A new game studio, founded by former members of Lionhead Studios, are launching a Kickstarter on May 31st for Fable Fortune, a collectible card game set in the Fable universe.
Before it was abruptly closed one month ago, Lionhead Studios was publicly working on continuing the Fable franchise with the asymmetrical multiplayer game Fable Legends. Not only that, but they were also secretly working on a collectible card game set in the same universe, entitled Fable Fortune.
Although Fable Legends was cancelled, Microsoft has given permission for the new Flaming Fowl Studios, founded by former members of Lionhead Studios, to continue work on Fable Fortune. Since it is lacking a publisher, Flaming Fowl Studios are bringing the game to Kickstarter, starting Tuesday, May 31st.
Since the game has been in development for over a year already, Flaming Fowl plans to have a beta available to backers shortly after the conclusion of the campaign. They expect the game to release early next year.
Fable Fortune is a collectible card game (CCG) in the same vein as games like Hearthstone, but developer Mike West states that a goal of the team is to "improve the genre." Aspects of meeting this goal include a better art style, leveling of heavily played cards, and a full cooperative mode against AI bosses. The team also has the rich Fable universe to draw from, including all the characters, locations, oddball humor, and, of course, the morality choices.
Since it's inception, the Fable franchise has put an emphasis on morality choices, so it should come as no surprise that Fable Fortune has a similar, good vs. evil concept at play. About halfway through a match, the player will be asked to make a choice by completing certain objectives. It's still early, but the Kickstarter suggests that the choice will have a wide range of effects, including altering a hero's powers or even allowing cards to take on new forms. This new mechanic will likely help Fable Fortune stand out from the pack and introduces a wide range of options that could dramatically alter the board.
Some might be surprised to learn that Fable Fortune was initially pitched as part of Fable 2, but unfortunately it never made its way into that 2008 release. It's fair to say, though, that the concept never left the minds of the development team, and is now finding new life as its own experience.
After it was announced that Lionhead Studio would shut down, some of the development team began work on a playable prototype for Fable Fortune, in the hopes of using it as a sales pitch. Now that prototype will form the backbone of the announced beta, which will be available to backers of the Kickstarter project. Additionally, backers will be able to join an exclusive forum and participate in the development process of the game.
The Kickstarter campaign for Fable Fortune is scheduled to launch tomorrow. If funding is met, a closed beta will follow shortly after the campaign ends.
Fable Fortune is targeting an early 2017 release.
Source: IGN