Fable III Message Board

Disappointed by Fable III? Even series creator Peter Molyneux now admits "Fable III was a trainwreck".Read more...

Games industry veteran and Fable creator Peter Molyneux has branded 2010's Fable III a "trainwreck", and admitted the end product was "flawed".

Xbox 360 is getting a Fable Trilogy package that includes Fable Anniversary, Fable 2 and Fable 3, Microsoft confirmed.

"The Fable Trilogy bundle in the Xbox Marketplace is real and in development," a Microsoft spokesperson told Gamespot. "The bundle will include full Xbox 360 titles for Fable Anniversary, Fable II, and Fable III. We're excited to share official details regarding the release soon on Lionhead.com."

The bundle has a release date of February 4 on Xbox Marketplace, though Microsoft hasn't confirmed launch plans. Fable Anniversary, the HD remake of Fable, is due out on February 4 (yep, that's the same day listed for the bundle) for Xbox 360. The Fable Trilogy description warns that those who already own any of the included games won't get a second copy if they buy the bundle, nor will they get a discount.

What appeared to be a glitch earlier this morning is now intentional: Fable III is completely free on Xbox Live (probably to promote the original game's HD re-release later this year). Just go to the title in the On Demand section of the Marketplace and you'll find it there for download. The game is 5.61 GB.

Fable 3, the game in the series we all tried to forget until something worse came along in Fable Heroes, is currently free on the Xbox Marketplace. It's still unclear if this is a bug, since the way you obtain it gratis is a little convoluted, or if this is some portend to today's Microsoft press conference.

Here's how to get the game for free (which we've tested): You must be an Xbox Gold member. Head on over to the game's page and click purchase. Yes, it says that it's $20 (or whatever it is in your regional currency). Now comes the important part, make sure you are paying with Microsoft Points, not with your credit card. You should see a screen similar to the one above that lists the game for free.

Enjoy! As much as anybody can enjoy Fable 3.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

We're getting reports from readers that Fable III is currently available for free on Xbox Live. To start the download, head to the game's Xbox.com listing, click on download, go to use Microsoft Points to complete the purchase then finish the transaction. The game should then start downloading to your Xbox 360 console. Seems a bizarre mistake to pop up now, of all times. Wonder if it's related to an impending Fable announcement for the Xbox One? I mean, it's not like this is the first time a Fable game has mysteriously done this, and the last time was right before the launch of Fable III...

#fineart Emrah Elmasli is a Turkish concept artist who now resides in the UK, where he's done a ton of concept art for the last few games in the Fable series. More »

#fineart Englishman Mike McCarthy, of Lionhead Studios, has for many a year now been working on the Fable series, bringing us some of the weirdest and most wonderful characters going around. More »

Young people may choose to rely on new-fangled methods like websites and E3 press conferences for the announcement of new Fable games, but we're far too rooted in tradition for that. No, we learn about the existence of a new Fable game by hearing Peter Molyneux admit there were problems with the last Fable game, the way our grandfathers did it.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Molyneux admitted the game wasn't "all he dreamed it would be" saying "It's hard to be completely honest without offending people; but I know, when I read in the middle of a review [of Fable 3] that said the quality just wasn't good enough, I actually agree with those reviews."

Now, that's the headline of course, and the reason you're reading this post in the first place, but you owe it to yourself to read Molyneux's explanation. He manages to get across why Fable 3 didn't meet its full potential (not enough time, primarily) without excusing the game's failings.

Oh Peter, you always know the perfect thing to say to win us over. ... Unless you're saying "Hey, our game is done, let's sell it to people." Other than that, though, perfect.

If you've been nervous about testing out Fable 3's streamlined, yet still buggy, mechanics, we've got some good news. A demo's now available to Xbox Live Gold members, allowing them to try their hand at ruling a kingdom. Or selling hobos into slavery. You know, whatever floats your boat.

#yaarrgghh With experience on both the PC and Xbox 360, Fable studio Lionhead is well aware of the pitfalls of both platforms. And feels one pitfall is deeper than the other. More »

After having been out on Xbox 360 for approximately 48 years, the PC version of Fable III arrived today. A roleplaying game designed primarily for people who don’t live and breathe roleplaying games, Lionhead’s game has charm in its blood and a tale of revolutionary heroism to shout about. Reception on console was mixed, but improvements and upgrades are promised for the PC version. Did they work? Here we go…(more…)

It's a comfort to know that though Fable 3 (launching today on PC) may have represented a downturn in quality from Lionhead's previous game, the studio's talent for utter delusion is as robust as ever.

Combat lead Mike West starts out well enough, detailing for Eurogamer some improvements in the PC port, like control schemes optimized for mouse and keyboard and a beefed-up graphical engine that supports higher resolutions and 3D effects. But when West starts defending Fable 3 against critics, things get ... weird. Here's a sample.

"[Fable 3] is a better game than Fable 2."

... That's not a good start, but keep going.

"Fable 3 wasn't very buggy - it was pretty polished. It all fitted together very well and as a product it was very good."

If you'll remember, as with all "pretty polished" games, Lionhead had to solicit bug reports from the community after the game's release.

"People saying the story wasn't very good was unfair. It's an interesting situation of you gather people together and then defeating the main bad guy."

Umm, Mike? ... Hey Mike? That last thing you said? That's not really what happens in your game. Well, it's what happens in the first half. ... Oh, wait, did you only play the first half? Not that we blame you of course, but it would explain so much.

So, Microsoft and Lionhead’s PC version of Fable III is to simultaneously release on both Games For Windows Live and Valve’s Steam. Jim perhaps did not entirely acknowledge the importance of this news in his post ysterday. The importance being “HOLY GOD-DARNED CAMEL SPIT, MICROSOFT ARE SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY.”(more…)

Fable III is coming to the glorious Windows PC platform via Steam, Games for Windows Marketplace and retail stores!

Sooo, here’s a thing (not of legend, but of PC gaming distribution news): Microsoft have decided to ship Fable III simulataneously on Steam and Games For Windows Marketplace. That says something about who is boss in the digital download market, I think. There are even bonus things for both: preorder via Games for Windows Marketplace and you receive Fable: Lost Chapters for nowt, and if you purchase it on Steam, you’ll get the “Rebel’s Weapon & Tattoo Pack”, which is a collection of uh… weapons and tattoos? Look, over there! A inverted bee!

And yes, the game is out on May 20th on both platforms. Any reason to be excited? Check here to find out.

Hello! So, when I pottered off to Lionhead to take a peek at the upcoming PC version of Fable III, I also had a chat with lead designer Josh Atkins. Read on for how the studio feels about PC gaming and PC gamers, the choices, changes and improvements they made for the PC version of Fable III, how youngsters react to difficult moral decisions in games, and the thorny issue of Games For Windows Live…(more…)

It’s ok: there is a cursor on the menu screen. The PC isn’t being treated like the ugly stepson who’s only allowed a bowl of water and a rotten banana for dinner this time. Fable III’s conversion to personal computer may be a few months late, but that’s not because someone fell asleep and forgot to press the ‘Insta-Port!’ button. Lionhead have done this properly.(more…)

Revolution doesn't come free, as any, uh, revolter (revolutioneer?) will tell you. On May 17, Fable 3 will launch on the Windows and bring with it a tale of two royal siblings vying for the crown -- but will you be able to cast off the shackles of oppression and fight for freedom? Probably not. I mean, have you ever tried to throw a shackle? They're heavy!

Anyway, Lionhead's passed along the system requirements for Fable 3, which aren't too heavy, and you can check them out past the break. Remember, it'll also run in 3D, which is kind of revolutionary for the series. That's it: revolutionary!

For those of you still excited at the prospect of playing Fable III on the PC after its long delays and, well, complete lack of cohesion, here are its system specs. More »

You know what you like? Saving money. You know what we like? Helping you save money. The stars have aligned today, as Amazon is offering one-year Xbox Live subscription cards for $40 (a $20 savings) -- but supplies are no doubt limited. Additionally, Fable 3 has been marked down to $28 for the day.

March brings new adventure for the King as Fable III receives downloadable content.

Xbox Live mouthpiece and all-around inoffensive man Major Nelson has word on the release date of the PC version of Fable 3 in his latest infodump. Americans will be getting the rebellion & kingdom management-driven third instalment of the series on May 17th. On the one hand, it’s coming to us 7 months late. On the other hand, we’ll get 3D support and a new, PC exclusive ‘Hardcore’ difficulty mode, just in case you felt like punishing yourself some more. In the same post Nelson announces the first sizeable piece of downloadable content for the game, Traitor’s Keep, which you can read all the details on below. It’s only announced for consoletoys just yet, but these packs have a habit of wandering our way eventually. (more…)

#dlc Only the best-dressed adventurer will survive the three new levels for Fable III in Traitor's Keep, the new downloadable content pack coming to the Xbox 360 on March 1. More »

PC gamers, it's time for you to renew your passport and update your vaccinations: You're going to be taking a trip to Albion in a few short months. Microsoft has announced that the third installment in its morally dichotomous RPG series, Fable 3, is due out on the PC in North America May 17, and in Europe, Australia and New Zealand May 19.

The Windows version of the game will include full 3D support for folks using the appropriate NVIDIA cards, and will also add a "Hardcore" mode, giving the game an unprecedented level of difficulty. We wonder if that difficulty will be reflected in the game's major ethical decisions as well -- for instance: Do you want to sacrifice your children, your wife, or your dog ... in the real world? Mwahahaha!

If you're still enjoying the Xbox version of Fable 3, there's some more DLC headed your way. The "Traitor's Keep" pack adds three new levels, all with fairly awesome names: Ravenscar Keep, Clockwork Island and the Godwin Estate.

Apparently you'll run into a "mysterious prisoner" -- and you'll also run into 250 additional Gamerscore. The Traitor's Keep add-on is due March 1 on Xbox Live for $7 (560 points).

Lionhead community moderator Matthew Allen recently took some time off of moderating the, uh, community in order to mock up what Fable might have looked like "sometime around 1985." In short, it looks an awful lot like an old Sierra adventure game and that's just fine by us.

Unlike the other Fable demake, Fableous (which has a demo now!), Allen's images were created purely for fun, so don't expect the project to turn into a real game. Still, be sure to check out the mock-ups in the video after the break. The 8-bit Fable music alone makes it worthwhile, we promise.

What's your favorite Fable game? Lionhead is seeking the (obvious) answer in a community survey that's also intended to rank the franchise's thirteen core features, as listed by the developer, in order of importance. Fable players are asked to evaluate design elements like accessibility, British humour, co-op and the Dog, assigning each its rightful, subjective rank. (And what about the bugs, you're wondering? Those are actually dealt with in a separate survey.)

"Sure we could try and digest 1,000,000 forum posts and come up with the data that way," Lionhead community manager Sam Van Tilburgh wrote in a community call to take the survey, "but it would take way too long and so it isn't very efficient."

"Lionhead has a long relationship with a large and passionate community," Van Tilburgh added in a comment on the post, "so it's just a continuation of what we've been doing for many years now" -- and, presumably, for many years to come. Head of the pride Peter Molyneux has previously said his studio has plans for at least a Fable 4 and 5, which could include Kinect integration (not mentioned in the survey).

Fable 3 debuted last October and went on to become the #7 bestselling release of 2010 on Xbox 360, according to NPD data published by Gamasutra. The PC version is still unreleased.

Rule Albion with the click of a mouse.

We knew in August that Fable 3 wouldn't hit Windows PCs day-and-date with the Xbox version last October, but Microsoft told us to "expect news soon." Well, we suppose everyone has a different definition of "soon" since Fable 3 on PC is here at CES with an expected release date of ... well, they're still not saying. But if you'd become convinced that the latest installment in Lionhead's Fable franchise would never make it off the Xbox 360, much like the excellent Fable 2, then we suppose you'll find the above photo comforting. In our short hands-on time with the title, we didn't spot any notable distinctions from the Xbox 360 version. In short, it's Fable 3, warts and all.