Molyneux Ritually Buys Everything He Makes

Tom Goldman

Crying on the inside.
Aug 17, 2009
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Molyneux Ritually Buys Everything He Makes



Peter Molyneux always purchases a retail copy of every game he finishes, even though he could get one for free.

Peter Molyneux is a pretty interesting guy. Despite working in the videogame industry for more than two decades and having developed titles such a never made a great game [http://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Keeper-Pc/dp/B00004C4RI/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1287770246&sr=1-2]. In that same interview, he revealed a ritual where he gives himself money every time he completes a game.

Molyneux told MCV that he purchases a copy of every game he develops in a regular retail store with his own money. "I always do the same thing," he said. "I always go into a shop, buy my retail copy and go back and play the game."

The purpose is not only to complete a seemingly superstitious ritual, but to give Molyneux a view of his own game through the eyes of a consumer. After purchasing one, he sits down and plays it just to play. "Really it is the first time I play it without writing a long list of things," he continued.

"And it is the first time I think about the design going forward," Molyneux added. This may be why Molyneux can be so critical of himself to call certain aspects of his previous games rubbish, and say that they're not necessarily great. Molyneux feels that his ritual gives him a better view of where he should take games like Fable in the future [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104453-Molyneux-Hates-Idea-of-a-Fable-Trilogy].

For now, Molyneux calls Fable III a game that everybody should try. However, he says: "I'll probably still be slagging it off in a year's time."

Humility is good quality for a game designer to have, but I'm not sure he really needs to buy his own game. Can't he get a shrink-wrapped copy right off of the Microsoft Game Studios factory line? Do you think Molyneux waits outside of a GAME [http://www.game.co.uk/] at midnight with the rest of the common folk? If you work in the videogame industry, you might as well take advantage by getting a free copy of the game you just made.

Source: MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/features/776/INTERVIEW-Peter-Molyneux]


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Magners

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Nov 20, 2009
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He wants to experience it from the consumer's point of view, spending his own money on a product and seeing if he gets his £45 worth. Obviously you do in Fable because it's awesome but still
 

Silk_Sk

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Mar 25, 2009
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I don't see anything strange about it. I'd probably do the same thing myself.
 

Korias

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Sep 9, 2009
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TheRightToArmBears said:
It might be a little odd.

But to be honest, if I ever made a game, I'd do the same.
Same, actually. It's simply a way for a designer to get inside the head of the consumer. Naturally, a designer puts quite a bit on the line, and putting that little bit that a consumer does as well simply puts it all in perspective for him.
 

hermes

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Mar 2, 2009
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I don't think its strange at all. I am a software engineer and would love to have a boxed version of everything I did.
 

fozzy360

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Oct 20, 2009
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Korias said:
TheRightToArmBears said:
It might be a little odd.

But to be honest, if I ever made a game, I'd do the same.
Same, actually. It's simply a way for a designer to get inside the head of the consumer. Naturally, a designer puts quite a bit on the line, and putting that little bit that a consumer does as well simply puts it all in perspective for him.
Well put. This is why, despite the mistakes he's made, I really like Molyneux. I can't help but wonder what kind of symbolism him buying his own game makes.
 

Kyuubi Fanatic

Insane Fanboy
Feb 22, 2010
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I am impressed and find myself respecting him more as a game designer. I write for a living and I find it very hard to be self critical without going overboard and demoralizing myself. The fact that he has found a balance that also allows him to better his work and willfully goes through every step of the process, including actually paying for his game, is worthy of admiration.
 

Staskala

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Sep 28, 2010
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Well, it's rather admirable, considering that most devs just treat their involvement in a game as a temporary project and move on to the next after completion without ever looking back.
 

Arcanist

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Feb 24, 2010
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Kharloth said:
Well, at least one person is buying his games...
Normally, being the dick I am, I'd laugh at that, but Fable isn't all that bad. Molyneux just needs to actually balance them.

Oh, and release Fable 3 on the PC. Only barrier that's keeping me from checking it out.
 

Mutie

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Feb 2, 2009
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I think Molyneux is a legend, man. So what you like about his over-enthusiasm, but the world could do with more people like him.
 

DeepComet5581

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Mar 30, 2010
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My kind of man. I am so glad he lives so near me. I would genuinely like to go for a pint with the man, because he is so awesome.
 

Svenparty

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Jan 13, 2009
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The fact even he knows that he will be slagging off Fable 3 in a year is either really reassuring(He finally gave up on hype) or really worrying(He doesn't care because despite the Fable franchise problems it does well every time and knows he will promise bullshit in a year)
 

Heart of Darkness

The final days of His Trolliness
Jul 1, 2009
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Why not buy his own game? It's a good way for him to determine whether or not the game itself is worthy of having a $60 price tag, and actually playing and critiquing the game as a consumer is a good way for him, as a designer, to try to improve on his games' shortcomings.
 

Captain Pancake

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May 20, 2009
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It wouldn't feel like he was committing if he did that though. He's committing the funds that everybody who plays the game is so he feels more let down, or more well done by, once he's formed his opinion on the game as a whole.
 

Thaius

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Mar 5, 2008
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It's a bit strange, sure, but rituals like this usually are. They're not to make sense, they're for the sake of the ritual. Just something consistent one does, a tradition. And I think it's kind of cool.
 

Miffmoff

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Aug 31, 2009
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Wouldn't it be great if he went to buy a copy of one of his games at a shop and they were all sold out. I quite like him

I can't wait for Fable 3, I want it now