him now? What has changed?"

The BNBGAMING Friday Roundtable discuss Peter Molyneux and his new studio, 22Cans.

[Jackhass]

I think he's still got a bit of gas in the tank.

[-MD-]

He's been on empty for years. Fable 2 was mediocre and I heard 3 was even worse.

[TGM]

But do you not think that now Molyneux is functioning as an indie developer without Microsoft's interference, he'll be capable of actually delivering his promises?

[Amazingmrbrock]

No he's been running under the entropy that is corporate management for years. I would put money down that his first game out will be pretty groundbreaking.

Everything I read makes it increasingly obvious that publishers are almost exclusively trying to run the gaming industry into the ground. Obviously it's selling very well but the very quick increases in yearly revenue from the gaming industry is just dangerous. In stock terms it would be high risk, and it's mostly because of the marketing money put in and the way the games made by big companies are increasingly becoming more by the numbers and less like art.

The whole art thing is going down the growing indie path and will continue to grow as free game making software becomes better and more prevalent.

[Yi-Long]

... his games have lacked challenge, they have lacked a good deep story, they have lacked great fun gameplay. (HEAR ME OUT)

Instead, he was focussing on GIMMICKS, like holding hands, or having a relationship with your dog, or whatever.

He is more interested in doing the 'extras' in a game, the 'gimmicks', but he has repeatedly failed in delivering the core experience, which is gameplay, story, challenge, etc etc.

And that's a shame, cause there's SOOOO much potential in the Fable franchise, and the design of the world is absolutely fantastic (just gorgeous), but as GAMES, they kinda fall short.

Fable 1 was probably the best of the bunch, but while the industry has moved on, Peter hasn't.

[GamingPerson]

He's been with Microsoft for years.. He is free now so I will hold of any judgment..

http://www.escapistmagazine...

they tried to RARE him..

[FarCryLover182]

Hopefully he makes something like Black and White or Fable 1!

[FarCryLover182]

So you dont want another one of those games disliker?

[Godmars290]

If his diarrhea of the mouth has been properly treated, he might have a chance.

[NYC_Gamer]

Dude needs to humble himself and stop making false promises

[Wumbo]

Fable 1 was surprisingly an all time favorite game for me. Maybe because i never read any of the hype or articles with peter back then and just experienced the game for what it was.

HE just needs to shut up and stop making so many promises.

[Tai_Kaliso]

I like the guy. but he isn't interested in doing standard retail games anymore. He even said he hopes to get his first 22 Cans game out this year, which screams of mobile gaming or something like that.

I loved Black And White and all the Fable games, so I wish him well.

I think its so funny people now days say they loved Fable 1, I remember at the time it released people were huge haters on it.

Fable 2 is my personal favorite, but I think 3 gets a bad wrap for cutting a few things from the previous game, but its still fun.

[Seventh_Blood_Reborn]

The time will tell, but in my opinion he lost his way.

There is little to nothing in the recently past years that could make me think otherwise, especially his in his interviews.

I wish it were otherwise, there is never enough talent in this industry, I hope I am wrong, but I do not think so.

Let' s see.

[mamotte]

Forget Fable and give us Black & White 3. It'll work flawlessly with kinect. Really.

[GraveLord]

Who?

[Anonagrog]

The jobs over at his new studio, '22 Cans', indicate he's going into the mobile marketplace with casual/social gaming in mind. As much as I'd like to be proved wrong, I don't think we'll be seeing any more deep-storied games from Molyneux if that's the case.

To those mentioning 'Black and White 3', I'm quite certain he doesn't own the ip rights to that, so it's out of his hands completely.