However, from the chaos MG had the privilege to have a short interview with one of the most iconic figures in the video game industry today which hasn’t been reported on until now!

That person you ask…?  Mr Peter Molyneux.

We sat down with the legend himself, asking him about his life time achievement award, what made him get into the industry, the state of the UK industry today and finally asking the cheeky question about the Milo project.

So you’ve recently just won a lifetime achievement award, simple question how does that feel?

Well it’s an amazing incredible feeling. You know, I was walking up on stage and looked out over the audience and could see all these people I worked with before and just felt unbelievably humbled because a lot of those people should have been up on that stage with me. I actually wanted to say why doesn’t everybody come up but obviously that wouldn’t of been appropriate.

So I felt humbled, incredibly honored, amazingly emotional. Actually another emotion that accrued to me in the middle of my speech that I hadn’t written down was; wouldn’t it be wonderful to say to some of the smaller members of industry who are just starting out that this is an amazing industry to be involved in.

I was just this stupid kid with an insanely stupid idea and was just lucky enough to be successful but you know anybody could be like that.

So was it a love for games that really made you want to get into the industry?

Its not a love for games, its an incredible passion, you know that’s really my only talent. It’s just the passion and the belief I have. The belief that we really are something that is going to change the world and I know that sounds ridiculous and I sound like a cross between a bond villain and I don’t know what else but I do truly believe that and its only now I really see it. Looking at the award and then looking at those screens you see and realise how amazing all of this is and we haven’t really even started yet. That in me builds up this incredible pressure cooker of passion which makes me love what I do. It’s an insanely brilliant job.

To think I can have any idea I want and then go back to this of team people share that with them and then within a few months I can get to play it. It’s just mind-blowing.

Now that the video game Bafta’s has become a staple event of the industry today, do you think it makes video games more recognised as a forefront in media entertainment?

Yes I think so. I think Bafta has done an incredible job of spotting computer games back in 1998 as an up and coming crazy art form and social thing. Spotting it early and saying this is going to be mainstream way before anybody else did. It meant video games was recognised and was put in the same field as television and film, which is an incredible achievement.

You could really see the amount of passion there were on people’s faces today.

Where do you think the UK games industry is headed? We’ve seen many places shut shop recently. Do you think when one fails another is reborn?

I can remember back in the 90s where it was the same, little companies died out and the big ones survived and then you have the little companies sprout out again.

Now there are many small companies, working on smaller games that are going to grow into bigger companies and be the future of this industry and I hope there will more of British professionals then anybody else because there really is something truly brilliant about the British influence.  What you don’t probably realise is there are a huge number of games seen on stage that weren’t made by British developers but there was a lot of British people involved in those teams. Time and time again I go to these companies in Japan and America and there’s always a British person that pops up there. It’s in our blood to do this stuff.

Finally we’re not too sure if you’re allowed to speak about this but there are a lot of excited people about the whole Milo project. Is there any more news or info you could share with us?

Ha I would love to but I seriously I can not talk about anything. They’ll be nudging me to death for my fellowship award if I did.

That’s totally understandable, we wouldn’t want you getting in trouble. Well many thanks for your time this evening and again very well done.

Thank you

Written by: David Salman

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1. Peter Molyneaux to receive the BAFTA fellowship

Molyneux is one of the best-known names in the international world of computer games. He co-founded Bullfrog Productions in 1987 and created a new genre of computer games known as “the God game”, with the release of Populous.   Since then he has been responsible for a string of massive gaming titles including Powermonger, Theme Park, Magic Carpet, Dungeon Keeper and the Fable series. Cumulative sales of his games are at approximately fifteen million worldwide.

On being invited to receive the Fellowship, Peter Molyneux said: “I remember back in 1967 watching the first BAFTA awards on television with my family and seeing them being so excited about those accolades. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would be possible for me to accept one of the greatest honours the entertainment industry has to offer. My first thought on learning that I was awarded an Academy Fellowship  was that to be in  the company of some of the greatest talents the entertainment industry has ever seen is truly humbling  and secondly that this an award  not just for myself, but for all the people I’ve ever worked with”.

Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: “We are delighted to be honouring Peter at this point in his long and successful career in video games.  He is one of the leading figures in the development of video games as an art form and an inspiration to the next generation of creative minds”.

The GAME British Academy Video Games Awards will take place on Wednesday 16 March at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The Awards will be streamed live for the first time at go.ign.com/baftamicrosite, as well as at www.bafta.org and www.baftagameaward.com.

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After 2 years away from Albion, we again don our chicken suit and step into a world that is so charming and delightful you cannot help but stray from the breadcrumb path to see what treasures await.

Fable III is set quite a few years down the line and you, the son/daughter, of your king from Fable II are tasked with becoming a hero and ruling Albion once again albeit presented in a different way.  You see, your brother is King and has been treating his subjects very poorly indeed.  Tyranny rules, people are starving, children are working and the population are not happy about it.  After surviving a brief encounter with your brother you escape Bowerstone Castle with your trusty sidekick, Walter and your dog to persuade the most influential people of Albion to take up arms and help you defeat your brother so that you may rule Albion in a more positive light.  Fable has always been built on moral dilemma and in Fable III, this has been escalated massively.  I will not divulge why but trust me when I say that you will be making some very tough decisions for the good of the world!

Fable III is a game of two halves, however.  Well more of a game of quarters to be exact and once you have completed the main storyline a different kind of gameplay is introduced.  You will still be able to explore Albion, finish off side quests, build relationships, fart on people’s heads, get drunk and shoot abusive goblins that are scattered near and far and if you are aware of Peter Molyneaux’s back catalogue and a certain game called Populous then you will understand where I am heading with this but all with that same Fable vibe attached.

The core gameplay to Fable III remains unchanged but certain changes have taken this from a stat heavy RPG to more of a casual affair and more simplistic in the options available.  There is no more pressing pause to gain access to a menu.  This has been replaced by travelling to your sanctuary where you can change your costume, select different weapons and magical spells that have been found in the game and also adding tattoos etc.  For the hardcore RPG fan this may be a bit of a let down and although it takes time to get used to enables the mainstream crowd to effectively enjoy the game without being confused by the game’s deeper elements.

Another big feature is the Road To Rule which has replaced the traditional levelling up system in the previous two games.  As you proceed through your adventure, you are awarded guild points which you can spend in the Road To Rule.  Each section of this road is opened up as you progress where points can be spent on chests that contain your power ups for melee, magic and ranged weapons as well as packs for buying property, expressions and also mini game levelling up.

Apart from the seriousness of the main storyline, Fable III, yet again, indulges us in the many side quests that are available in the crazy world that is Albion.  The array of different things to do will put you into some hilarious positions with very well scripted side quests that will bring a tear to your eye from laughing so hard.  Interacting with the citizens of Albion also has the same funny moments that have made the Fable franchise so great.  Using the various expressions on offer to either offend or gain friends all have an effect in what is an organic world where everything you do has an effect on how people perceive you.

Marriages and relationships are also back but have had an overhaul to include friends on xbox live and also local co-op (something that has been a favourite of my wife!).  Friends in the co-op arena can now have partnerships and relationships with each other and will add something a little different to to your experience.  Enter into a partnership and all of the profits from purchasing houses and businesses together will be split between you every time you decide to roam Albion together which can be taken back to your own game.  Entering into marriage has the same effect but you are able to have children etc too.

Probably the biggest enhancement for me personally and one that will sit very well with our demographic is the Xbox Live co-operative play.  Co-op in Fable II was a great idea but suffered severely from the fixed camera with both players having to be in the same screen.  This was very restrictive and not indicative of the free roaming ideals that Fable promoted in its single player experience.  Although local co-op has the same feel which would technically be hard to break away from (it does work very well even though it still feels restrictive!) Xbox Live co-op now sports separate cameras which is a massive step up from what has been achieved before.  The orb system to speak to and meet people still remains the same but now with independent cameras, players can now meet up and freely roam a certain area without being chained to each other.  One could be fighting and another could be wooing some old hag in another part of the area.  We love freedom, the world of Albion cries for freedom and Fable III’s co-operative play finally delivers freedom.

Everything you wanted refining from the Fable series has been done but it has come at a price in terms of polish.  The same old problems still arise from time to time with Fable III that had been in Fable II.  Frame rate drops are still present, tricky treasure that needs precise positioning to be able to open them up, everybody speaking over everybody else to name a few.  Although these are minor annoyances I would have thought that given the reports from Fable II about these issues they may have tried to correct some of them.

Overall, Fable III is massive thumbs up in terms of sheer quality and depth of the content.  It has a lot of character and it wants you to get off of the beaten track to see what you can do and what you can find.  Every area of the game itself has been refined to make this a very enjoyable experience and Fable III is also a game that will take a long time to complete.  Micro management, core gameplay mechanics, engrossing storylines, comedic genius, more free roam areas, an enhanced co-operative mode as well as some of the best characters to grace the RPG world, Fable III sticks two fingers up to its competitors and challenges them to create a more addictive world than Lionhead Studios has.

My wife is a massive Fable fan.  She is also the world’s most fierce critic who doesn’t mince her words and tells it like it is.  Through all her moaning about the niggles in the game, we still battle for the controller of an evening to enter Albion once again.  If that isn’t recommendation enough then I don’t know what is!

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Titled “Fable III – A Call to Action,” the commentary video from Lionhead Studios peels back the curtains for a sneak peek into the stunning action-packed journey along your road to rule in the highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive. Launching across Europe on 29^th October, “Fable III” puts the fate of the revolution into your hands.

The video features scintillating gameplay footage that takes you to the forefront of revolution in “Fable III,” while the Lionhead Studios team, including Creative Director Peter Molyneux and Head of “Fable” Franchise Louise Murray, discusses the ever-evolving world of Albion as a result of your alliances and promises, and the consequences of your actions. Whether you lead with an iron fist or a gentle hand, you’ll rule Albion your way – from how you choose to fight and the people you surround yourself with to the King or Queen you eventually become. Take centre stage in all the action as you become entwined in an unparalleled story of power, morality, choice and consequence.

Available on 29^th October, fans who purchase “Fable III” will receive in every new copy a one-time-use Xbox LIVE redemption card that will grant access to exclusive downloadable content:

• Call forth undead minions to your aid with the Raise Dead Potion
• Extend battle time for more attacks with the Slow Time Potion
• For the fashionably conscious, try on and keep the Scot Male Hero Outfit or the Scot Female Hero Outfit
• Looking to get inked? The Highlander Tattoo Set will be perfect for your hero or heroine
• With the Red Setter Dog Skin, you can transform your faithful furry companion into a whole new breed

“Fable III” is available in a Standard Edition (£49.99) and Limited Collector’s Edition (£59.99) for Xbox 360.

Fans in the UK can sign up to Fable III: Kingmaker, a geo-location mobile game, and show support for either the Royals or Rebels. By planting flags for their faction using their mobile phone, players can earn gold which can be used in the full game of Fable III. Visit www.fable3kingmaker.com for more information.

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In the latest installment to the “Inside Lionhead” video documentary series, Peter Molyneux takes you behind the scenes to reveal the bold, action-oriented new world of “Fable III” and welcome the familiar voice of actor John Cleese into the story.

This new beginning in the “Fable” saga means an entirely revamped control scheme. The introduction of simple yet dynamic 3D maps and interface mean you’re always in the action, allowing you to elevate your game and stay immersed in the experience. Walk through your maps and interact seamlessly with your inventory in an easy and intuitive manner – even the simplest tasks take on extraordinary lives of their own.

Full of humour and heart, the team at Lionhead Studios is revered for their masterful blending of wit, drama and action. What better way to take things to the next level than to enlist one of the most recognisable personalities in comedy – John Cleese. The critically-acclaimed actor, of “Monty Python” fame, injects a new dimension of comic genius into the “Fable III” gameplay as the faithful butler, Jasper. Whether he’s assisting you in matters of the court, the latest trends in fashion or making critical decisions that impact the world around you, you can always count on Jasper to provide a sympathetic ear, comforting advice or biting remarks.

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Now EA’s Peter Moore has gone on record to say that a version of Madden will also be entering the market on Facebook too.  Peter Moore said, “We have to make ‘Madden’ more accessible. You’ll see us on Facebook going forward.”

“EA aims to generate more sales from games played online and on mobile devices and Madden NFL on Facebook would be a “simpler experience” than the console version”, said Moore.

So, what do you all think as using Facebook as a serious platform rather than the usual gaming tripe that you see on there?

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Speaking at BAFTA talk in London last night the Lionhead owner confirmed this information along with the availability of micro transactions for buying extra equipment in game for as little as a £1.  Whether he was meant to have confirmed this is anyone’s guess but chances are he wasn’t.  Good news for us but Microsoft games may not be best pleased.

It stands to reason that this may have been the case as Lionhead had hands on with Natal before its announcement in the tech demo, Milo and Kate.

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