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Obviously I haven’t played the game yet, but having read a handy few reviews and some dodgy reports I see it safe to say that Fable is definatly not the game it should have been, the majority of reviews, if anyone of ye have read them states that the over enthuasiastic game design of old has made way for a more mainstream Molyneux’em up, as Edge would say, or infact did. The thing that gets me writing this is one very simply question, if I were molyneux(or indeed the Carter bros and the big blue box team) what would I have done different……… my answer, Nothing. Simply because the fact that the game has lost the majority of it’s heavy weight RPG elements has only strenghtened it’s fight with the mainstream audience, which I presume this game has been aimed at.
I have been listening and reading a lot of stuff latley which relates to developers trying to deliver new experiences and new genres(which is commendable),in the end they seem to only to fall flat on their backs, even companies like Nintendo and Sega are falling back on old franchises(Nintendo hasn’t released an original game in the best part of a year, with the exception of todays release of Animal crossing), I think personally(and this is from a buisness point of view, not a Gamers or creative person)that todays market is one for simply effective games that can and will sell, simply and effective…..beat ’em ups, racers, shooters. San Andreas is out in a few weeks, so is Pikmin 2, which will sell better?, you know.
Anyway anyway after drifting i must come to my point, my argument is pro Fable at the moment, short effective game design, cut out all the visionary crap and get rid of your ego becuase todays market is a ruthless place.
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I agree with both of you, but what I was trying to say was that in the end Fable’s faults are current generation games design god-sends, developers are trying to hard to create sprawling epics with 100 hours of gameplay, what they should instead focus on is a solid title, confined and perfectly realised, nice tight game design.
I always prefer a smaller game where you as the player can really learn the game and enjoy mastering it’s compact yet brilliantly designed gameplay ideas, one of my all-time favourites is Ikaruga, there are only a few levels but Treasure has made them so memorable and challanging that it is a joy to master and play them again and again, rather than trapsing through 100 horribly levels of dull game design that certain other developers splash out every year, regardless I think we all agree that Fable is “a nice little game” indeed. I sure will get it, just to saviour the non-linear gameplay*cough*.
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I think Fable’s biggest problem was that they talked about what they were intending to do before actually doing it. I’m sure Ikaruga, in it’s small and concise way, had to cut out many elements too to make it stay on schedule and budget. We just never hear about those cuts, but see them in the sequels.
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Very true, Gareth. I think that Dark Chronicle had huge potential to be a fantastic game. The end result was something that was way too long and lacking in depth. After forty hours I just got bored if it and have still yet to finish it.
If the developers had of focused on the actual gameplay rather than seeing how long they could make the adventure then they’d probably have received more attention.
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I think Fable’s biggest problem was that they talked about what they were intending to do before actually doing it. [/quote:f862140b75]
Thats Molyneux for ya, and although I admire his ambition, I rarely see the oppertunity to play it. B@W 2 will likey be good, maybe even great, and this new Dimitri upper project is also expected to be gener busting, but maybe Peter you should concentrate on only one title at a time eh.
“If the developers had of focused on the actual gameplay rather than seeing how long they could make the adventure then they’d probably have received more attention.”
Dark Chronicle was excellent, but I do agree that the game was drawn too long on a short string, maybe the 3rd iteration will correct this faults, if indeed there is one.
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I agree with both of you, but what I was trying to say was that in the end Fable’s faults are current generation games design god-sends, developers are trying to hard to create sprawling epics with 100 hours of gameplay, what they should instead focus on is a solid title, confined and perfectly realised, nice tight game design.[/quote:0e150f044a] couldn’t agree with you more, Omega’s Dust. Far Cry suffered from this, I thought. While it was a glorious looking solid shooter with excellent AI… it was just more and more of the same, and it was at least 20 – 30% too long in my opinion. I think there needs to be a balance between throwing lots more content at the user and polishing/tweaking what is there (and presumably core to the user experience) until it shines
Ahead of the next gen consoles, there does seem to be some moves towards the less is more approach (Max Payne 2, Call of Duty, Chronicles of Riddick to name but three recent titles)… it’s just too damned expensive
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. Far Cry suffered form this, I thought. While it was a glorious looking solid shooter with excellent AI… it was just more and more of the same, and it was at least 20 – 30% too long in my opinion. [/quote:d49700df3e]
Perfect example, not only is Farcry too long but a nasty cliche is also thrown in, yes the Island of Dr Monroe. Come on Crytek, if your Demographic is gonna be 18-30 year old males don’t inslult their intelligence or more so their imagination by throwing in such a dire analogy. Leaving the game with the mercenaries would have been great in my opinion, they were a much more believable foe and a damned sight more entertaining too, what with their “screw you buddy” yelps being heard across the bay. So ya a good example of trying to hard to lenghten a game and ruining the design and structure in the latters wake….oh well.
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Dr Monroe[/quote:212489d825] Dr Moreau, I presume?!
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Did Fable ever promise 100s of hours of game play??
As far as I remember it promised to give you control of a character, interaction and character evolution like never before in a game. Correct me if I’m wrong, cos I didn’t read that much to tell the truth.
For the review I read, Fable accomplished this perfectly. People assumed that this meant that the game was going to keep you at it for months.
Seems to be its done what it set out to do and did it well. Just cos reviewer wanted the game to last longer doesn’t take away from this. Shorter games seem to be the norm these days ( and it sucks! ) so we just have to get used to it.
note: I’ve only read one review, so enlightening me to any misconceptions I might have :)
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Thats partly true Omen but I think you’ll find that quite alot has been cut from the game, even Molyneux said this in a recent interview(which was posted on Gamesradar I think). But in general i would believ you are correct in stateing that Fable has acheived the majority of it’s goals, even if it is a little short.
Oh yes and Moreau it is, it was a late post Idora.
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Well, decided to go ahead and buy Fable, and I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised by Big Blue Boxes RPG-light. It’s a refreshing experience and one that you would do well to experience, the subtilities between the light and dark side is excellently implimented and among all the Quests are short, fun and rewarding, top stuff.
:)
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If a company can pull off an epic single player experience than they should do it. Applying a “make the game shorter and gamers won’t get bored” attitude is a cop-out. If the studio has the talent with regards to technology, design and story telling then it can create a 30+ hour game playable without getting boring. Its just that very few studios have such talent.
It has nothing to do with gamers wanting to play shorter games, if all games were 40 hours long and remained exciting and enthralling to the end then we would be happy, would we not?Look at Half-Life 2? Thats going to be epic, we have yet to see if the game lives up to the hype, but if it does then it will be a classic, and its far from short.
FarCry’s main problem was far from it being too long, it was to do with the damn annoying monsters and the repetitiveness of the final levels. If the game had less monsters, more mercs, and better design in the final levels then I doubt anyone would be complaining about the length. So they shouldn’t have simply cut it shorter by 20% or whatever, they should have made it better to play in the final 20%.
So in my opinion, the length of a game shouldn’t determine the “game”, the “game” should determine the length.
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Isn’t it more the case of make the game 30 hours long instead of 20 hours is going to take another 12 months.
Its not a matter of trying to make shorter games, its a case of not have time to make the as long. As you get more and more interaction in games rather than only being able to interact with relevant objects, game design and coding has become a lot harder and intensive. Getting all this interaction and high end graphics working at a smooth frame-rate is a lot of work. -
Look at Half-Life 2? Thats going to be epic, we have yet to see if the game lives up to the hype, but if it does then it will be a classic, and its far from short.
Half Life 2 has received prase from all of the U.K’s established PC games magazines and PC Gamer recently released a DvD packed with in game play and It looks awesome, physics are out of this world.
it was to do with the damn annoying monsters
Yup, ruined the game really, same way the ‘aleins’ ruined perfect Dark.
So in my opinion, the length of a game shouldn’t determine the “game”, the “game” should determine the length.
I like that analogy [/quote:e4d4172018]
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I’ve been playing Fable – so far so good.
There is alot of depth and now that I have left the safety of the guild (the ‘learning area’) I am a bit overwhelmed by the size of the map.
I’m sure I’ll get my head around it after another bit of play.
One weird thing – I am trying to be as bad as I can – ya know very evil – but I have to kill certain monsters (they are wasps that attack npc’s and myself) and it gives me ‘good’ points.
arse.
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One weird thing – I am trying to be as bad as I can – ya know very evil – but I have to kill certain monsters (they are wasps that attack npc’s and myself) and it gives me ‘good’ points. arse. [/quote:6b605a62a0]
After a bit of Experimentation I can Tell you KyotoKid how to become Evil(Hornes included) in under an Hour, but I fear it might take away from your experience in Fable, which is what it is, afterall. Lets just say that the moral implications certainly do beg the quetions about your morality….he he.
Oh and one thing that has certainly made an impact on me is how similar Fable is to RareWare’s titles, although I’m convinced that it’s the traditional English design shining through, distinctly English alright, but we could have done without the Liverpoolian accents eh Lionhead/BBB.
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Oh, worse than Hitler! You wouldn’t find Hitler playing jungle music at three o’clock in the morning. [/quote:2b092152bc]
(Off-topic) I heard that on tv a few days ago. What show was that on? It’ll drive me crazy until I remember. :confused: -
Father Ted
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Ah right Ted!
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Ah yes, of course. The end of the episode last night was fantastic. So close yet so far!
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I am enjoying Fable – I am quite bad and have some women interested in me (must be the new goatee) . The plan now is the marry one of them, then publicly behead her…need more cash though.
I had these horns that made my hair grow weird so I got a skinhead and the ladies started throwing themselves at me – must be that badboy thing.
I’m having fun, todays bout of Fable goodness will need to be put on hold for the pub\football session. I can see myself playing through this game a few times – which is a rare thing indeed.
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I can see myself playing through this game a few times – which is a rare thing indeed. [/quote:4f53118017]
Indeed, if only to attempt the ever so elegantly put ‘be-heading’ of my wife that you so curtiously pointed out Kyotokid…..on with the slaughter!
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Well folks, I’m happy to announce that I’ve got my first game credit… in Fable!
That’s right, finish the game and look at the credits… no further down, a lil more.. that’s me right there! I’m among the hundred or so people who tested the game on work experience. It’s nothing spectacular, but its certainly made my day. Hardly a daily event to see your name in a game. Extra nice especially when you’re not expecting it. :)
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A nice title to kick things off with ;) Well done Ronny!
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It’s a nice accolade none the less, wish my name was in it…sob sob.;)
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among the hundred or so people who tested the game on work experience[/quote:02bd9397df]
Where’d you do that and how did you sort it out ? -
wish my name was in it…[/quote:de41b300a5]
Ditto, nice one!
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:D yo Ronny.. will have a look for your name then..
i notice you lads that are working your way through Fable are trying to be as bad as possible ..
LOL i’m going for the other tack.. trying to be as good as possible..
it’s hard work… temptation is always trying to make you stray LOL
am enjoying it so far..
the score got me listening well.. it’s gorgeous.. and something else that i noticed..
I wonder why they had someone different in to compose the main theme .. rather than use the same guy all the way through..
i’m being a bit cynical here.. but am guessing the “big” guy was brought in just to do the theme…
Danny Elfman.. big time film composer.. he did Batman, Simpsons theme .. and loads more
maybe they had to have the name?
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Fitch, I usually play the good guy, but in the case of a ‘molyneux game’ I am a bit wary of it not working correctly
I am married ingame at the moment – I need to get her to follow me so she can be sacraficed. She deserves it – me dinner was cold last night.
“Xbox exclusive RPG Fable, has just proven itself a massive success at retail – with over 1.2 million copies of the game sold since it arrived in the USA under a month ago. ”
wow!
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I am married ingame at the moment – I need to get her to follow me so she can be sacraficed. She deserves it – me dinner was cold last night.[/quote:583c1770a4]
And you wonder why you’ve got no girlfriend….
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i made a complete boo boo last night.. i gave a Jet and a Ruby to 2 different traders… i mean.. just bloody gave them away! one slip of the finger and they were gone..
aghhhh!
i’m an idiot.. because it’s left me with no bargaining power with the assasins LOL
life in fable !
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i made a complete boo boo last night.. i gave a Jet and a Ruby to 2 different traders… i mean.. just bloody gave them away! one slip of the finger and they were gone..
[/quote:75ecbc8fe9]
Yup, I dont like the way it auto assigns some assets to the d-pad – i kept giving stuff away too – mainly beers.
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playing through fable myself at the minute. I can’t see why people are complaining it’s so short, unless it finishes for me tonite. Anyone got to the arena yet? hectic, nearly had a panic attack playing it. I think the game’s brilliant, I went to it without expectations, though i can see why people would be dissappointed that it didn’t do everything promised.
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I havent had a chance to play it for a while, but yeah it is a but on the short side considering the length of time its been in development.
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