Peter Molyneux Interview

IGN AU has gotten around to posting the results of an interview they did with Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux during GamesCom about Fable III, project Natal, the Milo demonstration, and more.

IGN AU: I guess, related to ethics, few adventure games and RPGs have truly done politics well. I mean, there are strategy games that use elements of this, but it’s difficult to convey realistically the nuances of political manoeuvring. Mostly it’s just been cause and effect. In Fable III, it sounds like you’re loosening the choker a bit; can characters challenge you for rule, create risings, revolutions and anarchy, for instance? Can the game push back at you, if you’re pushing one way?

Peter Molyneux: Okay, so yes, is the answer to all of those things. The beauty of this mechanic and the judgement mechanic is that it enables you as a player to get involved in whatever area you’d like to get involved in. So whether you’re passing judgement on a small case about a loaf of bread or whether it be a big case about this community should go under military rule, you can decide ‘no, I’m going to go out there as king and sort it all out’.

IGN AU: You’re the ‘active’ king.

Peter Molyneux: Exactly. You can be an active or a passive ruler. Or you can say ‘my judgement is…’ and I need to be very careful about how I say this, because of spoilers ‘one of my advisors is going to go out there and sort it out for me.’ And I would just say to you, ‘be careful, man power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.’

You know that element from Fable 1 and Fable II that we had called ‘Renown’? That is super-important now! It’s related entirely to what the people think of you and your rule. And if your renown goes too low, don’t expect them to just sit there and take it, man!

IGN AU: I want to see some pitchforks and burning stakes!

Peter Molyneux: Exactly! Exactly. And also, when you become king, don’t expect it to be all that simple.