Concept and execution are two totally different worlds. Although the concept and initial presentation of Lionhead Studios' Milo blew everyone away at E3 2009, what does fate have in store for the little digital boy's longterm execution? IGN attempts to answer that question in a little sketch they put together. We all know Milo will lose his innocence once he's in the hands of normal people, but just how bad will it become? Check out the video after the break.

Last Friday's New York Times "Wedding/Celebrations" section announced the nuptials of Ms. Amy Gilbert (who is studying for her Ph.D. in molecular medicine in London) and Joshua Atkins, the "lead game designer for Fable III." Would this be be first tandem wedding and game announcement? Although Fable III doesn't officially exist, Atkins has been with Lionhead since Fable and is listed as a part of the design team at Microsoft Game Studios in the Fable II manual.

This isn't the first time Fable III has been unofficially mentioned: British talk show host Jonathan Ross tweeted in March that he was approached to do voice work for the game. Of course, we've contacted Microsoft for confirmation of Fable III's development. We absolutely can't wait until the company pulls "we don't comment on rumor and speculation" on this one.

PS: From all of us at Joystiq: Congratulations to the happy couple!

Update: Microsoft's official statement: "We have nothing to announce regarding future Lionhead Studios projects."

[Via Kotaku]

Update: Okay folks, it seems to be showing up at the discounted price now (make sure you're signed in to Xbox.com). The deal is for Gold members only.

For all of you wannabe Meteorologists out there, the problematic weather of Fable 2's Knothole Island awaits you and all of your cunning. The Lionhead community blog reveals the DLC will be discounted up until July 5. Normally 800, the DLC will receive a price cut of 30%, knocking it down to a more manageable 560.

You already know our thoughts on the add-on, so we suggest you stock up on mainland items and head to Knothole Island for some rare goodies in the Box of Secrets. And, you know, tackle a dungeon or three.

Add Knothole Island to your download queue

According to sources at GamesIndustry.biz, Peter Molyneux has been promoted to European creative director for Microsoft Game Studios. Strangely, it appears as though he was promoted to the position as far as three months ago. Phil Spencer, general manager at MGS, confirmed the promotion, and said, "the best way for us to make sure our platforms evolve in a way that enables the best creative experiences is to make sure our creative leaders are closely tied into the work that's going on with the platform team."

Molyneux says the promotion won't put him in a position to turn down game titles but rather to foster creative development. Molyneux said, "I'm definitely not going to go in and say 'this is a dumb idea' and 'this is a good idea' ... I'm more about making sure they really are doing the experiences they're passionate about, because passion is really central." The man responsible for Joystiq's 2008 Game of the Year award will remain in charge of Lionhead Studios.

The studio could be gearing up to reveal some mysterious new IP that it had been working on for quite some time. Then again, maybe Lionhead's idea of a "big presentation" is Peter Molyneux playing beer pong on stage. The possibilities are endless, really, but we do know one thing: all will be known come Monday at 10:30 a.m. PST.

[Via Eurogamer]

Beyond Achievements for love making and nut shots (and many other items and quests), Lionhead's upcoming DLC for Fable 2, "See the Future," will also offer up more dog breeds. IGN has images of a hound, husky and dalmation. Lionhead's Mark Hill says the breed changes are mostly aesthetic, but some "may become slightly better fighters."

"See the Future" should be available sometime next month for 560 ($7). Now, if we could only see the future enough to provide an exact release date.

Bringing the game's grand total up to 1350 points, the full list of Achievements for Fable 2's upcoming DLC, "See the Future," has been unveiled by the Lionhead Community blog. Since it includes such classy Achievements as "The Paramour: Make love 25 times" and "The Nutcracker: Score 25 groin shots," we're quite certain those venturing back into Albion will find no shortage of buffoonery to engage in.

We're still not quite certain what day in the next month the second add-on will arrive, but we do know it's fetching 560 ($7). Considering we're rounding the end of April any minute now, though, we imagine Fable 2 developer Lionhead Studios will see fit to announce a release date soon. Now that's seeing the future.

[Thanks, Aaron!]

The queer sexual discrimination case of Jamie Durrant against Microsoft has ended in an "amicable resolution." PinkNews reports a settlement has been reached by the two parties, with no financial figures revealed and Durrant no longer continuing his employment at Lionhead Studios as part of the agreement. Durrant had been "sick" and on half-pay since last August from the Molyneux studio due to "anxiety and depression."

When contacted for comment about the conclusion of the case, Durrant responded, "I really can't comment on it apart to say that it was resolved amicably."

Despite the Durrant issue and an alleged incident involving a lesbian being banned from Xbox Live, Microsoft appears to still have the support of GLBT political organizations. The Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index gave the company the highest score possible in its latest review. So far, these discrimination incidents appear to be tempests in a teapot.

[Via GamePolitics]

Peter Molyneux finally discussed details on the next Fable 2 expansion in an interview with IGN. Called "See the Future," this new expansion will arrive in Spring, bringing in some new gameplay mechanics and challenges. It'll also be important to the overall narrative as Molyneux informs that See the Future will "tie up a few loose threads" between Fable II and Fable I. There's more about Theresa, too, as well as "a clue about the future of the Fable story."

Fable isn't all that Molyneux's team is working on, though. Speaking to Kotaku, he talks about the future of Lionhead and its non-Fable developments. "In fact we've been working on, working incredibly hard, on something else [than Fable]," Molyneux divulged. He wouldn't say what it was nor would he say when exactly the studio would be ready to show it off, but he reckons E3 would be a good time for all that.

Source 1: IGN
Source 2: Kotaku

Jamie Durrant has been working for Lionhead Studios, stomping ground of Peter Molyneux and developer of the Fable franchise, for 11 years. In his time, he's worked on the Black & White series as well as both of the Fable games. As of last August though, Mr. Durrant has been out of work "sick" on half-pay, claiming sexual discrimination on the part of Microsoft. "I have been signed off sick since August with anxiety and depression," Durrant told us this morning.

The Surrey, UK resident is suing his employer, Microsoft (owner of Lionhead Studios), for £45,000/$66,000, money which will make up for "lost earnings and injury to feelings," according to the report on Telegraph.co.uk. A variety of names, laden with derogatory terms, were purportedly circulated in Durrant's tenure with the company as of late, referencing his sexual orientation: "'I'm Jim and I'm Gay," "Me and My Favourite Men," and "Ladies Are Bad," among others.

According to Durrant, when these abuses were reported to the Microsoft human resources department, the company did little to help him, apparently telling him they would circulate an email reminding employees of the company policy -- but they never followed through. When he inquired as to why it hadn't been sent a few weeks later, he was supposedly told that Microsoft would have to draft policy on the matter first. He told the Telegraph, "I was very surprised that Microsoft did not have any policies relating to this sexual orientation harassment." Less than a month ago we found out that the Microsoft Xbox Live team also have little-to-no policy written regarding sexual orientation discrimination.

When asked for more information, both Microsoft and Mr. Durrant have said they cannot comment on the still pending litigation. We'll have to wait until the London South Employment Tribunal hears his case "later this year" for more info.

Peter Molyneux has grown up. In fact, he told Develop this past week that he believes the whole industry has matured. "We're growing up ... when I first started in this industry we were like six year-olds," Molyneaux says, speaking to the enormous development team sizes for games like Lionhead Studios' most recent foray, Fable II, and lamenting the industry's past arrogance towards structure of, well, any kind. "My feeling is that if you're making mistakes when you've got 100 people, that's a really big mistake," Molyneux says, adding, "You'd better make sure that you're making the mistakes when you're a ten or 20 person team; If you're doing that with 100 people, you are throwing millions of pounds down the toilet."

That being said, his position on what Lionhead Studios is doing other than Fable-related properties remains ... loose ... to say the least. "There are lots of things I would like to show you now; Within ten feet of you right now is possibly the most exciting thing I've ever seen," Molyneux teased Develop. What could it be?! We may never know, nor may you, as Molyneux remains surprisingly coy in his description. Lionhead has confirmed work on more Fable II DLC, so for the time being, we'll just have to be content with that.

Because the world needs to know (and by "world" we mean the Joystiq reader base), this week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week is none other than Xbox Original title Fable.

Starting today, Monday, March 16, and lasting through late Sunday, March 22, Fable can be purchased from the XBLM for 800 ($10), which represents a 33% discount from its normal 1200 pricing. As with all Deal of the Week offers, this Fable discount is only available to Xbox Live gold subscribers. Live silver accounts are forever shunned for choosing a life of evil and moral corruption. Be gone silver members ... BE GONE FROM THESE LANDS!

[Via Major Nelson]

Those interested in setting free their inner Fable 2 Hobbe will be pleased to know that a custom latex Hobbe mask is now available for purchase on eBay. The horrifying creation was expertly crafted by Lionhead employee Jamie Durrant from (what we guess is) the finest latex and Earth-friendly paints. The highest bid on the auction, which wraps up on March 1st, is currently £26.

While we're aware that Halloween is still months away, it doesn't mean you couldn't wear the mask to the grocery store, to a cousin's wedding or, the most likely event, while playing Fable 2. Not actually being able to see the television could be a (minor) problem, though.

[Via Fable 2 Development Blog]

There's a man waiting for you at the Bowerstone docks. He's eager to stick you into his aquatic taxi and drop you off on the shores of Knothole Island. Like most helpful RPG citizens, he's been roped into a fetch quest: Find a hero and bring him or her back to the island community, which currently finds itself immobilized by frigid weather. At least, that's what you gather from the chief's note, gracelessly read to you word for word. Whether intentional or not, the sequence works as a cheeky parody of the add-on's Xbox Live Marketplace description.

Is it worth the $10 asking price? Well, the truth is that your feelings on the main game will have already pushed you to the brink of a decision, and you just want us to push you that little bit further. We can tell you that everything you love (or loathe) about Fable 2 is on Knothole Island: the unwaveringly witty writing; the real estate opportunities; the charming townsfolk; and treasure. Oh, the treasure.