Peter Molyneux Interview

[EvilBob46]

Peter Molyneux, designer of Black & White and Fable (among other things), did a long interview with Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) that you can view here. (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/joystiq-interviews-peter-molyneux-of-lionhead-studios/) He talks about the goals for his upcoming projects, creativity in game development, and many other issues. Here is Molyneux's response to accusations of him over-hyping his games:

I can't lie to you; there's no point me saying I'm gonna make a really good game, because that doesn't do it for me. I've made so many mistakes, I've made so many terrible games, and I honestly struggle and strive as hard as I can to try and make the team struggle and strive around this as hard as they can and make the best game that I can. I honestly believe that Fable 2 is going to be the greatest game of all time.
He spends quite some time apologizing for over-hyping his games in the past, but then turns around and says he believes Fable 2 will be the greatest game of all time? He could say it's going to be an amazing RPG...heck, he could say it's going to be one of the best RPGs ever, but the "greatest game of all time?" Even if it's his own opinion, that's taking it a bit too far for a game so early in development with a scheduled release date some time in late 2007, given some of the the comments he made about some of his previous (and ultimately disappointing) projects.

[Goronmon]

So, he admits that he overshyped stuff in the past, knows it causes problems, and then turns around and does the exact same fucking thing with Fable 2. Thats pretty much the definition of retard right there.

[Food Nipple]

He spends quite some time apologizing for over-hyping his games in the past, but then turns around and says he believes Fable 2 will be the greatest game of all time? He could say it's going to be an amazing RPG...heck, he could say it's going to be one of the best RPGs ever, but the "greatest game of all time?" Even if it's his own opinion, that's taking it a bit too far for a game so early in development with a scheduled release date some time in late 2007, given some of the the comments he made about some of his previous (and ultimately disappointing) projects.

The interviewer brings this very point up, reminding Molyneux that he said the same thing about Fable 1. Molyneux is just passionate about what he does, and even says that he doesn't see how he could endure the game making process if he didn't believe he was going to end up with something fantastic. In the end, I have to side with Molyneux on this point, he's just excited about what he's doing, and in the context of the interview I think he appreciates the humor and irony in the statement he's making.

[Xenkylm]

Maybe Molyneux meant that it'll be the greatest FABLE game of all time.

[EvilBob46]

The interviewer brings this very point up, reminding Molyneux that he said the same thing about Fable 1. Molyneux is just passionate about what he does, and even says that he doesn't see how he could endure the game making process if he didn't believe he was going to end up with something fantastic. In the end, I have to side with Molyneux on this point, he's just excited about what he's doing, and in the context of the interview I think he appreciates the humor and irony in the statement he's making.

I see the irony in the statement, but not the the humor...I think Molyneux was dead serious. There is also a difference between wanting to make "something fantastic" and honestly believing the next game will be "the best game EVAR (TM)".

Maybe Molyneux meant that it'll be the greatest FABLE game of all time.

I strongly doubt that.

[51|RandoM]

Molyneux is the developer version of the boy who cried wolf.

[SexualChoc]

Peter Molyneux is the Rob Liefeld of games developers. If you get that, then give yourself a pat on the back.

[PantherModern]

It's just a creator doing what creators do. You don't want to do something unless you believe it will be the best. And, as I recall, Molyneux's apology was geared more towards talking up the features of his games in the early development stages of the projects (eg, the trees that age with you in Fable), and not just "overhyping" them in general. Every dev is going to hype his game. It's their job to do so.

[PantherModern]

Peter Molyneux is the Rob Liefeld of games developers. If you get that, then give yourself a pat on the back.


Ouch, dude. Ouch. No one deserves to be considered analagous to Rob Liefeld for anything. Damn. That's just cold.

[Heretic Machine]

I can honestly say that Fable 2 won't offer enough to justify a rental.

[Com_Gaunt]

I'll buy Fable 2 :) I thought Fable was one of the best games of all times the first 6 hours in. Then again, I am Peter's biatch and love slave during weekends :)

[rezzinator]

Considering the game is like.. 7 hours long, that means the majority of the game was awesome!

Fable is an -ok- hack and slash, RPG it ain't.

[Banacek]

It's just a creator doing what creators do. You don't want to do something unless you believe it will be the best.

Exactly. It'll be a sad day when a creator of a video game (or anything else for that matter) says, "The project I'm working on now is really pretty dull." That being said, anyone who believes him at this point is a sucker.

[Com_Gaunt]

Considering the game is like.. 7 hours long, that means the majority of the game was awesome!

Fable is an -ok- hack and slash, RPG it ain't.

Haha, I always read these "This is not an RPG" debates on RPGcodex.
To me, Fable is an RPG. The character builds I make change the way I play the game. The problem was it was way too short :)

[Watership]

Molyneux is the developer version of the boy who cried wolf.

Except, Molyneux has already made some of fantastic games before.

[Baron Samedi]

In the end, I have to side with Molyneux on this point, he's just excited about what he's doing, and in the context of the interview I think he appreciates the humor and irony in the statement he's making.

Go say the same about Uwe Boll, who seems to have unconditional faith in his movies. Thing is, Molyneux ranks with those like Warren Spector, who happened to be in the right place and the right time early in their career, making a stellar game thanks to their creative teams, rather than their own efforts. All their recent efforts have shown what phonies they are. Can we please stop putting these people in our news?

[torrefaction]

Fable was more of an RPG than most RPG's we've seen. To some extent, you had an impact based on your decisions. I think they overextended, and thought they could get more out of the XBox than they could. Molyneux is a visionary, and if they can pull off what he envisions, I have no doubt it could be one of the greatest games we've ever seen.

I have doubts about this, but he does have Microsoft's money behind him this time. That means he doesn't just have to cut development short. Microsoft can afford to lose some money on a platform selling title.

And I'm with those that said he overhyped features. A guy like him can't help but overhype the core of his game. Like I said, his a visionary. He really is out to make the best game ever. And so he should be. Without people like him, the industry would stagnate.

Wright, Molyneux, and CliffyB should all design a game. :)

[torrefaction]

Go say the same about Uwe Boll, who seems to have unconditional faith in his movies. Thing is, Molyneux ranks with those like Warren Spector, who happened to be in the right place and the right time early in their career, making a stellar game thanks to their creative teams, rather than their own efforts. All their recent efforts have shown what phonies they are. Can we please stop putting these people in our news?

Bullshit. Molyneux's vision for games is stellar. It's lack of money and development time that forces him to scale back what he envisions. Comparing him to Boll is just bullshit.

[danhoo]

I miss the days where Peter wasn't really as well known as a "personality", and was more focused on the games. The days where I'd buy Magic Carpet or Dungeon Keeper off the shelf and say, "wow, this is awesome" without knowing who Peter was.

[Com_Gaunt]

Go say the same about Uwe Boll, who seems to have unconditional faith in his games. Thing is, Molyneux ranks with those like Warren Spector, who happened to be in the right place and the right time early in their career, making a stellar game thanks to their creative teams, rather than their own efforts. All their recent efforts have shown what phonies they are. Can we please stop putting these people in our news?

Haha, I don't know where you came from but I would not mind if you went back there.
Peter Molyneux is a visionary and he was the programmer/designer/project leader for a score of games that I still enjoy immensly today.
So that means HE made those games he developed them in conjunction with his team, he's not some PR fob who does'nt know what he is talking about. Populous, Powermonger, Syndicate, Theme Park, Magic Carpet and Dungeon keeper are all kick ass games are still very enjoyable to me and that defined PC gaming at the time.

[torrefaction]

When the fuck is there going to be a Syndicate sequel. Molyneux...BRING SYNDICATE TO THE 360!!!!!

[rubbishfoo]

Yeah...

Seriously... when was the last good game from Peter?

My opinion is that it was Dungeon Keeper 2... that game was a lot of fun...

Especially when my goblins danced the "DISCO INFERNO" BABY!!!

~RubbishFoo

[mkelehan]

There's a difference between him believing it and us believing it. You WANT a developer to believe that he's working on the best game of all time. When the director thinks it's a "solid game, 7/10 at least," you get Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness. When he thinks it's "pretty good given the circumstances we were dealt," you get ET.

[torrefaction]

Yeah...

Seriously... when was the last good game from Peter?

My opinion is that it was Dungeon Keeper 2... that game was a lot of fun...

Especially when my goblins danced the "DISCO INFERNO" BABY!!!

~RubbishFoo

I don't care what anyone says, Black and White was a damn good game. It just didn't quite live up to the hype. That doesn't mean it wasn't an excellent game.

I never ended up playing B&W 2, but that's more because I was wrapped up in other things at the time. I'll probably actually pick that up fairly soon.

[Ernst_Jager]

What again is wrong with someone believing in what they do?

[megaman]

I don't understand why nobody brings up the console factor for fable unlike many other games. I think fable suffered maybe in part or to a large extent 'cause of the lack of power of the xbox as compared to the ideas they had in mind and would have been much greater a game and closer to their vision if they had a more powerful system to work with.

[Heretic Machine]

Yeah...

Seriously... when was the last good game from Peter?

My opinion is that it was Dungeon Keeper 2... that game was a lot of fun...

Especially when my goblins danced the "DISCO INFERNO" BABY!!!

~RubbishFoo

Depends... I can't remember if Dungoen Keeper II came out before, or after Populous: The Begining.

[torrefaction]

I don't understand why nobody brings up the console factor for fable unlike many other games. I think fable suffered maybe in part or to a large extent 'cause of the lack of power of the xbox as compared to the ideas they had in mind and would have been much greater a game and closer to their vision if they had a more powerful system to work with.

Uh...I did. A few posts up ;)

[Watership]

Go say the same about Uwe Boll, who seems to have unconditional faith in his movies. Thing is, Molyneux ranks with those like Warren Spector, who happened to be in the right place and the right time early in their career, making a stellar game thanks to their creative teams, rather than their own efforts. All their recent efforts have shown what phonies they are. Can we please stop putting these people in our news?

I don't think that making games for decades like Populous all the way through to Fable was just the luck of having good people around him. People come and go and jobs lead them all over the place. Molyneaux remains at the centre of great games. Look at this list and tell me who else has a track record as good as this?

Bullfrog Productions

* Populous (1989) (Designer/Programmer)
* Powermonger (1990) (Designer/Programmer)
* Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods (1991) (Designer/Programmer)
* Syndicate (1993) (Producer)
* Theme Park (1994) (Project Leader/Lead Programmer)
* Magic Carpet (1994) (Executive Producer)
* Hi-Octane (1995) (Executive Producer)
* Dungeon Keeper (1997) (Project Leader/Designer)

Lionhead Studios

* Black & White (2001) (Concept/Design Leader/Programmer)
* Fable (2004) (Designer)
* Fable: The Lost Chapters (2005) (Designer)
* Black & White 2 (2005) (Lead Designer)
* The Movies (2005) (Executive Designer)
* Black & White 2 (2005) (Designer)
* The Movies: Stunts & Effects (2006) (Designer)

[Demo_Boy]

I'm gonna make the best forum post ever!!!!!!!!

Keep watching this space......

[Derella]

As concepts, his games sound brilliant -- he just needs to figure out how to make them work, within a realistic development cycle.

I hope that someday he will make a game that is as good as the old Bullfrog games were at the time of their release.

[torrefaction]

Man. I almost forgot about The Movies. That game was fucking brilliant! So there. His most recent great games both came out 1 year ago :D

[torrefaction]

As concepts, his games sound brilliant -- he just needs to figure out how to make them work, within a realistic development cycle.

I hope that someday he will make a game that is as good as the old Bullfrog games were at the time of their release.

A lot of them do work. But because his games at Bullfrog where SO damn good, a Molyneux game gets ridiculous amounts of hype. That's as much his fault as anyone else, but he is a man who TRULY sees the future of gaming...consistently over a LONG period of time.

[tombofsoldier]

Personally, I loved B&W 1, and enjoyed Fable. The impression I get from Fable is that they tried to pull too much out of the X-Box (the graphics were still fantastic) and they had too cut whatever couldn't be done (better graphics, children, aging trees, ect.) just to ship the game.

[easi]

Molyneux more like Mo-lie-neux lawl.

He's made maybe a couple of games that held my attention for more than 5 minutes. I think it's amazing he still has so many fanboi apologists.

[torrefaction]

Molyneux more like Mo-lie-neux lawl.

He's made maybe a couple of games that held my attention for more than 5 minutes. I think it's amazing he still has so many fanboi apologists.

You're amazing. You piss me off every time you post.

I don't apologize for anyone. I've said his games were overhyped. That doesn't change the fact that they were good goddamn games.

[digitalErich]

You know, that last statement about Fable 2 could have been tongue-in-cheek. That's how I read it the first time. Much like sarcasm, dry humor does not translate well to the printed word.

[Com_Gaunt]

Molyneux more like Mo-lie-neux lawl.

He's made maybe a couple of games that held my attention for more than 5 minutes. I think it's amazing he still has so many fanboi apologists.

What Molyneux games did you like?

[EvilBob46]

Bullshit. Molyneux's vision for games is stellar. It's lack of money and development time that forces him to scale back what he envisions. Comparing him to Boll is just bullshit.

Having a stellar vision for a game and a general idea of how it's going to work is only one step in a long process of making a game work. Lots of people have stellar visions, but being able to overcome obstacles like limited development time/funds and hardware limitations is what separates those with a vision and those who can actually make that vision reality. The greatest game idea ever is worthless if it can't be realized properly.

Is he like Uwe Boll? Well, maybe Uwe Boll also has a grand vision - but $25 million and the actors he can hire aren't enough to realize it. Who knows.

[torrefaction]

Having a stellar vision for a game and a general idea of how it's going to work is only one step in a long process of making a game work. Lots of people have stellar visions, but being able to overcome obstacles like limited development time/funds and hardware limitations is what separates those with a vision and those who can actually make that vision reality. The greatest game idea ever is worthless if it can't be realized properly.

Right, but Black & White was a great game, even if it had flaws. Syndicate was incredible. The Movies was just awesome. Dungeon Keeper was fantastic. I really liked Fable, I just disliked the length and the hype. I hear the lost chapters extended the game quite a bit, which could be exactly what I was looking for. He's overcome obstacles, just not all of them. He has a good track record, and has the problem of talking too much during development. I like the fact that he's open about his development. It's kind of a shame this won't happen anymore really.

[Damaestrio]

"I don't understand why nobody brings up the console factor for fable unlike many other games. I think fable suffered maybe in part or to a large extent 'cause of the lack of power of the xbox as compared to the ideas they had in mind and would have been much greater a game and closer to their vision if they had a more powerful system to work with."

- This really isn't an excuse. I mean, half the brilliance of a good designer is figuring out how to fit their idea into the technology they are given. If I remember correctly, Valve wanted to put in more destructible enviroments in HL1, like having bullets tear chunks out of walls when they hit. Clearly, this was a bit out of reach of the HL1 engine, but I didn't hear much complaining about HL1 suffering due to engine restrictions.

[torrefaction]

"I don't understand why nobody brings up the console factor for fable unlike many other games. I think fable suffered maybe in part or to a large extent 'cause of the lack of power of the xbox as compared to the ideas they had in mind and would have been much greater a game and closer to their vision if they had a more powerful system to work with."

- This really isn't an excuse. I mean, half the brilliance of a good designer is figuring out how to fit their idea into the technology they are given. If I remember correctly, Valve wanted to put in more destructible enviroments in HL1, like having bullets tear chunks out of walls when they hit. Clearly, this was a bit out of reach of the HL1 engine, but I didn't hear much complaining about HL1 suffering due to engine restrictions.

Which they did. Fable took out what they needed to take out. The whole point is that he just talked to early about features, that's all. Fable ran great, and looked beautiful. I loved that I got scars and shit. Peter knew what needed to be taken out. Case in point, he said what do growing trees really do for the player. Fable on it's own is an incredible game. The hype just makes it dull in comparison.

[jwbxx]

Dear EA,
Peter is wrong, there is already a game that ranks as the best of all time.

Regards,

That shitty black and white series

[Metal]

Fable was fine, and Fable 2 will be better.

[Wyrm]

I think Fable 2 will be a great game. Greatest game of all time? Probably not. I'm fairly jaded in my opinions and there aren't many games that could come close to matching my top 5 list.

This guy is a genius though. Maybe the gameplay and concepts aren't always quite there, but at least there's someone trying this stuff. I personally dont mind the guy, because I've enjoyed almost all of his games a great deal. I bought Black and White 2 and have had a complete blast beating it. Are there things wrong with it? Absolutely. Is it still a really good game? Hell yes.

[OrangePulp]

Having a stellar vision for a game and a general idea of how it's going to work is only one step in a long process of making a game work. Lots of people have stellar visions, but being able to overcome obstacles like limited development time/funds and hardware limitations is what separates those with a vision and those who can actually make that vision reality. The greatest game idea ever is worthless if it can't be realized properly.

Is he like Uwe Boll? Well, maybe Uwe Boll also has a grand vision - but $25 million and the actors he can hire aren't enough to realize it. Who knows.

Exactly. I, myself, have cooked up some game ideas that, in my own humble opinion, would be totally awesome if they were ever made. Should I, too, be put on the same pedastle as Molyneux?

Maybe some of his Bullfrog games were great; it would seem I never played any of them. But all of his Lionhead games I would call average, overall. Some had great ideas, but the execution just wasn't there.

As far as Fable 2 goes... If you look at all the shit he said was going to be in Fable (and from that, it really did sound like it could have been one of the best games ever; it sounded like it was going to be what Oblivion is, but better (not that Oblivion is lacking or anything)), and then didn't deliver on, I don't think anyone should listen to anything he says about Fable 2, and just judge it on the final product. Also, beware of first impressions by reviewers; I recall one from IGN, someone who played an early build, and from his describing it, it sounded like he was playing the game Molyneux wish he had made, instead of the one he actually made.

[LogainAblar]

So, he admits that he overshyped stuff in the past, knows it causes problems, and then turns around and does the exact same fucking thing with Fable 2. Thats pretty much the definition of retard right there.

Wow, you don't miss much do you? Between your acute sense of irony and easi's constructive, non-biased criticisms (always accompanied by witty one-liners) there is never a lack of intelligent, thought-provoking posting on this site.

[slink-jadranko]

At least he's trying to make the best game ever every time he makes a game. More than some developers do. And this isn't to say I am not bothered by his over-hype.

[Sensei-X]

Maybe I'm just bitter over the still buggy after multiple patches, crash prone, piece of crap called Black & White 2 I burned $50 on, but all I have to say to Peter Molyneux at this point is, "Hey jackass, maybe between "stellar visions" of games you can conjure up a stellar vision of some fucking QA, bitch!"

[Zurik]

I thought Fable was supposed to be this "Go anywhere, do what you want kinda game". I remember being very disappointed when everything was fenced off and the encounters were set. The way he originally talked I expected more of a Morrowind or Oblivion.

[NonSoft]

I don't know why he is apologizing for over-hyping Fable, if not for the hype it wouldn't have sold a fraction of what it did. Fable was a completely average game that was a mere fraction of what was promised. I didn't even follow much of Fable's development and had little knowledge of what the game was to consist of aside from a few of Peter's outlandish claims and even I was disappointed with the outcome.

Molyneux does come up with some fresh ideas, the problem is that he doesn't know how to implement them in a cohesive fashion. Anyone can stand in front of an audience and make claims about a yet to be released game, the hard part is assembling those claims and features in such a way that the product presents an enjoyable experience. I'm not sure that he has figured this out yet.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Except, Molyneux has already made some of fantastic games before.


The last fantastic game that Molyneux was involved with is Dungeon Keeper. That came out in 1997 - 9 years ago.

I used to defend Molyneux all the time on here, but no more. The man has long since fallen from grace - every one of his releases since DK has been overhyped and underwhelming.

[Hellstorm]

Peter Molyneux is the Rob Liefeld of games developers. If you get that, then give yourself a pat on the back.


Hahahahaha! Dead on!

[Vandabo]

I haven't played many of his games other than Fable, but I do like Penny Arcade...

The Game Is Called 'Fumpkin' (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/10/22)

[MosBen]

I've never understood why people take what he says so seriously. He's obviously a guy that loves his job and always gets really excited about what he's working on. He's nowhere near objective about his projects, and why should we expect him to be? Just everyone agree that when he says that he's making the best game ever we'll automatically interpret that as a game with some really cool concepts and in all likelihood some flawed implementation. Eventually he *will* manage to squeeze out a masterpiece again and we'll all be thrilled.

I'm also confused as to why it's so shocking that the last amazing game he made was 9 years ago. The man has put out several landmark games, but he's in a patch right now where he's just putting out decent but flawed games. Nobody produces only groundbreaking titles all the time.

[theguido]

Fable was a good game---for about 5 hours, then it got repetitive and went straight down the shithole. I expect much of the same from Fable 2---not that we're going to see it any time soon, based on previous history.

The worst thing is how much you're on rails in that game. Exploring never was very interesting because of how rigid it all was.

[torrefaction]

Yeah...Exactly. Will Wright hasn't exactly put out the most groundbreaking of titles since the original SimCity. Most everything since then has just been the same idea applied elsewhere. Spore is different, and everyone's still excited about it.

[Andro]

He probably does actually believe it, in which case he is merely being true to his vision. We all know it won't be the best game ever, it probably won't even be a great game, but one of the reasons Peter Molyneux is as successful as he is, is down to his self-belief.

[Ravenlock]

Yeah, I can't see who's really hurt by his thinking his game will be great.

His confidence/arrogance will go one of two ways, it'll either drive him and his team to actually make a better game, or it'll make them complacent and they'll be happy with whatever they produce simply because they produced it.

Either way, we'll read the same reviews and either buy it or not based on what they and people we trust say, just like we did for Fable 1. Personally, I enjoyed Fable a lot, given that I was prepared for a game that was less than the hype promised.

[destoo]

"right, how can we get gamers and a wider audience to experience something they've never seen before?"

Magic Carpet Wii-type game.
You heard it here first.