One of the biggest stories to hit the industry this week has been the news that Peter Molyneux; the much-loved creative head of Lionhead Studios, will be parting ways with the studio and Microsoft.
The news came just one day after the announcement of the new game in the Fable series, Fable Hero's for XBLA and was released by Molyneux himself via his official twitter feed which was also in fact his first public message since November last year. "I have left the lovely amazing Microsoft and Lionhead," read the tweet. "Now for something really amazing, scary and brave a new company called 22 Cans."
Unfortunately for now not a lot is known about 22 Cans and in what capacity Peter will figure – although expect the unexpected.
It has been confirmed that Peter will stay at Lionhead until the completion of their current project, Fable: The Journey. The veteran game designer will also give up his position as creative director with Microsoft Games Studios Europe.
Peter is best known for his creativity, original ideas and for co-founding Lionhead Studios back in 1997. He has always been a massive asset to the companies he’s worked with and is held in high regard across the Video Game industry.
His contagious passion for the industry has helped to establish him as one of the most recognisable people around. After all he has been at the helm of some of the most original titles released over the last few years from the god-simulator Black and White through to the action RPG’s in the Fable series. He was also highly influential on the abandoned Milo and Kate project that looked to utilise the Kinect platform for a fully functioning virtual playground that also supported artificial intelligence.
Awarded an OBE for services to the games industry in 2005, Peter Molyneux has been a key figure in British development for over twenty years. Populous his first major title is credited in most part for popularising the ‘god sim’ genre. Peter fully expanded this area with the introduction of the Black and White series which was his first creation under Lionhead Studios.
Peter has previously been criticised for talking too specifically about game designed when they are still in the development period. This was most notable post release of the first Fable game where several of the elements he had previously discussed did not make the final cut. It was interesting to see the outrage of fans following this slips of the tongue but these also showed the creative ideas Peter had floating in his head.
Now his previous position at Microsoft seems to have been filled by the old Playstation guru - known worldwide as Phil Harrison. There was a time when people thought that he was in fact created by Sony and was certainly their most recognisable non-Japanese Executive. I suppose time will tell whether he fills the void left behind by the enigmatic Molyneux.
Whatever the future hold for Peter I’m sure it will continue to be a bright one. Always full of ideas he isn’t afraid of new challenges in fact he relishes them…
I for one cannot wait to see what’s coming next!
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