Fable 2

Who is excited about this?

I really can't wait, but sadly won't get it as soon as it comes out because it would seriously affect my studies. When I got Fable for the xbox, I spent about a week living in Albion. I just wish that Fable 2 could have come out at the beginning of the summer! But then it wouldn't have been finished properly, so I'm sure it will be worth the wait. It comes out on the 24th of October in the UK, and the 21st in the US.

The new Fable looks incredible. You can do as much as in the last game, and so much more. Although its 500 years later on in the world of Albion, you still get to do most of that cool medieval stuff. But they do have guns now, so longbows aren't really effective. I know crossbows are still included though. There will be 2 player coop, but I don't know about xbox live. Basically if you have a friend over, they can jump straight into the game as your henchman. Sounds cool.

You get an AI dog, which the developers were claiming to be the most advanced AI ever. I don't think I'm in a position to comment on this claim, but it sounds good enough. Basically this dog follows you around, helps you out in situations, and will grow with you. I think you can train it up to be evil or good - either that or it becomes like you. It will alert you to danger and interesting things on the map, which you can investigate or ignore.

The other things I'm looking forward to is the full working economy of the towns in Albion. So you can buy all the shops and buildings, even the castle. Then do as you please with them. You don't get gold for completing quests, so you will have to do other stuff to get it. Complete the game without exploring Albion, and doing none of the side quests will make you a poor and lonely hero. But if you go for the full experience you can have a family, and end the game a rich and loved hero. Oh yeah, you get to choose your gender this time too. I believe your appearance is fully customisable too.

Screenshots can be found here.

If I wasn't at uni, then I'd literally spend at least a whole week this time playing the game. I managed to play through Fable 5 times. Normally I'll play games just the once (with certain exceptions like Halo 3 coop with friends).

The story in this game is supposed to be really good too. Fable was such a deep game in my view because the story was so emotionally gripping, and by starting from childhood you really feel for your character.

Discover more at the developer's site

Any thoughts or things I've missed? Comment.

An Introduction to Gaming

Gaming to me is a way of escape. It is immense fun, the easiest way to socialise with friends and the best games tell you a story too.

I had a friend over for 3 days recently who I see about twice a year - family friends. If I didn't have my xbox, I think things would have been so much more awkward for the first couple of hours. As it was, we both had a common interest, and could leap into a game of halo. Not only that, but he is going to buy an xbox 360 now, so I'll be able to keep in contact with him through xbox live.

I think the best video games tell a good story. So much so that they become like a book. An interactive book, where you are the character, and you make the decisions. To make them a cross between real life, movies, and books. Something which no other media can provide. This makes them important to me, they are so much more than watching a pointless television program which I would be doing instead on a Sunday evening (unless it's Top Gear). Not only this but they give you a sense of satisfaction, and accomplishment.

Obviously some games are better for this than others. The Sims gives you barely any sense of accomplishment. All you do is live another person's life for them, and there are few interesting things going on. Sadly it's addictive, and when you stop playing, you realise that it was time wasted. Other games are different I believe. Fable, my favourite game, for instance. This tells a deep and immersive story, emotionally gripping the player till the end. You get to choose pretty much anything you want to do, to look. morality and it is set in a wonderful fantasy world. So in a way I compare all other games to this - RPGs anyway. That game for me is the perfect embodiment of what I explain in the paragraph above. I can't wait for the sequel, coming out in October. Only thing is that I will be at uni, and I don't want to take my 360, because when Fable 2 comes out, it will take over my life for about a week - well it would if I bought it whilst at uni.

So this blog is about various games I have played - they will all be xbox 360 games, and there could be a few original xbox games that are referenced (like Fable). I only own an xbox 360 and an original xbox, this is why it is just about these such games. I may post a few things about gaming in general.