Software:Fable II Pub Games

From HandWiki
Short description: 2008 video game
Fable II Pub Games
Developer(s)Carbonated Games[1]
Lionhead Studios
Publisher(s)Xbox Live Productions
Microsoft Game Studios
SeriesFable
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Release13 August 2008[2]
Genre(s)Pub games
Mode(s)Single-player

Fable II Pub Games is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by Carbonated Games under the supervision of Lionhead Studios and released for the Xbox 360 in 2008. It includes three pub game-styled minigames called Keystone, Fortune's Tower and Spinnerbox that all share functionality with Fable II.[3] The games are included in both editions of Fable II. It was also free for those who pre-ordered Fable II from participating retailers.[2]

Fable II

The Pub Games offer players a chance to win money and items for their Fable II character, to be given to them once their character has reached adulthood. For every piece of gold won in the tournament section of Pub Games, a piece of gold is added to the Fable II character's wallet, giving players a chance to have a rich character from the start of the game. Conversely, if the player accumulates debt in the Pub Games, negative consequences will befall their character. Fifteen unique items can also be won in the Pub Games' tournaments, ranging from weapons to clothing or tattoos that can be used by their Fable II character.[4]

Gameplay

Pub Games consists of three different casino-style games, of which only low-stakes versions can be played from the start. For every piece of gold the player bets on these games, they earn experience points that can be used to unlock higher-stakes versions and Fable II concept art. Tournaments for these games are also unlocked, giving players an opportunity to win items by competing with computer-controlled opponents.[4]

Fortune's Tower

Fortune's Tower

Fortune's Tower is a card game utilizing a deck with multiples of the number one through seven. After players make an ante of a multiple of fifteen, they are dealt one face down "Gate" card and two face up cards on top of it. The player can choose to take the sum value of the row of two cards, or be dealt three new cards on top of the other two. The cycle repeats until an eighth row is created, at which point the player automatically receives a payout. If the player chooses to end the game before then the game automatically deals the rest of the cards to see what the outcome would have been. A pay multiplier can be activated if all the cards in a row are the same number (called a "Set"), which multiplies the bet by the number of cards in the row (a row of two threes causes the bet to double). Multiple Sets are not cumulative – the highest multiplier counts alone.

If a card is dealt atop a card of the same value, a game-ending condition known as "Misfortune" occurs. There are three "saves" that may avert a game ending with Misfortune: the Gate card will automatically replace the first Misfortune – if the Gate card is not the same number as the card it replaces, and there are no other Misfortunes in the current row of cards, the game can continue, then one of four "Hero" cards may be dealt during the course of the game, which saves all cards in the row it is dealt to from Misfortune, and a Set will remove any Misfortunes as well.

If the player completes the Tower without using a Gate card, the player receives a Jackpot, which gives him the total of all the rows, which is then multiplied if a Set is present. [2]

Keystone

Keystone

Keystone is described by Peter Molyneux as "a bit of a cross between Roulette and Crappes".[5] Rather than a spinning wheel, the player throws three six-sided dice, and makes bets prior to the throw on what the outcome will be, as in Roulette, picking the exact total, the range of the score, and so forth. The more uncommon the roll, the higher the payout (i.e. 3 and 18 pay the highest).

The major departure from Roulette is that the game is based around a stone arch composed of tiles from 3 to 18, with the 3, 10, 11, and 18 tiles being "Archstones". When dice are rolled, a tile to its corresponding result removes the tile. If either both the 10 and 11 Keystones or just one of the base (3 or 18) stones are removed, the game ends. The player must initially make an arch-bet (a bet on a Keystone) which remains throughout the game. If the die is rolled a value matching a removed stone, it removes the stone adjacent to it, based on its position (lower if it is 10 or less, higher if it is 11 or higher). If the first roll of the game is a 3 or 18, it is declared a Jackpot and all arch-bets automatically win; the game still ends.[4]

A variation of the game is "Bloodstones" which features opposite rules, in which the player is betting against the die rolls.

Spinnerbox

Spinnerbox is a slot machine game, where players bet gold and spin anywhere from three to six different slots. The player wins payouts on "chains" (symbols connected adjacently), with each themed spinner having its own bonus rules. For example, "Cow and Corset" features a bonus fourth spinner if the player gets a three of a kind; the fourth spinner pays as if it were a three of a kind for whatever it reveals.[4]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic53/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot6.5/10[7]
IGN6.4/10[8]

On Metacritic, a website aggregating review scores, the game received a score of 53, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

References

  1. ↑ Xav de Matos (20 February 2008). "GDC08: Fable 2 co-op and XBLA tie-in revealed". Xbox360Fanboy.com. http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-fable-2-multiplayer-and-xbla-tie-in-revealed/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sara Nicholson (7 August 2008). "Fable II : Pub Games – August 13th". Gamerscore Blog. Microsoft. http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/08/07/560488.aspx. 
  3. ↑ Chris Hicks (19 March 2008). "Three Fable 2-compatible games coming to XBLA". CVG. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185042. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hilary Goldstein (7 July 2008). "Pre-E3 2008: Fable II Pub Games Hands-On". IGN. http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/886/886945p1.html. 
  5. ↑ Ludwig Kietzmann (20 February 2008). "Joystiq live from the Microsoft GDC keynote". Joystiq. Weblogs. http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/joystiq-live-from-the-microsoft-gdc-keynote. 
  6. ↑ "Fable II Pub Games for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fable-ii-pub-games/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. Retrieved 6 March 2012. 
  7. ↑ Watters, Chris (12 August 2008). "Fable II Pub Games Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fable-ii-pub-games-review/1900-6195810/. 
  8. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (12 May 2012). "Fable II Pub Games Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/12/fable-ii-pub-games-review. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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