This is Bowerstone, circa Fable III. Little late to catch the steampunk bandwagon, sure, but clock-powered bad guys and RPGs with trains and moustaches are always appreciated.

Fable II: Game Episodes is the full version of Fable II split up into five easy pieces, with all of the achievements, co-operative gameplay, and hero-creating joy of the retail release. Xbox 360 owners can download the first episode today for free, taking their hero from childhood to young adulthood in the first volume, and then additional volumes are available at the player's leisure. It's the Time-Life Books of gaming.

Additionally, players who purchase the disc edition after downloading the free episode will carry over all of their statistics, experience, and items relatively seamlessly.

If you've yet to experience Fable II for yourself, you have no excuse anymore.

It'll include both the game's downloadable content packs (Knothole Island, See The Future), and while there's no release date or US pricing available, we do know it'll be £40 when it's released in the UK.

[via Eurogamer]

In an interview on the choices the Fable series forces its player to make, Molyneux said Fable II's ultimate decision was a bridge too far for some. They so resented being forced to choose between sacrificing all their companions - including the beloved dog - or a sizable group of people, that they wrote in, vociferously. Molyneux told GameSetWatch he "did have hate mail from people" who couldn't sacrifice the greater numbers, and said bye to the dog.

It all "got to such a furor," Molyneux said, that Fable's first DLC was changed to allow the dog to return to the game.

You can look at this one of two ways: One, that Molyneux diluted the force of his game's calling card: choices and their consequences.

Or, two, that this isn't like filmgoers complaining about a surprise ending. Gamers don't just passively experience the story, and having no idea they'd be asked to do something this uncomfortable is quite a shock. I'm not sure I'd sent "hate mail," (I'm not sure how vehement it was, either), but I'm willing to see the gripe's legitimacy.

In-Depth: Peter Molyneux on the Importance of Choice [GameSetWatch via Destructoid]

I find it extremely interesting to scroll down through the giant collage, seeing what other players have done with the main character from the game. Through the course of Fable II, the hero you create becomes a part of the game, to the point that when someone talks about the title you're picturing your own hero in your head. Looking at what other people have created is almost like looking through windows into alternate realities.

Plus, it's an excellent place to steal other peoples' ideas and make them your own. I am totally recreating my hero to look like the Tim Schafer angel in the middle there.

Big Hero Gathering #4 [Fable II Development Blog]

A post by Sam Van Tilburgh on the Fable II development blog this morning reveals that Fable II avatar clothes are coming soon to an Xbox 360 near you. A package of Fable II clothing will be made available for purchase later this month, featuring various articles of game-related clothing you can purchase for "a few Microsoft points." You can actually see a bit more of the Fable II gear in our post on Xbox 360 clothes and toys from last month.

A lot of people have been asking us in recent months about Fable II clothes for their Xbox360 avatar. Well, you'll be happy to learn that we've got something coming your way! It's not going to be a single shirt but a whole package of clothing! It will be available for a few Microsoft points from Marketplace at some stage this month... We've got one teaser image showing you a shirt, but there are boots, shirts and hats! No underwear though...

That's okay Sam, we don't wear underwear anyway.

Fable II Avatar Clothes are coming! [Fable 2 Development Blog]

As if all the news slipping out in the days leading up to E3 2009, this year we have to deal with the growing number of Twitter teases, such as this one from the official Lionhead Twitter:

Lionhead is off to LA for this year's E3 and will give a big presentation at the Microsoft press conference on Monday! Watch this space!

What does that mean? Is a new game being announced, perhaps Peter Molyneux's next big thing? More downloadable content for Fable II? Could it possibly tie in to the other Lionhead on Twitter, who was recently been seen enjoying the unusually cool weather?

Probably not. Just another little bit of teasing that will contribute to the formation of ulcers leading up to next week's big reveal.

Lionhead's Teasing Tweet [Official Lionhead Twitter via Keighley's Twitter]

Lionhead's own Sam Van Tilburgh directed us to the contest, which can be entered by anyone with a free Lionhead website account, obtained by simply registering your MSN handle. You can enter the contest once between now and June 12th, with the winner being drawn and quartered notified on June 15th. The prize package includes one rare NTSC Fable II console signed by series creator Peter Molyneux and a signed copy of Fable II to go inside of it, spinning around to make pretty pictures appear on your television.

It should be an excellent way to experience the See the Future DLC sometime in the near future. Chances are slim that you'll walk away a winner, but at least you'll have tried, and that's certainly worth something. Just not a custom Fable II 360.

Fable II See The Future Prize Draw [Lionhead, Sponsored by Microsoft]

Those eager to See the Future of Albion have only two more weeks worth of waiting to down, as Lionhead announces a May 12th release date for their latest batch of downloadable content for the award-winning Fable II. New quest, news costumes, and new dogs await those willing to brave the perils of paying 560 Microsoft points.

The announcement also covers the return of the Inside Lionhead video diary series, with a special episode all about the creation of See the Future. It's available now via Xbox Live, or just below this text. Your choice!

Check it out, today [Lionhead Blog]

That's the apparent philosophy of Sam Van Tilburgh over at Lionhead's Fable II development blog, who promises some sort of announcement and new content to arrive on the morrow.

I'm picking up through the grapevine that tomorrow there is going to be some news announcement and also new can't-miss content so make sure to visit our site tomorrow! No further details are available. Did I tell you it's sunny here in Guildford?

Let's just hope this isn't like the last time they promised an announcement, only to announce that said announcement wasn't announceable yet.

Kotaku officially announces that you should stay tuned for tomorrow's announcement announcement.

Check it out, tomorrow. [Fable II Development Blog]

I say if you get lucky, because one of the thirteen new achievements requires that the player "make love" twenty-five times, which for some of us represents many more times than in real life, depending on your definition of making love. For those of you who would rather stick to the path of purity, Lionhead has you covered. As long as you watch another hero making love twenty-five times you get the achievement as well. Pervert.

Luckily there are plenty of achievements on the list that don't require doing the dirty, such as The Nutcracker, which simply requires you score twenty-five groin shots. Check out the full list below, containing several achievements that have nothing to do with the groin area whatsoever.

The Nutcracker 10
Score 25 groin shots, or see another Hero do so.

The Paramour 10
Make love 25 times, or see another Hero do so.

The Concierge 30
Open all the Demon Doors in Albion, or see another Hero do so.

The Visionary 50
Take a look into the future, or see another Hero do so.

The Con Artist 25
Find all 10 of Murgo's statuettes, or see another Hero do so.

The Howler 10
Scare five people while dressed as a balverine, or see another Hero do so.

The Ghastly Jester 10
Make five people laugh while dressed as a hobbe, or see another Hero do so.

The Repugnant 10
Disgust five people while dressed as a hollow man, or see another Hero do so.

The Gladiator 30
Score a total high score of 20,000 points or more in the Colosseum, or see another Hero do so.

The Multiplicator 20
Achieve a multiplier of 10 or more in the Colosseum, or see another Hero do so.

The Combatant 20
Defeat the necromancer in the Colosseum, or see another Hero do so.

The Fowl Player 10
Dress as a chicken and kick five chickens during the Colosseum battles, or see another Hero do so.

The Colourist 15
Collect the dyes hidden in Murgo's magical items, or see another Hero do so.

Fable II Updated to 1350 [Xbox360Achievements.Org via the Fable II Development Blog]

Lionhead has assembled more than 70 images posted on their forums into one giant scrolling tribute to their mighty morphing main character. From the most nefarious evil to the purest good; the manliest women to the girliest men, Fable II fans go great lengths to make the character they portray in the game their own. Almost as great a length as the huge, multi-part image you can find over at the development blog, of which you only see a very small portion of here.

This is actually the second time Lionhead has posted a Hero Gathering, and with the new clothing and hair styles coming in the See the Future downloadable content, I highly doubt it will be the last.

Big Hero Gathering #2 [Fable II Development Blog]

New creatures, new quests, new events, and legendary artifacts will be yours to discover this May in the See the Future DLC for Fable II. Transform your canine companion into new breeds using potions from the mysterious huxter Murgo, uncover the secret behind a city trapped in a snow globe, or dress up as a hobbe or balverine to help a cursed knight escape his fate, all in pursuit of the ultimate reward: a quest that gives players a glimpse of the future of the world of Albion and your heroic bloodline.

All of that, plus new clothes, new hairstyles, jester make-up, a new hero expression, and a new trick for your old dog, all at the low price of 560 Microsoft points. Check out the screens below for a glimpse of what the future holds.

Fable II - See The Future [Official Website]

Terms were agreed upon earlier this week in a court in London, but as is usually the case with these things, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Microsoft's statement on the matter reads:

We are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution to this matter with Mr. Durrant. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but we can confirm that Mr. Durrant will not continue his employment at Lionhead as part of the agreement.

Glad that's all sorted, then.

Microsoft 'homophobia' tribunal ends in settlement [pinknews, via GayGamer]

Lionhead's Sam Van Tilburgh tipped us off to the blog post, perhaps in order to make sure that you all weren't simply trading in Fable II after you finished the Knothole, or passing the game off to your nephew, because that would be a completely bone-headed thing to do. *sighs*

Anyway, Lionhead has a team in Guildford working around the clock on the new downloadable content, except for when they eat, or go home in the afternoon. Okay, part of the way around the clock. They'll be dropping details on what they have in store in the coming weeks, which gives you plenty of time to rescue your copy from your nephew's house in the dead of the night.

Some juicy Fable II news! [Fable II Development Blog]

Or, as he puts it, "Goodnight all. Must go to bed. Got asked to do voice in Fable 3 tonight. Subarashi. Oyasuminasia. Woss out."

CAUTION: he may be having a laugh (he was, after all, at the BAFTAs tonight and probably enjoying a drink or three with Peter Molyneux), or accidentally be referencing some new DLC. So we'll refrain from getting over-excited at mention of a third Fable. Besides, it's a successful franchise. Of course there will be more of them.

We only point it out because it's nice to hear it mentioned, that's all. Also nice to see that Lionhead haven't lost their zeal for filling their games with top-notch British voice-acting, either.

[Wossy @ Twitter]

Titan was, it appears, a game set to be in development by now defunct studio Stormfront. The Playstation 3 game appeared to be about a giant robot in space.

According to notes found in some of the art, it looks like the Titan Robot has different "physiques". The Atlas physique is described as "heroic yet squat and powerful". The Kong physique is an "ape-like design" with a "powerful upper body for mining work, short legs for low center of gravity, has the air of a useful pet." The Demon physique is a "distorted organic design, perhaps suggestive of alien influence."

Other images show off creatures found in the game's universe, like a Selenite worm, a cluster of crystals that can sprout a prehensile protrusion and attack people. The Electric Amathyst rolls around on crystal arms and attacks with electric sparks. The Rock Roller is a ball of spikes that can change shapes.

As we mentioned earlier, the site also has images from two dead-in-the-water Lionhead games.

Lionhead's Survivors looks to be about the people who survive some sort of catastrophic meteor shower or comet.

Justice, another set of concept art for Lionhead, features lots of images of someone shooting it out with futuristic police. My money is on a futuristic take on Prison Break or The Fugitive.

The fact that these images are all available for perusal and the ones for Killzone 2 aren't yet leads me to believe that these are all projects that will never be created. But they're still fun to check out.

Leading Light Design [Thanks Adem]