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Peter Molyneux’s 22 Cans Launches Single-Player Godus Wars Into Early Access
Last week, a hoax led some to believe that storied game designer Peter Molyneux was retiring from the industry. In a new interview today, he discussed the state of his studio’s embattled game, Godus, and the challenging year behind him.
A year ago, Molyneux came under fire. Bryan Henderson, a young man who was promised fame, in-game Godhood, and monetary proceeds from Godus, still has not received any of these following the May 2013 commitment from 22 Cans.
Last year, the story resurfaced, and Molyneux was later accused in a Rock Paper Shotgun interview of being a “pathological liar.” Following that, he retreated from the public eye.
Today, Molyneux opened up in an interview with Eurogamer. During his self-imposed cloister, the man behind Fable, Dungeon Keeper, and Black & White, came up with a plan to start making things right. Godus Wars, released today, is the first step of that is on Steam Early Access.
The game is a player-versus-computer world-conquering game that builds on some of Godus’ core concepts. If you backed Godus on Kickstarter or previously purchased it, you get Godus Wars free. Both are bundled on Steam for $14.99.
Henderson is included as one of the first two deity opponents. There are four gods that are playable, with twenty different ability cards, and two unit types.
With Godus Wars in early access, 22 Cans will be evolving it on a path toward release and the multiplayer component that would enable the studio to fulfill its commitment to Henderson. Molyneux served as a coder and designer on the game, with company CEO Simon Phillips handling the business side of things.
"After a couple of days [following the RPS interview] I came up with this simple strategy: I would just be a coder and a designer, and I would talk to the press perhaps about something I had done and had released, but not talk to the press about what I am doing, because that is clearly not working, and redefine my relationship with those people,” Molyneux told Eurogamer. He held to that when questioned about 22Cans’ next game, The Trail.
For more from Molyneux, read the full interview at Eurogamer. The outlet also caught up with Henderson, who offers his perspective on the situation.
[Source: Eurogamer]
Our Take
When last I spoke with Peter Molyneux, he was open and honest about the situation. He was aware he and the studio had made mistakes. I’ve always taken him as an enthusiastic and passionate developer who simply wants to make good games.
His new policy of only speaking about completed projects might be for the best. His tendency to overpraise isn’t born from deception, in my opinion. It’s built on hope and excitement. I hope he never loses those qualities.
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