The characters of Fable 2 are meant to be a reflection of the person playing them, to a point. The choices you make as you grow from childhood to adulthood in the game will change your character's appearance. But, your character is highly customizable. Lionhead Studios says they have tons more clothing to wear (all of which can be dyed), you can put on make-up, jewelry, change hairstyles, add facial hair. You can also morph your base appearance by tinkering with strength, how fat your character is, their skin type. The end result, Lionhead says, is billions of different characters.

Hit the jump to check out six possibilities.

If Peter Molyneux had to review Fable II, what score would he give it? Putting aside the fact that:

a) It's his own game

b) This is Peter Molyneux we're talking about

...it shouldn't surprise you that he loves the game. Says that, unlike every other game he's done recently, he hasn't chucked a whole bunch of crap into it and hoped it all came out OK at the other end. No, this one's got some polish. "It's the best, most complete game I've ever worked on", he says. So, what's his score?

CHatting with Xbox World 360 magazine, he says he'd give the game 9/10. Hopefully kick-starting a trend where all prominent developers rate their scores prior to release. Can't wait for Dude Huge's Gears 2 review!

Molyneux rates Fable II "9 out of 10" [Xbox World 360, via CVG] [Image]

Fable 2 Pub Games Patch Coming, Maybe Repercussions Too

During my interview yesterday Lionhead Studio's Sam Van Tilburgh was pretty mum about the gold-churning glitch that was discovered in Fable 2's pre-release mini Pub Games.

He said that the patch for the game should be going live very soon, but when I asked him if the studio or Microsoft would be doing anything to those who raked in so much virtual cash he hit me with a no comment, followed by a "their could be repercussions."

Do tell? Is there a gold reset on our horizon? Or does he just mean that people will have to deal with the heavy burden of playing Fable 2 knowing full well they're cheater McCheaters?

Earn Gold Unlock Fable 2 Items with Web Games

Fable 2's pub games was the first cross-over Xbox Live title that let you earn something for a retail game by playing. Sure it was glitched, but they're fixing it, and it's a very neat idea.

Speaking with Lionhead Studio's Sam Van Tilburgh earlier today I discovered that Pub Games won't be the only way you can earn cash for Fable 2.

When the game's official website relaunches it will include a web game or two that allows you to earn Fable 2 gold and unlock goodies like dye pots and a chicken suit for the game. All told, gamers will be able to unlock six to seven special items through the website, Van Tilburgh said. You can also earn coin through the games.

What about mobile games? Or iPhone games that will earn you Fable 2 cash. Van Tilburgh was cagey about the possibility, but said he'd mention he idea to Peter Molyneux.

Fable 2 is days, if not hours from going gold, Lionhead Studio's Sam Van Tilburgh told me today.

"We have one or two bugs that are keeping us from going gold," Van Tilburgh said.

Even though the game, due out Oct. 21, is on the verge of wrapping up, the dev team is still keeping late night hours, he said.

"Everyone is playing the game, staying 12 hours," he said.

Major Nelson Has a Gambling Problem - His Wife

The big lure of Fable II Pub Games is that you get a two months head start to pile up gold before the game drops. The big drawback is that it's gambling, not a Pell grant, so you could wind up in the hole when the game drops Oct. 21. Larry Hyrb is — sorta.

Lionhead Patches Fable Pub Games Glitch, Community Offers Advice For Earning Big.

Well, if you were hoping to fill your pockets and give your first Fable II character a healthy bank balance by exploiting the Fable II Pub Games bug you had better get in quick — Lionhead is hard at work on a patch that will put paid to your ill gotten gains.

It's not all bad news (or good news, assuming you would rather play a game without the possibility of cheating) as Lionhead's community blog has a page full of tips designed to maximize your Pub Games earning potential while staying within the rules. Their advice? "If you are wondering about a 'much talked about' exploit, just ignore it (and know that a patch is on the way)."

But as Lionhead taketh with one hand, they giveth with the other - a rather natty set of Fable II wallpapers has turned up on the official Fable II site and an update to the Fable backstory Tales Of Albion entitled The fall of the Heroes” is now live (requires Microsoft Silverlight to play).

Fable II Pub Games News Flash, Tips and Tricks! [Lionhead Community Blogs]

Fable II Wallpaper [Lionhead]

Tales of Albion [Lionhead]

Earn $$$ With Fable II Pub Games Bug

Uh-oh. If Lionhead don't sort this out sharpish then Albion could end up suffering through its own version of the kind of economic meltdown that has lead to Zimbabwe printing a run of billion dollar notes.

The novel idea of letting players earn gold in the Fable II Pub Games on XBLA — gold that can be brought into the game to give your character a good start in life — might turn out to be a problem, now that someone has realized there is a way to game the system into paying big.

The Fortune's Tower card game can be tricked into big payouts, it seems. Find out how after the jump and get saving for extra dog biscuits now before this gets patched.

Fable II Pub Game Pre-Order Codes Broken [UPDATE]

It appears something is up with the codes GameStop and Amazon were giving out for Fable II pre-orders. The code was supposed to allow people to download a free copy of the stand alone Fable II Pub Games, but we've received numerous reports that the codes don't work. Reports of the code not working have also cropped up over on Xbox Live Director Larry Hryb's Major Nelson site. There's also a forum posting on Xbox.Com that lists more than 100 people not being able to use their code to download the game.

We've contacted Microsoft for comment and will update once they get back to us or find a solution to the problem

Update: Just heard back from Hryb: "If you received a download code from a pre-order for Fable II, I am being told that they codes should be working later today. Apologies for the delays."

How To Make Money With Fable II Pub Games

The Fable II Pub Games are dropping this week on Xbox Live, a series of gambling games that will allow you to make money for your Fable II character before the game's October release. Definitely a nifty idea, but how does it work? According to Eurogamer, who got the down-low from developer Lionhead. Basically you choose a persona to gamble with using the Pub Games. Create one or create several, it really doesn't matter. Play the games, make your gold, and then - and this is important - buy Fable II when it comes out. The whole process falters if you skip this step.

Once you are safely playing Fable II, initiate a gaming session with a Gamemaster at your local tavern, or one of the conveniently wandering types found throughout the game. Start up a game, and you'll be asked if you wish to merge your in-game persona with your gambling persona. Once you agree, your Pub Games horde will be at your fingertips, and you'll be able to outfit your dog in the latest doggy gear at your leisure. Simple!

Lionhead explains Fable 2 money transfers News [Eurogamer]

Fable II fans can start earning big virtual bucks this week... from the comfort of their own homes! Fable II's Pub Games lead the charge of new Xbox Live Arcade games this week, as the 800 Microsoft Points priced gambler arrives in advance of the full game. The casino-style title that lets you carry over your virtual winnings to the Fable II retail release features three playables in Fortune’s Tower, Keystone and Spinnerbox.

Also hitting at the wee hours of August 13 is the NES remake, Bionic Commando: Rearmed. Similarly priced at 800 MSP, the game features four-man multiplayer, an M rating and zero exploding Hitler brains.

Play Fable II, Have Orgy, Achievement Unlocked!

The first Fable let you knock boots with the lady types. Even let you marry them. Which was great, but is nothing on what Fable II will let you get up to. The game's achievement list has been released, and amidst the usual progress-based stuff, one feat in particular stands out. The Swinger. Which rewards you with 5G for taking part in an orgy, provided you do so "responsibly". Which should be fun, but really, professional swingers will want to string their adult-oriented achievements together, linking it with The Bigamist, the Pied Piper (Start a party where at least 5 villagers are dancing), the Party Animal (Get 15 villagers drunk in under three minutes) and The Menace To Society (Commit an act of public indecency).

Fable 2 Achievement List [Xbox360Achievements, via Dtoid]

Yup, You Just Got Master Chief In My Fable II

Fable II Definitively Dated

At Microsoft's E3 2008 press conference Peter Molyneux announced that Fable II would be released in October, but when in October? It's a pretty big month after all - one of the biggest in fact. Well now Microsoft has announced that the game will be in U.S. stores on October 21st, with folks over in Europe and the UK getting the title on the 24th. That gives us plenty of time to schedule time off, stock up on dog treats, and then return them to the store upon realizing we just bought treats for a virtual dog.

Along with the news comes a lovely shot of the full collector's edition, which we already talked about back in July but looks much better all spread out. It's just Microsoft's way of reminding you that you don't have to only spend $59.99 if you don't want to.

Up To Fable 6 Planned (Molyneux Also Keen To Make Sports Game)

Lionshead head Peter Molyneux is best know for Populous and Black & White. And while he and his team are hard at work on the upcoming Fable 2, Molyneux divulges that the studio has more Fable games planned — Fable 3, Fable 4 and Fable 5, actually. What's more, Molyneux confesses his desire to work on a sports game of all things:

One day I really should do a sports game, just because it really seems such a genre which is just locked in stone. We know how we do sports games. That is a real challenge to me. Same with things like driving games. What I want is for a game I do next is a really big challenge.

Oh man, Peter Molyneux hyping a sports game. Can you imagine?

Molyneux Intervew [GameTrailers via vg247 via Eurogamer] [Pic]

Molyneux Is Sorry For Denis Dyack

VideoGamer.com sat down with Lionhead's Peter Molyneux at E3 last week, where he apologized for Denis Dyack not living up to his creative vision. "I feel sorry for Denis Dyack because you know, I think a few things were said wrong," he explained, responding to criticism that his original plans for a more dynamic, more interactive Dyack didn't come to fruition. Molyneux's original vision for Dyack was of game developer that matures with time, reacting to the environment and society in a natural way that would be appealing to all gamers. Players were promised a Dyack where you were fully free to explore, and were instead presented with a final product stubbornly set in its path.

Rumor has it that Molyneux is currently working on Denis Dyack II, which is said to feature more realistic gameplay, and possibly a dog.

Getting a proper impression of a game like Fable II, one that spans the lives of multiple generations, is almost impossible at an event like E3. And if Fable II lead Peter Molyneaux is being accurate when he calls the game "The biggest, most complete story of any game I've ever created," we haven't seen, well, anything yet.

That's why it's helpful that something like Fable II can be broken down into digestible, feature-focusing chunks. The game's dog, for example, with its ability to help out in battle, its nose for hidden treasure, we know is going to be A Big Deal. We won't be surprised if Man's Best Friend plays a more important role than Molyneux led us to believe in our sit down preview of his Xbox 360 game.

We just know he's going to emotionally manipulate us with that lovable digital mutt.

Fable II's Condoms Made From "Only The Very Best Animal Intestines"