Fable III Catch-All

adam.greenbrier wrote:

This one's for you, Clem: your weapons' appearances will change depending on how many achievements you've unlocked; the more achievements you have, the more ostentatiously your weapons will be decorated.

Delightful!

Although it remains to be seen how this will be implemented... if I suddenly get a more badass sword just because I happened to dress my guy up like a Cure fan, you can colour me quizzical.

The "touch" system is supposedly going to use Natal, so if you want to comfort someone you reach your hand out and grab their breast. Or hand. Whatever. Makes me wonder how that's going to work if you don't have Natal... which I won't, because it's just another gimmicky camera toy.

I've also heard they're doing away with XP. Supposedly this is an attempt to make the game appeal to people who don't normally like this kind of game. I'm not going to throw a fit over this (partially because Molyneaux told me I'm supposed to be pissed off and I want to spite him) till I know what they're replacing it with but I'm really getting sick up the whole "mass-market appeal" nonsense.

Maybe it makes sense to design your game for people who don't like it instead of people who do. If it does, it damn well shouldn't. There's nothing wrong with making a game for people who like games.

People who don't like games probably aren't going to have a Natal either.

I'm always up for more Fable - these new tidbits of information sound intriguing, but of course with all things Fable, I am not getting my hopes up for anything in particular - but I'm sure I will enjoy whatever the finished game is.

LobsterMobster wrote:

The "touch" system is supposedly going to use Natal, so if you want to comfort someone you reach your hand out and grab their breast. Or hand. Whatever. Makes me wonder how that's going to work if you don't have Natal... which I won't, because it's just another gimmicky camera toy.

The article I linked to referred to it as a "context-sensitive, one-button" system. So, presumably, it won't require Natal, although it may implement it.

LobsterMobster wrote:

I've also heard they're doing away with XP. Supposedly this is an attempt to make the game appeal to people who don't normally like this kind of game.

Like I said a few months ago: getting rid of XP is the logical continuation of what Fable has been doing since the beginning. It's never really been a numbers-based RPG, and the parts of it that have clung to that model have typically been its worst bits. I get the feeling that they're simplifying typical RPG systems for Fable not only to appeal to a broader audience but because they're cumbersome, clunky, and irrelevant to the type of gameplay they're trying to create.

adam.greenbier wrote:

The article I linked to referred to it as a "context-sensitive, one-button" system. So, presumably, it won't require Natal, although it may implement it.

QTEs with one button? Meh... Guess it's better than QTEs with all the buttons.

adam.greenbrier wrote:

[*]Speaking of leveling: experience points are apparently out but levels are still there. I'm not sure how this works, and no one else seems to be, either.

Probably just another step in the direction ME2 took: finish a mission, gain a level. Finish a mission plus do all the sidequests, gain two levels.

cvg article wrote:

. It's an unscrambling of the series, then - a reach out to new, RPG-unfriendly gamers who were left bewildered by the complexities of Fable II.

Bewildering complexities!? Fable 2!?

I do like the fact that it sounds like my female protagonist wont have to end up looking like some Austrian weight lifter this time around though.

LobsterMobster wrote:
adam.greenbier wrote:

The article I linked to referred to it as a "context-sensitive, one-button" system. So, presumably, it won't require Natal, although it may implement it.

QTEs with one button? Meh... Guess it's better than QTEs with all the buttons.

Bear in mind that that "one button fighting" mechanic of Fable 2 was a bit under/oversold in regards to how different it was to traditional mechanics. (i.e. it really wasn't)

Fable III is coming to the PC.

Also, here are the details for the limited edition ($79.99 for the 360):

  • A new quest: Uncover the mystery of the haunted forests of Silverpines and earn the legendary sword, Wolfsbane, deadly against wolves and balverines.
  • Exclusive location: Unlock a new region, ideal for settling down with a family and discovering new treasures.
  • "Fable 3" playing cards: Created by Lionhead, these cards depict every type of character in "Fable 3," including Heroes, royals, rebels, and villains from across Albion and beyond.
  • Guild Seal Coin: The coin features a Good side (blue) and Evil side (red) to assist players in making critical decisions that will impact the fate of the world forever.
  • A new dog breed: Renowned for its loyalty, the Boxer is a brave canine companion worthy of greatest Queens and Kings.
  • One unique outfit: Unearth one male and female outfit from the mysterious, faraway land of Aurora, a new destination in your "Fable 3" adventures.

Also, LobsterMobster, can we make this the catch-all thread (so it's easier to find in the search engine)?

Hooray! I hadn't heard this was coming to PC. I played the first one on xbox (loved it) but never got to play the second one.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

[*]Guild Seal Coin: The coin features a Good side (blue) and Evil side (red) to assist players in making critical decisions that will impact the fate of the world forever.

Ha, love it.

An extra $20 for the limited edition, eh? Not too bad, but honestly, I'd need to find out the total cost of the DLC first, especially since no Making-Of DVD is listed. Hell, that's the biggest reason I consider a Limited Edition. Not the nifty packaging (though it's becoming that way with standard packaging trying to go "green", a.k.a. made out of sh*tty ass plastic worth five cents), not the extra stuff, but a documentary to see how the game was made.

Then again, Fable II's making-of was just their web diaries put together into one, and that was depressing.

Hmm...no steam version though, but that's probably a given.

Other than that - Good (not entirely unexpected) news!

(I smell another batch of double achievement points...bwuahahah :P)

Is it? None of the other Fable games are on Steam. Neither are any other Microsoft Game Studio games I could think of checking for.

$20 seems a bit high for what's on offer, even though the exclusive location and outfit is tempting. Guess it's worth that to some people. Going to have to wait for more details to see if it's worth it to me.

The PC version will be priced at 49,99$ in the US and 54,99€ (= 69,99$) in Europe.
What the hell is up with that? The 50€ = 50$ convention is hard enough to swallow in a world of digital distribution, but raising the euro price? Puzzling

polypusher wrote:

Is it? None of the other Fable games are on Steam. Neither are any other Microsoft Game Studio games I could think of checking for.

No, i meant that it's probably a given that there'll NOT be a Steam version

Oh yes, that makes sense now. Its a shame too. I was sort of hoping to see Fable II for 20-30ish

I'm excited about this. I absolutely adored Fable 2.

Wicked. That's great news.

I'm irritated by the European pricing as well, but its likely that Amazon or one of the game retailers will offer a pre-order deal and I'll give them my money.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Fable III is coming to the PC.

Yea!

stevenmack wrote:

Hmm...no steam version though

...

Stlll, at least I can play this on my platform of choice. I'm guessing Molyneux was too busy with other projects for a port of 2 and Microsoft didn't want to outsource it.

Oh man, a choice between a new Fable and a new Fallout AGAIN. This is shaping up to be another crazy year for game-buying.

I'll be picking up the limited edition 360 edition. I'm a huge fan of the Fable series.

hbi2k wrote:

Oh man, a choice between a new Fable and a new Fallout AGAIN. This is shaping up to be another crazy year for game-buying.

Both limited editions come with playing cards, too.

IGN demo with Peter Molyneux

The biggest change from Fable II, and I'm not sure that I'm completely crazy about it, is that the inventory and such has been revamped completely. Now, when you pause the game, instead of entering a text menu, you'll be taken to the "sanctuary" where you'll browse through weapons and clothing by moving your character around in a sort of house area. So, you'll go into an armory room and pick your weapons off a rack, and that sort of thing. A butler (played by John Cleese) will offer you selections of clothing that are appropriate to your situation, but you can customize any of them to your heart's content.

The video isn't completely helpful as it's a middle chunk of a longer Q&A session, but what I gleaned from some of Molyneux's comments was:

  • Health bars have been removed entirely. I have no idea how you're supposed to tell when you're about to die or whether or not there are health potions, but the HUD has no life, no mana, and no experience bars.
  • Death seems to be handled in the same was as Fable II. You get knocked down, but you get up again. (They ain't never gonna keep you down. [Oh, DanyBoy?])
  • Magic is now handled with equipment. You equip one gauntlet/spell on each hand; when you use your magic, you combine the two spells into a single attack. Magic is also now quicker to cast; you can tap the magic button for a spell, or hold it down to charge it up. If I recall from Fable II, you had to do a bit of holding for even the most basic spell.
  • Your abilities are determined more by your equipment than your level. You actually level up your weapons and gauntlets; so, you can have a level five sword or a level five vortex gauntlet.
  • You do still level up your character, but it wasn't clear how. You gain levels for completing quests, gaining followers, and advancing the story.

The visual style seems to have tacked hard into Pirates of the Caribbean style. Yay? It's at least unique among RPGs unlike a dozen or so titles I could name.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

The biggest change from Fable II, and I'm not sure that I'm completely crazy about it, is that the inventory and such has been revamped completely. Now, when you pause the game, instead of entering a text menu, you'll be taken to the "sanctuary" where you'll browse through weapons and clothing by moving your character around in a sort of house area. So, you'll go into an armory room and pick your weapons off a rack, and that sort of thing.

That sounds like an absolute nightmare. I already hated how slow the menus were in Fable II. Now I need to load up a new area every time I want to switch to a new weapon?

I imagine the health will show up like it does in all games with no health bars: blood/red/pulsing on the screen, blurriness, colors fading or shifting, heartbeat sound, etc. I have no evidence for that other than that it's the most common alternative to a health bar.

The spell gauntlet thing sounds pretty cool. You'd better pick your spells wisely though, since you'll apparently need to summon your freaking house and butler in order to change them.

Not going to read a Molyneaux interview, though. In Fable I he always talked up things that didn't make it into the game. In Fable II he talked up things that were in the game, but anything uncomfortable or risky got cut back out before launch. I have no reason to believe the game he's talking about now will be one I'll ever play in my lifetime, even though I do intend to buy Fable III.

Yeah, the menu thing sounds like a very bad idea. The sluggish menus were one of my biggest problems with Fable II.

So, your weapon will change to fit your style and morality, right? Then you can sell that weapon to other players?

But... why? If it matches their play style they can make their own. If it doesn't, it'll change the more they use it. What's the point?

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Hooray! I hadn't heard this was coming to PC. I played the first one on xbox (loved it) but never got to play the second one.

Yay I also wanted to play a Fable game but didn't get the first one yet (been buying stuff from steam recently) and the 2nd one was fan exclusive for the RRoD oops, xbox360 :lol:.

Is Fable 2 coming to PC too? Maybe I'll just wait a few years and buy the trilogy for 10$ ;).

ME1 have recently reached the price level where I buy games (5$ ). I may still buy a full price game on release this year because Elemental is mighty attractive.

jlaakso wrote:

Yeah, the menu thing sounds like a very bad idea. The sluggish menus were one of my biggest problems with Fable II.

I'm not crazy about the idea, either, but to their credit, the "sanctuary" loaded instantly when they pressed the Start button. One thing that is nice about the sanctuary? You can buy real estate anywhere straight from the sanctuary; no more having to hoof around to each house.

LobsterMobster wrote:

So, your weapon will change to fit your style and morality, right? Then you can sell that weapon to other players?

But... why? If it matches their play style they can make their own. If it doesn't, it'll change the more they use it. What's the point?

It'll pick up characteristics from the other players but retain characteristics from past players. So, if the first person who plays with it is evil and the second person who plays with it is good, then you'll end up with an item that has characteristics of both good and evil playthroughs.

It sounds like a pretty neat idea to me, actually, although one that doesn't have much practical value. I like the idea of items that have history.

Niseg wrote:

Is Fable 2 coming to PC too? Maybe I'll just wait a few years and buy the trilogy for 10$ ;).

So far as they've announced, there are no plans to ever bring Fable 2 to the PC.