Fable 2 Preview

AtomicGamer is next in line with a GDC-based preview of Lionhead Studios' highly anticipated Fable sequel.
The ability to form a family turned out to be a tease compared to Molyneux's real surprise announcement: the addition of off-line (and unconfirmed, but expected) online cooperative play. During his demo, Molyneux had a pal jump into his game to do a bit of exploring and emoting; seems you and your questing companion can exchange MMOG-like non-verbal gestures. By far the coolest co-op reveal was that your invited buddy can earn money and experience in your game. So, whether you're gambling, battling baddies or indulging in any of the game's many expected EXP and gold-acquiring activities, you won't be wasting your time or skills in someone else's world. Additionally, it should be a blast to visit other player's games as things will look and act specific to their particular adventure. For example, the town hall in your game may be a rundown, rotting husk of a structure based on some awful, immoral thing you did. However, this same building may be a stunning piece of architecture in a hosting friend's game because of the righteous path they've chosen to play on. It's impressive that the co-op world isn't just a limited, static place existing specifically for this feature, but a world reflective of the host's individual exploits. Of course, this could also backfire when you discover how much cooler someone's in-game dwelling is compared to your Fable fixer-upper.