Fable: Huge Video Interview Feature

Our Fable coverage continues with this gigantic, 40-minute, exclusive video interview and feature, with Peter Molyneux, Simon and Dene Carter, and many others!

It's been four years in the making, but soon the wait will finally be over. Even back when it was known as Project Ego, the buzz surrounding Fable - one of Lionhead's biggest ever projects - was almost immediately tangible.

The only Fable interview/feature you'll ever need.

Peter Molyneux's go-anywhere, do-anything pledge created the anticipation his games are famed for, and three years later, the realisation of that vision is nothing less than breathtaking. See our full hands-on impressions with the finished game if you missed it yesterday.

Peter Molyneux discusses everything Fable...

Our recent visit to Lionhhead's Guildford, UK-based studio offered more than just hands-on time with the Microsoft-published milestone action RPG. We sat down for Fable-flavoured interviews with all these guys:

Dene and Simon Carter spill the beans...

Key Interviewees
•   Peter Molyneux (Lionhead Founder, Director)
•   Dene Carter (Co-MD of Big Blue Box, Lead Designer)
•   Simon Carter (Co-MD of Big Blue Box, Lead Programmer)
•   James Leach (Writer)

Additional Interviewees
•   Kareem Ettouney (Concept Artist)
•   Andy Robson (Head of Testing)
•   Nathan Smethurst (Assistant Head of Testing)
•   Sam van Tilburgh (Community Manager)

The result is this gigantic, 40-minute video interview, slash behind-the-scenes-feature. We take you around the legendary studio and go in depth on everything you need to know about Fable in one extra special, spoiler-free, ultra-exclusive video presentation.

James Leach reveals how all the writing was done...

Expect to learn exclusive stuff about all of the following:

•   What does freedom mean? How free is the player in Fable?
•   How is the team feeling in the very final stages of development?
•   Just how hard has the team been working?
•   Has the experience of making Fable been what Peter expected?
•   How has Fable changed since the start? What was taken out, what was added?
•   Is the story the central element or is it about what the player has actually done?
•   How does the story fit into a game where you can do almost anything?
•   What are the five different AI systems? How do they work?
•   Is the lead character still going to be changed for the Japanese release, as was once planned?
•   How was the story written? Meet the writer!
•   How the hell were over 160,000 words of speech included?!
•   How deep does the interactivity go? How well do the NPCs remember you?
•   Easter egg-style lines of speech, swearing, sexual content!
•   The aspect of fear about the hype that exists - are expectations too high?
•   Save points - how does it work? Is it continuous, chapter based, what?
•   How does Fable align to other Japanese and western RPGs?
•   Did you borrow ideas or start totally from scratch?
•   What makes Fable fundamentally different from other RPGs?
•   How does the reward system work?
•   Fable - the hippie game?!
•   The stats kept on record during the game are ridiculous, what's the deal?
•   How does 2D artwork fit into the game?
•   What didn't you include that you might include in Fable 2?
•   Is this the best RPG ever, Peter?
•   And Peter, what do you say to your detractors who say you always over promise at the start of a project?

Kareem Ettouney talks art as Sam van Tilburgh guides us...
QA leads Andy Robson and Nathan Smethurst join in...

It's the ultimate Fable feature and an absolute must-watch for every Xbox owner (and anyone who'll quite possibly be pushed to get one once they learn how fantastic Fable really is). Lots of brand new game footage is included.

Peter Molyneux closes with some thoughtful messages.

But there's still more to come: We've got ANOTHER, massive interview on the way with game deign legend Peter Molyneux, focussing on everything else that's happening at Lionhead right now, including their tantalising, top-secret projects, wider opinions on all sorts of industry matters, and lots more. It's this year's ultimate Molyneux interview, exclusively on Kikizo hopefully next week. Don't miss it, and in the meantime, enjoy this video download!

Adam Doree
Interviews conducted by Adam Doree and Alex Wollenschlaeger