Next Molyneux game a "scientific achievement"

By Robert Purchese Published 20 May, 2008

But it's not Fable 3, says Lionhead boss.

Peter Molyneux has said his next creation will be regarded as a "significant scientific achievement".

He was chatting at the recent Microsoft event in San Francisco, where he promised all manner of innovations for the future.

"I think it's such a significant scientific achievement that it will be on the cover of Wired," Molyneux told Wired.

"My next game will not be Fable 3. It's not a game I can talk to you about right now, but: AI, simulation, the way characters interact - we've had smart people working on that stuff for over a decade with the Fable games and Black and White."

Of course, Molyneux has said all of this before; back in November he told Eurogamer that being "regarded as a major scientific breakthrough" was one of five ways games would evolve in the future.

"I think, one, gaming and social networking will come together more. Two, the devices we use to play games will continue to change radically. Three, we will still have a football game every year. Four, at least three of the existing genres will be redefined! Five, a game will be regarded as a major scientific breakthrough," said Molyneux, who also would rather turn invisible than have lasers for eyes.

Fable 2 is due out this Christmas exclusively on Xbox 360. It promises to test your morality, tug at your heart strings, and offer a world on a platter for you to pick at.

Pop over to our Fable 2 gamepage to find out how.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (68) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • jonsaan #1 4 years ago

    'Yes Pete, sure it is Pete, how have you been?'

    /leads him away to chair in the corner

  • yupyup #2 4 years ago

    Oh dear. Pre-hype-hype.

    Shut it Molyneux!

  • NickD7 #3 4 years ago

    Molyneux is a top man who cares deeply about the industry. He has been at the helm of many great games, Theme park, Syndicate wars, Populas, I'm sure Fable 2 and his next project will rock.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/08 @ 14:47

  • Tiresias #4 4 years ago

    Oh FFS Molyneux, I love the guy but will he never learn? Seriously :/

  • McFly55 #5 4 years ago

    Every single time....

    'I predict that not only will my next game change the way people think about videogames, it will change the way they think about everything forever'

    well its always something like that anyways

  • freedumb #6 4 years ago

    The Molyneux bashing is actually more tedious than what he says nowadays.

  • mcmonkeyplc #7 4 years ago

    Shut up you tart!

  • Derblington #8 4 years ago

    He does not learn...

  • InsoFox #9 4 years ago

    Or you could just wait and find out what it is.


    ...Just a thought.

  • Wash #10 4 years ago

    @vercetti102

    I cant think of one of his games i would call shit. Please do tell.

  • DFawkes #11 4 years ago

    @InsoFox
    We could, but won't. It's Molyneux, it won't be as good as he genuinely believes. We don't generally do fair and balanced opinion on EG, we guess based on the past, and he's done this plenty! He's a walking, talking not-fulfiling-promises machine.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/08 @ 15:17

  • space_ace #12 4 years ago

    Peter Molyneux has said

    rofl

  • dsmx #13 4 years ago

    Which idiot let peter talk to the press didn't they learn from the whole fable fiasco?

  • vegard #14 4 years ago

    molyneux angers nerds (again)...so a cool guy in my book then.

  • corposant #15 4 years ago

    This guy is genuinely passionate about what he does. Whether what he says comes true or not is irrelevent - at least he's aiming for bigger and better and that can only benefit the folks who play games in the long run. Go for it Molyneux says I.

  • Fab4 #16 4 years ago

    It would be cool if it had "Scientific Achievement Unlocked" come up.

  • L42yB #17 4 years ago

    While Peter does have a habit of overstating the excellence of an upcoming title, he has also released a string of really good games. But yes, I think I would have enjoyed them more had I not bought into all the hype he creates about them...

  • DFawkes #18 4 years ago

    He does try, I'll give him that. But how about go for "great game" instead of "scientific achievement"? At least that way if you make it a scientific achievement it'll be a bonus to the game.

  • Quint2020 #19 4 years ago

    Good old Moly!

  • paulf #20 4 years ago

    he's only gone and created a cylon !!!

  • sergeantdisco #21 4 years ago

    Scientific Breakthrough?

    Has he created a creature in Black & White that doesn't shit exclusivley on houses?

  • Rirekon #22 4 years ago

    I take it his PR lady is only holiday then?

  • Denny #23 4 years ago

    Paulf / sgtdisco,
    Maybe you are both right? It's a cylon that exclusively shits on houses!

  • PearOfAnguish #24 4 years ago

    New from Lionhead Studios: My Little Moly™. This scale-model of the famous game developer has real game-programming action, and comes with several genuine Molyneux catchphrases. Relive his greatest hits, with such classics as 'We're taking acorns to the next level', 'it'll be a significant scientific achievement' and 'the next game will be better, I promise'. My Little Moly™ costs £29.99 and for a limited time only comes with free Panicking PR Pal doll™. Pull Moly's string and watch his public relations rep panic!
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/08 @ 16:36

  • seasidebaz #25 4 years ago

    wooo he's going to use the power of the 360 to create clones of the player. in real life.

    then you can sit around with your clones, which will have "the best ai" and "the most realistic interaction" of any game.

  • paulf #26 4 years ago

    @ PearOfAnguish - post of the week :)

  • Svecke #27 4 years ago

    The Pear of Anguish wins Eurogamer. Says: "the end guy was hard".

    News at 11.

  • davisorle #28 4 years ago

    @ vercetti102
    Shit? Do you play games? If so, try playing some better ones.

    Seriously though. When he says those things I wonder what kind of game he is talking about. he better not be talking crazy on me cause next time i'll talk shit about him next time around ( forumwise)

  • Bumhug360 #29 4 years ago

    "Scientific Breakthrough?

    Has he created a creature in Black & White that doesn't shit exclusivley on houses? "

    I have a sudden urge to play black & white for some reason

  • Stonker #30 4 years ago

    well, at least he's still enthusiastic about games and not a jaded, cynical fuckbag like the rest of us.

  • MyPointIs #31 4 years ago

    Yes Peter, we will give you both, the Nobel and the Oscar.

  • anomagnus #32 4 years ago

    i hear he is working on a THREE DIMENSIONAL game

    amazing

  • kangarootoo #33 4 years ago

    Those of you that have never watched "Keeping up appearances" on TV (errr, like I never have) will be delighted to know that every so often 'comedy ensues' as a result og Hyacinth Bucket's elderley father escaping his old folks home and doing something bonkers. Usually something along the lines of walking into a shopping centre in an astronaut's suit and trying it on with cute shop assistant ladies.

    This story kind of reminds me of that a little bit. Its like PM has skipped the clutches of his guardians ("HA, I pretended to swallow the medicine again, but I dind't really!";) and scooted off down the town centre to run through a shopping arcade dressed in just his socks. Eventually they manage to get dart him and bundle him into the van, upon which men in black will explain that it was all a trick of the light and the crazy things people heard him say he said was actually just the noise of wet leaves falling onto a galvanised tin roof.

    If he turns up on the cover of New Scientist (Wired magazine indeed) then I shall gladly eat my words.

  • zoidberg #34 4 years ago

    did he play Portal? I think the brakethrough's already here.

  • kangarootoo #35 4 years ago

    @Stonker

    Its not a binary state you know. Mad bonkers enthusiastic crap talker or cynical black hearted kitten porking villain.

    I am still very enthusiastic about games. I just wish PM would stop saying things all the time, especially soooo far in advance of actually releasing anything.

    I tend to get the feeling that the reason he can be working on the next big thing even though Fable 2 isn't out yet, is because he doesn't actually develop games anymore past the high concept phase (which is frankly the easiest part).

  • KillerMonkey #36 4 years ago

    I like the man's ideas. I thought B&W was great fun.

    It's just a shame the execution could've been so much better.

  • TheBoyChris #37 4 years ago

    I love Peter Molyneux. He is awesome.

  • Xerx3s #38 4 years ago

    I don't know what's worse, the comment from peter or the comments in here. What a sad world.

  • MyPointIs #39 4 years ago

    You seem to fit right in.

  • #40 4 years ago

    Peter Molyneuxs a grade A cock, so far up his own ass.

  • MightyMouse #41 4 years ago

    Just... no.

  • smelly #42 4 years ago

    LMFAO @ "internet opinion"

    If we all group together and believe the same thing.. we'll look cool.. because we're not cool in real life and we have no friends.. we get picked on every day at school.. big bullies.. I know.. The internet.. I can be anonymous and call i guy I dont know a cock.. Yes i know i like playing his games.. But I'll call him a dick because it'll make me look cool.. because everyone else in the forum is doing the same.. YES!! Loook!! Some more people are doing it!!! YAY!!! I'm no longer unpopular!!!

  • xAx #43 4 years ago

    lolyneux

  • Yaz #44 4 years ago

    KillerMonkey wrote: "I like the man's ideas. I thought B&W was great fun. It's just a shame the execution could've been so much better."

    Agreed.

    Peter Molyneux always talks the talk, but he rarely walks the walk, but at least he TRIES to be original and TRIES to offer something new in all his games, even if it doesn't always work and his games fall short of the high goals he sets for them.

    IMO, that's something to be commended in industry crying out for innovation and developers willing to take risks. :|

  • Freek #45 4 years ago

    Better tactic to me would be not to say anything and then blow everybody away with a gameplay presentation, leaving nothing to doubt. Just spouting hype that the final game is unable to live up to seems so pointless.

  • ronuds #46 4 years ago

    Would you rather PM took the EA approach of giving us more of the same year after year? At least he's trying to move the industry forward instead of running in place. There's about nothing on the market that's innovative in the least, so let's at least give him a chance before we shoot him out of the sky.

  • miiiguel #47 4 years ago

    This guy suck is this and that..., his games are real bad and shit... . Now I feel connected to my fellow EGers, we love to bash!

  • db3 #48 4 years ago

    Molyneux cracks me up :)

  • immateriaux #49 4 years ago

    @ronuds, on the one hand it is ridiculous to say that there is nothing innovative on the market at all, on the other hand it is also ridiculous to say it is better to have someone talk about doing innovation than actually doing it. It would certainly be nice if after all the chances he has had, Molyneaux did deliver an innovative game (of the type he aspires to) but at this stage, going by his record, it is more unlikely than likely. In the interim, we do have some decent innovation out there and some great games in the stores and on the near horizon which are a lot more rewarding than Molyneaux's vapourware.

  • Bitkari #50 4 years ago

    Stop. Talking.

  • BTBAM #51 4 years ago

    He's a joker, good on him for speaking out about this excitedly. Why shouldn't he? So what if he falls a bit short sometimes, he's a good guy and is one of the best in the business. He's keeping the idea of gaming being more respected, shouldn't people be into that? As someone else said, the barrage of predictable replies whenever he opens his mouth is fucking tiresome.

  • smelly #52 4 years ago

    Isnt it GOOD that a developer (or owner of a company) has PASSION for what they're doing and gets so excited about it they cant help but tell everyone about it?

    Anyone would think you lot prefer non passionate developers creating carbon copy fps games.. oh wait...

  • Bru-Man #53 4 years ago

    Yes, but will it be fun?

  • dsmx #54 4 years ago

    Fable was crushed by the hype that peter created for it and if he isn't careful he will do the same for fable 2.

  • smelly #55 4 years ago

    @dsmx:

    quote: "Fable was crushed by the hype that peter created for it and if he isn't careful he will do the same for fable 2."


    Lol.. Would that be the SAME fable which sold 2.6 million copies on the original xbox? I.e. 13% of all xbox owners bought it brand new?

    Yeah.. i'm sure it didnt do well AT ALL did it?

    In fact.. it probably did SO BADLY that microsoft bought his company...
    Edited by 1 at 21/05/08 @ 02:59

  • Calgon #56 4 years ago

    I have to agree, Im not a Lionhead fan and I found Fable a bit dissapointing, not only because of what was removed that he said would be in the game but some of what was there could have been better too...

    For example the combat felt shallow(which I really do hope is improved because if you over simplify it, you may as well skip the combat alltogether because it will get boring very fast, through repetition and lack of a real challenge... to me its not a battle if theres no freedom/depth/challenge in the combat mechanics) the loading far too long and frequent(it made the whole world seem smaller) and there were even a few glitches and technical issues(framerate could have been better in some parts).

    ... but it was unique in concept and style(and there were some things in it that made it worth playing) and even alot of the haters will have to conceed they like some of his ideas whether they make into his games or not, since they complain about him getting their hopes up. I also want him to start delivering on his claims and realising his ideas... because you know, providing the quality is there it would be another innovative AAA title on the market and this would also set an example for other devs to follow.

    Its better to be neutral in the chance he does deliver on his goals, otherwise you could end up sat talking about how shit it probably is "despite what the paid for by M$ reviews say" because its by that Molyneux fella who the expert members of EG say "he always talks a load of crap". When in fact those that took a wait and see approach could be pleasantly suprised when they play the game.

  • seasidebaz #57 4 years ago

    fable was one of the worst games i ever played. cos it was far too short. took me 2 days to finish. bloody thing just kept sapping my time away from me, then 12 hours later, the end.

    i like pm, at least he has ideas other than "have we put enough guns in it yet? yes? then let's start putting vehicles in it too! and pile on some BADASS! woo, those teenies love the badass."

  • sergeantdisco #58 4 years ago

    Is it more Magic Carpet?

    /hopes.

  • schachmatt #59 4 years ago

    Oh, the innovation he has brought into the video game world in the past few games.

    Like the open world with invisible barriers, collecting keys and one-click-combat. Or making an npc behaviour learning program less advanced than Little Computer People, have you tinker with it for hours so it does a few things right and then take it away for whole levels.

  • seasidebaz #60 4 years ago

    @jspoole:

    yeah i tend not to play shovelware, or indeed anything scoring under an 8... i have very high standards brought on by 20 years of limited gaming funds :)

    seriously, though, it was a good game, just far too short. i only loaded the thing up twice, 2 bouts of 6 hours, and the game was over. and that was the lost chapters version as well. i enjoyed almost every minute, bar some really annoying niggles, but it was WOEFULLY short for an rpg. i guess final fantasy has been spoiling me :( oh well only cost me £5 at gamestation anyway...

  • seasidebaz #61 4 years ago

    @jspoole:

    don't worry, my first fable comment had a touch of sarcasm to it with me saying it was bad :)

    with fable2 and banjo3 on the horizon, i'm almost tempted to buy a 360 again... assuming there will be a pricedrop on the elite around christmas :D

  • WinterSnowblind #62 4 years ago

    You guys complaining about Molyneux clearly haven't been paying attention to Fable 2 then? Not only did he apologise for hyping up so many features that hadn't left the planning stages, but he has completely avoided that with the second game. The only features being hyped are ones that are finished and in the game and have actually been demonstrated to us, AND almost everything that was promised for the first is actually present in the sequel.

    The fans are also slightly to blame for over-hyping the game, as most people were expecting something on the scale of Morrowind with a completely free and open world, when nothing like that was ever mentioned. Ever. And dispite all that, Fable was still a very enjoyable and unique adventure game. We know what to expect with Fable 2 now, and if we can just get something that's bigger and better, it's easily going to be one of the best games released this year.

    I have to wonder how many of you actually know what you're talking about, and how many are just riding the Molyneux hate train. Sure, he has a problem with getting overly excited about his work, but he's still a very talented designer and one of the most imaginitive and inventive in the industry.

  • stoopidgreg #63 4 years ago

    "Would you rather PM took the EA approach of giving us more of the same year after year?"

    what, like black & white 2? populous sequels? theme park sequels and now a fable sequel?

  • bitesize #64 4 years ago


    i love molyneux. as has been said before, i'd much rather have someone enthusiastic about his games to the point that he can't shut up, than some jaded sick-of-it-all developer spouting by-the-numbers PR bollocks.

    keep talking man, some of us appreciate you!

  • kangarootoo #65 4 years ago

    @smelly

    When have I ever subscribed to popular belief simply because it was popular?

  • kangarootoo #66 4 years ago

    @smelly

    "Isnt it GOOD that a developer (or owner of a company) has PASSION for what they're doing and gets so excited about it they cant help but tell everyone about it?"

    I know something even better. A developer that is passionate about what their doing, but still able to rein their enthusiasm in to the degree that they make reasonable claims about the products they create and set realistic expectation.


    "i love molyneux. as has been said before, i'd much rather have someone enthusiastic about his games to the point that he can't shut up, than some jaded sick-of-it-all developer spouting by-the-numbers PR bollocks."

    Are those really the only two choices we get?


    For the record, I loved Fable as well. It just wasn't the epihany it was sold as. It wasn't on a par with other games much less hyped. It was just solid, well produced fun. No fireworks, no booking a week off work to play it, it still contained moments that made me slap me head in frustration. A good game, but not a legend. That is all.

  • smelly #67 4 years ago

    "fable was one of the worst games i ever played. cos it was far too short. took me 2 days to finish. bloody thing just kept sapping my time away from me, then 12 hours later, the end. "


    That's quite frankly the most stupidest thing i've ever read...

    "it kept sapping time away from me" - so you enjoyed it so much you couldnt stop playing.. But it's one of the worst games youve ever played because it was too short?

    WTF?

    Surely it's better to have a short fun experience than a long drawn out boring one?

  • bitesize #68 4 years ago

    Are those really the only two choices we get?

    ok, you can have the wannabe rockstar cliffyb type as well...

  • seasidebaz #69 4 years ago

    @smelly:

    read my other posts :D

    fable was great, hoping fable2 is too (but maybe a bit longer...)