"Fable" creator Peter Molyneux is pretty well-known in the gaming community for his tendency to speak hyperbolically and tease ideas that don't always deliver. Fortunately, "Fable" is one of his biggest ideas, and it has delivered over the course of three Xbox/Xbox 360 console releases, each of which improves on its predecessor. Between that series, not to mention "Syndicate," "Black & White," "Populous" and "Theme Park," it should come as no surprise to learn that the longtime developer of original games is being honored at this year's Game Developer's Conference with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Molyneux, who started working with games in 1982, will be receive his honors on March 2 in San Francisco. He joins an illustrious group, which includes id Software founder John Carmack, "Metal Gear Solid" creator Hideo Kojima, Sid Meier, Richard Garriott, Shigeru Miyamoto, "Defender" and "Robotron: 2084" creator Eugene Jarvis, "Marble Madness" creator and longtime industry consultant Mark Cerny, Game Boy and Game & Watch creator Gunpei Yokoi, former Sonic Team head and "Sonic the Hedgehog" lead programmer Yuji Naka and "Sim"-everything creator Will Wright, the first recipient of the award.
Molyneux has certainly earned his place among this colorful group of luminaries. "Fable" is his most recognizable success, but Molyneux has long been behind some of the most original game releases in each generation. "Populous," released by Molyneux's defunct Bullfrog Studios, introduced the idea of the "god game" and ushered in some of the fundamental real-time strategy rules that genre games still adhere to today.
There's also the simple fact of his personality. Molyneux's well-earned reputation for speaking hyperbolically in interviews stems from his infectious enthusiasm for the medium. Molyneux is a man who truly adores the interactive experience, and who uses his long experience to constantly push at and test the boundaries of what qualifies as the same. His talents, and the enthusiasm that drives him, are well-deserving of GDC's top honors. A round of applause to Mr. Molyneux if you please... he's earned it.