Fable III to include microtransactions

[Syraxis]

Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux isn't just pushing the curve on Xbox 360 with now-confirmed Project Natal support in Fable 3; during his speech at the annual BAFTA gathering, the legendary designer revealed his intent to integrate an "in-game shop" within the game world, enabling players to purchase DLC without disrupting the game experience (i.e. exiting to the Xbox Live Marketplace). In a report on the presentation, That VideoGame Blog noted that Molyneux had suggested special weapons, for example, could be sold for about

[Purkake]

It's Fable, who cares?

[Morgoth]

So, once I paid for the game, it forces me to pay more just to get through?

 

How Microsoft-ish.

[Slowtrain]

So, once I paid for the game, it forces me to pay more just to get through?

 

How Microsoft-ish.

 

 

Well the idea would appear to be that you are paying for additional content from within the game vs some other way.

 

The additional content would have to be paid for either way, whether in game or out.

[Monte Carlo]

It's the future, introducing MMO-style payment models into single-player games.

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

I don't see how this is fundamentally different from other DLC.

[Monte Carlo]

^ In-game DLC, signposting optional stuff that looks heavily like progressing in the game is pretty rare.

 

Although obvious once you think about it. In future games publishers will own your game - you'll have to buy it online, register it online, be online to play it and buy stuff online from within the game. In effect, you'll only rent this virutal product.

 

I'm going back to hex-based wargames on a board with little minis.

[Purkake]

But will it use Natal? That's the real question.

 

@Monte Carlo: Welcome to today, you haven't owned your games for a while now, not on the PC, at least. Businesses will do what they can to make money, if people are willing to buy it, what's the problem?

Edited October 22, 2009 by Purkake

[Monte Carlo]

^ Just failed my Geek Lore check, what's Natal, apart from a S. African province?

[Morgoth]

They'll probably design the game that way that you're forced to buy some ingame items. Otherwise you'll have a very very hard time.

 

It wouldn't surprise at all.

[Monte Carlo]

I don't mind as long as the game is good and they're upfront about what you're getting for your money.

[Purkake]

^ Just failed my Geek Lore check, what's Natal, apart from a S. African province?

 

Microsoft's new controllerless input system.

[Amentep]

But will it use Natal? That's the real question.

 

"Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux isn't just pushing the curve on Xbox 360 with now-confirmed Project Natal support in Fable 3..."

 

^ Just failed my Geek Lore check, what's Natal, apart from a S. African province?

 

Its the Xbox 260 "Controler Free Gaming" periphrial.

Edited October 22, 2009 by Amentep

[Purkake]

Flailing is the new waggle:

 

[Deadly_Nightshade]

...you haven't owned your games for a while now, not on the PC, at least.

 

That's not clear as your view is, I'm guessing, based on the EULA - something that is legally gray.

[Purkake]

No, based on the fact that you have to activate it online or be connected to play, they can turn the servers off and you'd have a fun little frisbee.

[Pop]

It sounds to me like they're charging to go to places you otherwise would have to work through in the game. Like if Bioware offered to bring your character to the Underdark in BG2 for a few bucks. You'd get there even if you didn't pay but it eliminates the hassle of, you know, playing the game. That is assuming that the areas in question aren't DLC. It's not entirely clear from the quote.

 

If they aren't, that tells us 3 things about Molyneux and Fable 3, things that we should already know, really.

1. The narrative is an optional framing device for the game experience. Fable 3 is either sandbox or episodic in its setup.

2. The game design abhors difficulty in all its forms (duh)

3. Giving players instant gratification is important.

 

I'd wager that these are the reasons why Fable is the most popular RPG franchise ever created (I think?) but then, I'm also pretty sure the National Enquirer gets better circulation than the Economist.

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

They'll probably design the game that way that you're forced to buy some ingame items. Otherwise you'll have a very very hard time.

 

It wouldn't surprise at all.

 

Fable 2 wasn't exactly the most challenging game in the world.

[Monte Carlo]

Thinking about it, it could be a pretty cool way of playing a game and it really lends itself to RPGs.

 

Think of it as the core game being the rulebooks of a RPG and all the DLC as modules / splatbooks. If a game was awesome enough, and the developers committed to it long-term, then it might be groovy.

[Morgoth]

There's nothing cool and groovy about having that bull**** enforced on a singleplayer game.

[Mamoulian War]

There's nothing cool and groovy about having that bull**** enforced on a singleplayer game.

 

QFT

[Purkake]

You can show both Microsoft and Lionhead your extreme dislike by not buying the game. Cool, huh?

[Morgoth]

You can show both Microsoft and Lionhead your extreme dislike by not buying the game. Cool, huh?

That's what I did in the past. And that's what I'll do in the future as well - not buying any Lionhead crap.

[Purkake]

Not only does it save money, it's also somewhat more effective than complaining about it on the internet.

[Maria Caliban]

So, once I paid for the game, it forces me to pay more just to get through?

 

How Microsoft-ish.

 

It's an expansion. You pay for it in game, and now have a new area with a new quest. Like Tales of the Sword Coast, only you'd pay for it and d/l it while in the game.