Ben-DutkaIt's definitely true that many of the most popular titles fall into the same category of gaming.
Developers and designers do notice, and that includes Microsoft European Studios boss Peter Molyneux, who is currently heading up work on Fable: The Journey , a game that is compatible with Kinect and actually isn't "on rails." And in speaking to Xbox World 360 (as cited by CVG ), the famed game creator spoke about the importance of innovation, and how some modern titles just feel too similar:
"I love new ideas and innovation. I'm trying to think of a more diplomatic way of saying this, but I'm just a little bit bored of doing things the same way in games. While I love all the drama of modern games there is this sameness about it.
They're essentially the same – one's got a green palette, one's got a grey palette; you're shooting and ducking and diving and it just seems almost on the point of being a little bit like Hollywood where they have got into this rut with their action films."
Molyneux adds that we're not quite to that point yet, but we're sort of getting there. Now, we won't say he doesn't have a point, because he does. But just a few things, Pete-
First, gamers will still reward great productions almost regardless of genre. If the quality is undeniable, it will likely be popular, and we can no longer say this about film. Second…me-thinks you've been stuck on the 360 and PC for a little too long. The PS3's diversity and quality of exclusives allow you to step away from those "green and gray shooters;" with Uncharted , Heavy Rain , God of War , inFamous , Flower, Metal Gear Solid , Twisted Metal, Yakuza, Ratchet & Clank , Journey, etc., you get a whole lot of different color, styles, gameplay, and presentations.
But yeah, when I look at my 360 collection…a whole lot of green, a whole lot of gray, and shooters. Maybe look a little beyond MS, Pete? Just a thought. …not that you can, given your employment.
He bores me…
But seriously, do something different yourself if you don't like the "same-ness".. Everyone is looking at what others do. Just do your own thing and be creative yourself. I mean HR and LA Noire are great example of developers paving their own path.
Hee hee. I know, right? He's is all talk, always under-delivering. I liked the first Fable, the second was ok and now I don't care about the series at all. And now he's the go-to Kinect guy. So sad.
Yea like somehow kinect is making him more creative. I have nothing against the guy personally, but come on practice what you preach.
I don't like this man >.< either
I only really enjoyed the first Fable game, sticking with a broken action rpg isn't really innovative.
It's a damn shame fable one was the only good one of the series. Only game that made me almost purchase a 360
I guess if you didn't listen to anything Peter Molyneux said about what the first Fable was going to be it would be a good game. I was wholly disappointed by how Fable turned out, but only because I really thought Peter was going to deliver on those promises he made about the title.
I think Mr Molyneux's problem lies not in a stagnation of the industry, but in an overreaching imagination that he just can't deliver on.
@coverton341, My sentiments exactly. To be honest I also feel somewhat similar. I feel that I have gotten to a point where my ideas have gone far beyond my actual abilities. Not to say I would give up but it does hinder creativity. I believe the remedy can be to open up and reach in different directions. As Ben stated maybe Peter M. should broaden his horizons. If he is able to that is.
I'm quite sure that was like a shout of desperation to Microsoft. It's obvious he's stuck with Microsoft and he feels it now. I guess he skipped the part when he say that they pay him a lot to keep it to their label. Not saying it's wrong, but on the contrary, that he might refuse their next offer and go other way with a good idea of a new ip, regarding of how much money he would receive.
That would indicate that he would/could chose artistic integrity versus the almighty dollar. I hope he finds his way. It is sad to not be able to manifest the creativity that swims around a persons imagination.
Fable 3 was a huge disappointment, but I was a big fan of the first two. Its hard not to look at these comments as him expressing his thoughts that Fable is now being "milked". He seemed so pumped showing off Milo for Kinect, but now he's stuck working on Fable: The Journey. He probably wants to try a new IP.
I didn't necessarily interpret his comments as meaning that MS is holding him back and switching over to Sony is whats best for him as an innovator. I mean, successful franchises sell, so yes we live in a world of "sameness" be it different kinds of shooters, or a world of sequels. Of the "different kinds of exclusives" you listed, all of them except for Flower and Heavy Rain have plenty of installments in their respective franchises. Sounds like Pete wants to try something new besides Fable. I can't blame him.
The various exclusives in the PlayStation library aren't about sequels. It's the differences between each franchise that are vastly more prominent than on any other platform.
And I wasn't interpreting Molyneux's words in that way; it was only a personal recommendation, really.
Well I definately agree with the notion that the PS3 has the most diverse bunch of exclusives. The first thing I thought of after reading his quote however, was that the gaming industry *is* over saturarated with either sequels or shooters regardless of what console you look at. Obviously there are some exceptions like Heavy Rain and Flower, but if it sells the first time around, you better believe the publisher wants to turn it into a franchise.
Which is why I think (hope?) that this is him subtley saying he wants to work on something besides the Fable franchise. Regardless if you hate it or love it….or thought that Pete overhyped it (he did), when Fable was announced it seemed groundbreaking, new and fresh. Here we are 10 years later waiting upon the release of "Fable: The Journey" for Kinect. Molyneux is alot of things, but he's also a big dreamer. I'd love to see what kind of new IP he could come up with- regardless of platform.
Green, grey and brown shooters and MMOs are what turned me off PC gaming, it's all I ever saw, the same thing is true of the 360 which is one reason it holds no attraction for me.
Sounds like Mr. Molyneux needs to boot up his PS3, start Flower and live a little before quitting his job and talking to Sony.
I wonder why so many developers are so afraid of color. Is it technically easier to develop in that manner or is it just laziness? I can understand to a certain extent a developer may not wish to confuse or distract the player in some situations but I think they can find ways around that if they put their minds to it.
One would think that with so many millions of color options the industry would be rife with color in games. But alas that is not the case.
This guy looks like the evil scientist from District 9 who was eager to dissect Wikus Van De Merwe.
Quite honestly, I don't get why this guy is held in such high regard. Fable is pretty lame in my opinion. There are much better games out there.
Well, he is pretty talented. He has had a hand in the following games:
Populous
Syndicate
Magic Carpet
Black and White
He has also had his hands in some stinkers as well.
Unfortunately Talent does not always equal success.
I can see where he is coming from with his ideas but I cant say that he has reached the desired destinations.
there's no way this guy is walking away from microsoft's checkbook.
Most people would not. I would seriously look at all my options carefully before I'd burn the bridge with M$.
Just another fine example of M$ hindering the industry.
To be fair, he did heap a lot of praise on to Heavy Rain.
Good on him. I wasn't aware of that. Now he should take that inspiration and try to come up with an new IP that doesn't involve fart and vomit jokes. haha
Man, I've tried that Fable 3 demo. Ugh.
Horrible character models, and worse even, the animation, which is all around last gen, and even many last gen games moved better.
And could they have made killing swarms of bats anymore boring and brain dead?
I have Fable 2 sitting around un-played and it's quickly dropped to the bottom of my play list after having tried Fable 3.
My Fable loving friend said 2 was a stinker as well. He loved the first game but said 2 was not as good and 3 was even worse.
I really liked Fable 1 and thought Fable 2 was worse as well.
Yeah, there's similar games out there, but even games in the same genre often have some large differences in the gameplay, and a lot more games are trying to be unique nowadays. If he wants to do something new and unique, he's supposedly free to do it. Microsoft are supposed to have said to him that they wanted a core Kinect game, not a Fable Kinect game…
He should take a lesson from valve. Portal 2 is absolutely friggin' fanstastic!!! Half Life series is great as well. I have to say that i'm still impressed with the games that are coming out. I do see alot of the same but I also see alot of unique ideas executed perfectly. This dude needs to take a break or something and go back to what made him start making games in the first place. Nuff Said…
"but I'm just a little bit bored of doing things the same way in games."
That's all good and fine Peter. And I'm a little bored of you making underwhelming, half baked games. That's been true of you on XBox today and it was mostly true of you on PC back then (Black & White laame). When you can actually create something worth playing rather than whining about lame things like shooters and colors then I'll check back with you. But until then, you're a dude getting way too much press time for having delivered so little to so few. And those who you whine about have done more to entertain my time with just one of "their" shooters dressed in green and brown (huh? brown/green military theme? me no understand why? camo, sand,and steel/concrete what's that?) than any one game of yours.
BTW, your Fable games look ugly and need a lot more visual work than what your 8 pack of crayolas will provide.
Yeah, you can call me Captain Grumps today =p
I like Captain Grumps. Especially the kind with Grumps Barries.
=P
mmmmh Crunch Berries.
This dude hypes Fable games so much before their releases and end being just average.
Need to do the jump on the Ps3 and do a good game in this gen for once.
It's not just him either. My friend was all over Fable 3. He couldn't wait for it to come out. Talked it up constantly and we all know how that turned out.
Well but Mol always exaggerate how big the new Fable entry gonna be, some people take his word for granted(lol) but in a way is still Mol fault,your friend should never believe much of what he say.
I don't think that simply coming to the PS3 will repair his rut. He needs to create a good game. It would sell no matter what platform it is on.
Of course the PS3 would broaden his audience but he better come up with something unique. Don't bring that stagnation over here buddy.
I doubt he would come with Fable on the Ps3, I think Molyneux has cool ideas but he can't put all of them on Fable and it looks like MS doesn't want him to do another thing :S.
Loved Fable, liked Fable II and was disappointed in Fable III (wouldn't have been so much if it was just marketed more as what it was, an action game and not an RPG). I'd be happy if he put out an updated Populous. I played the snot out of that game on my Genesis back in the day. I loved that game.
does anybody remember the death threats peter rm. received over the first fable game? ii guess that's a perfect example of how talking up a game and not delivering on expectations can create a lot of backlash. it's also a pretty good example of how passionate gamers can be too. they can get kind of crazy when they feel they've been misled.
Well, you can't run around going, "we're making the best game of all time!" and not expect some backlash.
I enjoyed the first Fable. But…greatest game of all time? Er, no. Greatest RPG of all time? Nah.
Greatest self promoter of all time? Tied with Turn10.
RadioHeader – Well, it seemed that Turn 10 mellowed out at this years E3 as compared to their "definitive" one.
Maybe they're worried by all the flack GT5 took, and they know they can't do better.
hes one of the best in the world and they have him making kinect games, what a shame…
If Molyneaux is bored he should try delivering the games he promises instead of empty shells.
I agree Mr Dutka With nothing out to play on 360 i be bored to. Only thing i last played on my 360 was gears 3 beta, I had fun with it but after playing U3 beta Gears 3 feels so obsolete.