Microsoft development legend yearns to make a 5m+ seller and join the ‘triple-A' elite
Peter Molyneux is a surprisingly critical man. Fable II is a great game, it has sold over 3.5 million units at retail and has a Metacritic score of 89. But during an interview with MCV, Molyneux highlights elements of it as ‘crap’, ‘gimmicky,’ and ‘a terrible crime’.
And he invites criticism from his fans, too. He goes on gaming forums under a pseudonym, he tells MCV, to spark debate. Why be so humble?
“It’s not humility,” he insists. “It’s the reality and the truth. I am a designer and I shouldn’t stand up and say everything is wonderful and shiny and great and we made the greatest game ever, because we didn’t. Being inspired by your mistakes is one way of breaking into that triple-A club. It will always be my consistent dream to break into that club. I’ve made a lot of good games, but never a great game.”
To read MCV’s full interview with Peter Molyneux, check out this week’s new-look magazine.
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I think you'd be hard pushed to find someone who doesn't admire this man, even if they are critical of him. He has made some very flawed games over the years, but each has been packed full of fantastic ideas.
I personally think Syndicate was great... in it's time. Black and white, heavily flawed but at the same time utter genius.
I wouldn't be so hung up on sales, I think the status he has in the industry is a clear sign that people have been inspired by him and his games... I think that makes them great.
Well success in this industry is measured in unit sales and profits, not ideas, innovation or metacritic scores. But 3.5M units is hugely successful by almost anyone's standards, so not sure what he's on about.
Good to see a bit of humility from one of these "superstar developers" for a change- been far too many ego-idiots spouting off recently...
Oh and his direct involvement in Syndicate is supposedly pretty much non-existent beyond the fact it was made by Bullfrog. Good game though- I also loved Magic Carpet back in the day.
Symptomatic of the problems with the industry today - too many people relying on past glories.
Move over Molyneux, you were never as brilliant as the press made you out to be.
