@Ad-hominem: Our friend Peter has obviously been to the Sony school of promise making.

Hardy har har!

Shod

They like shooting themselves in the foot. What is going on over at Microsoft and Lionhead that they can not seem to get they're shit together?

Master Saji

woah... a bigger edition with.. not really much more?
I hope all stores will be kind enough to let people take the normal edition instead as not many people will want that edition now.

QC8472

This isn't even a collector's edition anymore. I'm so glad I switched my reservation to the normal edition.

Double_J169

This SUCKS.

No online play for a week or so, a crappy collectors edition... what next?

headcrab

And now I move my pre-order to Little Big Planet and rent Fable on Gamefly.lol

Kamikazee89

not much of a point to getting the CE anymore, they should cut the price again.

thebluick

Ahh, that creates a lot of unsold collectors edition.

ViciousViper

Broken promises,
broken dreams,
tales of Fable,
are tales indeed,

through the shadows,
green ooze lies,
Microsoft cash machine,
deserves to die,

why ensemble,
and the lies,
red ring lights,
evil grins,

karma lives,
it never dies,
tears of anger,
Fable dies.

Unstop

Maybe gaming magazines and websites should consider adding a "Worst Collector's Edition" prize for the 2008 awards.

Still, as long as the game delivers, the rest doesn't really matter. I warily placed my pre-order, ready to cancel it if reviews are bad. I like what I've seen so far - especially the art direction -, but I'm not ready to take Molyneux at his word.

For Europeans who plan on preordering, the CE just dropped to the same price as the regular edition on Play.com.
Oddly enough, Play.com have updated their product description whereas Game.co.uk, the originators of that email, still haven't.

Antiterra

Nothing that can happen with stuff like this can get me less excited for this game. I can't wait to play this.

broomperson

I'm sorry, but that pic with CE and all the yanked stuff blacked out is sheer GOLD!!!

Meohfumado

@pikpikjuice: They already did that joke in the article.

broomperson

@atrimus: That's messed up and someone is lying. Gamestop cannot tell you when you can get your money/credit back. It's yours and you get it when you want it. Its Gamestop's job to try and get you to put it on something else, but that's a GS employee that's pulling your chain and if he they won't do it, then get the District number and let them know.

Mal-Content

Perhaps this is just Lionhead taking a swipe at the foolishness that is CEs in general.
All it comes with extra now is simply items that will most likely be available as DLC, which gives no real incentive to buy it over the normal version other than an early chance to buy extras that everyone will have eventually anyway. Really makes the whole concept seem futile.

furiousmilton

So is the game included in the purchase?

pikpikjuice

@Prezel4: Seriously, my XBox Liver couldn't even handle three shots of whiskey.

Fuzzy Logic

So I see that this CE is living up to the wondrous standards that the Lord of the Rings Online CE created!

goddessakasha

@Prezel4: Haha, as did mine, about 3 days after pre-ordering this... Coincidence or providence?

Impul5se

Curse you, Molyneux! *shakes fist*

Kamakazie

looks like somebody in marketing is going to get fired! ooopss

Vectortuff

In my mind, Collector's Editions are usually a waste of money anyway. I was almost persuaded into getting the Gold Edition of Battlefield:BC, but the fact that the high level guns were immediately unlockable would just make me feel like an ass. Does one really need the soundtrack or a boring designer diary? These things just all seem like objects that are getting in the way of you playing the actual GAME.

SecCom

what's even more messed up, i called my local Gamestop yesterday to get a $10 refund on the $80 +tax hobbe-fate-cards-alluminum-box collector's edition i originally reserved. they told me that i'll have to wait until the game comes out. no biggie: what's $10 in the interim, after all? but now this? being a sucker for "Special Editions" sucks. a part of me is thinking about canceling my reservation completely and just putting the regular version on my Best Buy credit card. i might as well do it, because at this rate Microsoft will only release the regular version anyway.

atrimus

I've seen this plot once before! It's Fable: The Movie. In fact, we're seeing the plot for Fable II: The Movie, without having to pay for it yet, it seems, or something.

Oh well, here you go. Fable: The Movie. Maybe this will make folks laugh at the situation, or at least help them feel better.

+ Watch video

Salen

Requires XBOX LIVER!

Dyson

Doesn't this all seem a bit too familiar? I mean, really, promising content that isn't actually there?

Xagest

this is just too stupid

GrumpierGrunt

I've cancelled plans to get the collector's edition and put the extra cash towards the Saint's Row Collector's edition. There is NO EXCUSE why all that got cut from the Fable 2 CE.It gives everyone $10x2 to put towards the many other collector's and limited edition games coming out that WILL HAVE all the goodies in them they have advertised as having(games such as Saint's Row 2,Fallout 3,Resistance 2,etc.).

Sugaray

@kidko:

You mean a sign of things not to come with this game...

DanoruX

Eventually you're just going to get a box that says collector's edition on it.

Gouki4u

Fuck this whole thing. All this limited edition bullshit is wack anyway. These things are software, not friggin' Beanie Babies.

etchasketchist

I bet who ever screwed this one up felt the full wrath of the Molyneux!

Ahmunnaeetchoo

I like XBox but not enough to have an XBox Liver. One kidney maybe, though not both, or half a lung, but not a whole liver.

I was strongly considering the CE, but without a soundtrack, I don't think so.

Mister Adequate

This should probably be cross-linked on Consumerist!

Rookerith

@Calavera302: It's a possibility, but I don't really trust that Molyneux guy. At all.

Kalimos

Okay now this is getting ridiculous.

Oh well, good thing I reserved the regular version and not the CE.

XbhaskarX

While more developers and publishers are adding items for getting the game brand new and at release Lionhead goes and takes away.

This collector's edition started off great. Now it's just utter crap. WTF happened to everything

NightMystic

I wonder what the "further complications" are.

Maybe nobody wants the CE? Maybe nobody wants the game?

TRT-X

Ummm, why don't they just cancel the CE?

DiskoDanyo

LMAO

"Bonus in-game content (requires Xbox LIVER) including:"

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

r0ffles. haha - This is great.

"Attention gamers. Here's your game. Unfortunately - After production we couldn't afford anything to put it in - Gamers, we need YOU to bring your own case whenever you plan to purchase the game. Copies of the game are being delivered on giant spindles. That is all. kthnxbai!"

kosbee

So, now, the difference between the regular edition and the CE is the "bonus" in-game content, the Pub Games and $10.

Wow. It looks like they've tricked me into buying the Pub Games after all.

DaftGirl

This story is worth it if, for nothing else, the hilarious picture!

I'll be bummed if they cut the making-of DVD. Still, like I've said before, I'm into the CE for the exclusive in-game content and nothing else is too important to me.

MSUSteve

Wow. Seriously, that's crap. Something's fishy about this. Makes me glad I only got the regular edition.

Rebochan

I'm glad I swapped my preorder over to BK: Nuts and Bolts. I didn't even want the Collectors Edition, but if things are already getting cut from this, paired with the no-online co-op at launch, its really not a welcoming sign to buy the game. Maybe I'll grab this at bargain bin prices, unless it gets extraordinary reviews.

CHunterX

It requires Xbox Live Liver?! All I have is Xbox Live Onions!

Mister_Jack

Who in the hell cares? Just a few less things for people to throw in the corner and never think about again after 2 days of ownership.

We still buy games to PLAY THE GAME, right? Seriously some of you people bitch that the MSRP of games finally went up $10 after being $49.99 forever, but you'll happily throw an extra $10-$30 at these companies for useless crap that will just sit there and collect dust.

mva5580

@MouseCircus: And, you misunderstood me.
I said analogy. I didn't say 1:1 correlation.
Fable One was what promised to be epic, and wasn't.
Then, the CE version of Fable II was promised to be epic, and wasn't.
That's it.
I just said it was a disturbing track record of broken promises.

Ad-hominem

Tomorrow we'll hear how the game was delayed but on release, you'll be able to walk in and pick up an empty 360 case and take it home to print out a cover and manual and then wait for the (horribly butchered) game discs to be sent out in time for X-mas '09.

boringjob2

Does the SE still have the downloadable armour?
Depending on how much, I might get it. It seems pretty lame, though. I was so hyped for this game, and it just seems so...................meh.
I loved fable though. Please meet my expectations.

TheDannyWarrior

@Lombax: Haven't they said it will be at launch (or very shortly thereafter) just that it wouldn't be on the disc?

I understand that the certification processes for DLC and Patches are much different than that for the full release, so it makes sense to offer the feature separately rather than to have to re-certify the entire game.

Cutting the bonuses out of the CE is pretty weak, but I generally don't buy the CEs of games anyway, so I'm not too upset.

Calavera302

But no price drop? BOOOOO.

Mister_Jack

Everyday I feel better that Pre-ordered the regular edition of Fable II and I still got Fable II Pub Games for free from Gamestop for it, so nice try game for trying to make that seem like it was some sort of CE bonus when it really was not.

WPack911

Wow. Just wow.

rpgking4

I like the black-out on the article picture. If you look at where they removed the action figure, it makes it look like the disc is cracked, chuckles.

Rookerith

So what exactly makes this a CE now? The little CE badge?

Honestly CE's should be done away with. Considering people are paying $60 as is you'd think more devs would use extras such as "Making of.." specials, cards, or collectibles as incentives to get their game. I wouldnt mind more of these things going the route of the GoW 2 RC car as pre-order bonuses.

Modus_Operandi

No freakin' soundtrack? GAH! That's part of the reason I was going to get the CE Fable II. *grumbles* Ok, this officially torqued me the wrong way.

Salen

So, basically it's just the game now? Weak.

Oh well, Only reason I would have got the collector's edition was for the figure, I love that sort of stuff, but I'll just stick with the regular one with the game.

themadman123

Update: Fable II Will no longer have multiplayer, a family whom you can grow with, or pets. Enjoy!

Flitz

So buying the collectors edition will get you a video you can already download off the Lionhead site and a bit of extra content they could just as easily have put as DLC. Exactly what edition is this suppose to be?

Hummmm

Abn0rm4l

I'm not one to care about collector's editions, but this is strange!

Wolfers

Right. No Collectors edition for me then.

CoatedTrout

Goddammit I wish I knew how big the bonus dungeon is, its the only thing I don't want to risk misisng.

Qalbert

IF this like like £2 more than the Game as it is now, I'd buy it, otherwise, no point...

infestedDemon

Wow....seriously. This is ridiculous to the point of being flat out stupid.

Nevest356

@MouseCircus: with the exception of multi-player at launch remember.

Lombax

Wow, that is the most pathetic Microsoft. I'll be buying the regular edition.

DigitalHero

'marketwide problem' and 'complication' making a collector's edition of a game? I'm sorry but I call bullshit.

I mean when they published Halo 3 there were multiple CEs including one with a freaking cat helmet and that was no problem, but a diary and a soundtrack for Fable II is breaking someone's balls?

crackp1pe

bwahahahahahahahahahah

thanks for saving me money

tralfaz23

This is rediculous. Im honestly very tempted to cancel my order entirely and just pass on the game.

I mean if after months and months of having time to produce and prepare this crap, they end up having to cut everyting but the GAME and DLC from the Collectors edition.. Whats that say about the chance the game itself is going to end up a chainsaw massacred mess of cut ideas and features like the first one?

At this rate, they should drop the damn price even more. Hell, they should just drop the CE entirely and put the DLC up on the marketplace to buy if people want it. Theres so not a frikken point anymore.

Murrytmds

Oh, there's no real need for me to get this now.

Cheers, Lionhead, you saved me an extra £10-£15 :3

Ryumeka

@Ad-hominem: "Features"?

Stuff is being removed from the CE, but Fable II is still the same game. Sheesh.

MouseCircus

that is just silly.

Lombax

ya, haven't been pleased with a collectors edition anything in a long time.

TheLegendof_Erick

This is a sign of things to come with this game.

kidko

Is this just for the UK or for everyone?

Guitaratomik

Get the Fable II CE now without weapons and armor!!!!

sbrumm1983

So much for a collector's edition.

OrangeHairKid

This seems like an eerie analogy for Fable One.

The world was promised to us, on a silver platter.
Instead, we ended up with a fun action game, and nothing more.

Now, they promise us an incredible CE for Fable II, and as time goes on, we discover features are being cut left and right, and we end up with a fun action game, and nothing more.

Ad-hominem

But...my xbox liver just RRoD'd!

Prezel4

I agree...

showshaboy

Now this is just getting ridiculous.

betterthantelevision

is this genuine? i preordered the CE through game and got the email about the first cut but not this email.

has kotaku been pranked again?

Danobaka

This is actually still good for me in the end, it's down to the price of the regular edition (in the UK) and you get extra stuff. I'm just going to wait for it to get a bit cheaper and then buy it and get the extra's (like the dungeon and halo armor, Wreckager cutlass and bonus disc). I know it's not much extra but when the price isn't that much more you just decide if you think it's worth it or not. Since it's regular price here there's no point in not getting it.

Llost

@Ovenall:

It's a sequel. Obviously there are fans of the first who have bought into the game and its development team and have good faith that the game will be good. For a fan $10 really isn't that much.

LittleBigPlaneteer

This feels like a complete Bait and Switch to me. I bet there are a lot of people who pre-ordered the game and don't check out sites like this to know how much their purchase has been gimped.

Pretty low Microsoft, pretty low.

LittleBigPlaneteer

If they drop the price of the CE so that it's only $65 versus the regular version's $60, then I'll still get it (I want the special in-game stuff, primarily), but otherwise, screw 'em. This is ridiculous.

kylenalepa

From one of the best CE of all time to one of the most boring one.

alecpyron

I received a similar e-mail from Amazon (US) this morning. They gave me a link where I could download the soundtrack for free beginning on 10/6, but the CE contents are exactly as what is listed in the Game e-mail.

BrandonJF

If the publisher can't make the deadline, just DELAY it. Gosh, stop rushing it and create a negative feeling for the customers. Just delay it for a month or so and make things RIGHT.

eeryee

@Unstop: What the hell was that? Never do that again.

Mister_Jack

Im not getting it anyway but that seems retarded, next thing you know there gonna send you the programing code and videos and make you format it yourself

IceColdEskimo

I can't understand the appeal of collector's editions. $10 more. Why would you want a bunch of extra stuff if you haven't even played the game once to begin with? What if it's terrible? Would you still want to see the developer's diary?

Ovenall

Oh man I am so getting the collector's edition!

I wouldn't say that it is easy to get me to buy collector's editions but this should sound ridiculous to even the most hardcore fan of Fable.

Spiderbait

@Murrytmds: My thoughts too. It's stupid. I'm pretty upset because I was looking forward to a nice CE for promising game. I am sure people would think I'm overreacting, but really- it's what you pay that extra money for. Oh well. I'm still getting the game- no doubt about it- but I've totally lost faith in things they'll promise for now on and just take it with a grain of salt until it's absolutely confirmed.

Thugmunk

@Mal-Content: Cancel your reserve and, if you're not so mad you will go to another chain, re-reserve it all over. I don't see why they'd say no. It counts towards the cashiers' reserve numbers, and they need those to keep their jobs. If they do, fuck it, go to Best Buy like you said.

Mister_Jack

Is there some way we can get the DLC without buying the CE version? I want the Halo Energy sword but not THAT much that Ill pay a tenner extra.

CanaryWundaboy

If this is the extent of us being let down by Fable 2, we should be cheering in the streets.

ZombieRace

More like "Lite edition"... how can they call this a collectors edition?

Snaaaaake

@betterthantelevision: And by ridiuclous you mean "shitty", because that's what this is. Really now, no behind the scenes, no soundtrack... I could see the figurine and maybe the cards, but really people. Paying an extra $10 for some in-game items that might as well be DLC is bullshit and won't be seeing my money.

Seriously, they can't even get the sound track down? Pure BS.

Thugmunk

what the hell!? It's getting to the point where the collecytors edition may as well be the game with permenant marker pen writing on the side say "Collectors Edition".

Raptr569

why even get the CE now? just get the normal one and save your pennies for RE5 and etc?

Albi4ever

what? that sucks...

rbee90

I'm not a Fable fan, but this news sucks pretty much.

jocaju

We are seeing the results of the stock market crashing, less paper included inside our games!

VakeroRokero

Really a weak move. They must find something else to fulfil the loss.

Gambly

That's the problem with collector's editions that are so limited, even the factory isn't making the first run!

VakeroRokero

@crackp1pe: well, the ONLY reason to get the super special awsome chocolaty coated fudge edition was the Helmet. And they did have the standard collectors edition (Which I also inexplicably own) for the normal obsesives. it seems the ONLY reason now to get the CE for Fable II is the stuff that will probably end up on DLC for $11. The only reason to get it know is for the Spartan Armor.

Acebuckeye13

@Morberis: You do realize that LH has basically no control over that aspect of the game's release right? They don't have a factory in their basement that produces all the LE goodies that they decided to shut down JUST to inconvenience their customers. This was an unfortunate incident that was out of their control; how you think this little fiasco relates to the quality of the game is beyond me...

Erode

The last announcement put me on the fence, this one knocked me off it - time to downgrade my preorder.

NYLatenite

i see how vocal molineux has been about Fable 2, isnt it strange how quiet hes been about this? (or have i missed something?)

juscallmeweasel

As long as I still get my wicked pissah cloth Spartan armour.

gameware

I reserved the collector's edition because I wanted all the extras. What do we get now? Print out some cards and some exclusive in-game items? Not worth the extra ten bucks.

IndustrialJones

@Tietsu: ok now that was fucking funny dude. :)

zanzibarlegend

Holy hell, I'm sorry after this I've cancelled my pre-order of Fable 2. If they can't even get shipping and packaging done right what assurances do I have that the game is going to be up to the quality that I expect? I'm just going to borrow it from a friend to play it, maybe in the future they'll learn to follow through on their promises. I thought Molineux was getting better on that but clearly I was wrong.

Morberis

Bloody hell, I'm really tempted to just get the regular version.

A few extra weapons for an extra £5-£10 is so not worth it.

I can live with losing the hobbe figure (although I will miss it) and the developer diary, but I really wanted that soundtrack.

Dr_Pie

@Lombax: i'm pretty sure its just ONLINE multi that needs patching in, no?

ultra_balexbot

I wonder how many features have been cut from the game as well.

OrazioAloeus

@Guitaratomik: I hope it's for everyone. I don't us to be the only ones shafted. I would expect such a thing from Nintendo, but not from a company which is actually based in Britain.

If we get it, everyone gets it. >=(

Dr_Pie

Wow...I used to be indifferent now I'm generally irritated. I going to hit someone in the balls...and not myself this time...you only do THAT once.

Tietsu

Two bonus dvd's does not maketh a collector's edition, Lionhead.

Disappointed is an understatement, there's no reason to buy the collector's edition now.

Ravel

This isn't as big as it seems, guys. The Dev Diaries are available free to download on Lionheads Fable 2 site and the soundtrack was NEVER part of the LE.
From a Lionhead developer:

"Glen Watts1 is online.
Last active: 10-03-2008, 16:30 Glen Watts1
Top 100 Contributor
Insane Senior Member
Lionhead Developer

Re: The Hobbes Have Been Made!!

Lets clear some misconceptions.

1) The original LE wasn't ever going to be in a tin box. It was a special box, yes, but it wasn't tin. It was fancy cardboard, a bit like a cigar case. And as people have said, the reason it's dropped for the revised LE is because it was mostly filled by the hobbe toy...

2) The hobbe toy is on a card backing so that it fits inside said box without rattling around. That card backing is exactly the same size as a normal DVD case.

3) The full soundtrack was *never* part of the LE at any stage. That was always planned to be sold separately via Sumthing Digital (where you can also pick up other MGS soundtracks such as Halo3 and Mass Effect).

Believe me, I'm just as annoyed about it as you guys are, I was very much looking forward to having a shiny collectors edition copy of our game to hug and cherish as well."

LINK: [community.lionhead.com]

Erode

@Thugmunk: and by shitty you mean "epic fail"

zentex

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Well as you can see the article itself is based on an email from game.co.uk so it's going to let people know. Since they've made it public before the game is released and reduced the price I think retailers will have to have known about it and sent out notification too. It isn't really a bait and switch because you don't tell someone your baiting that your missing stuff and then cheapen the game for them so it's worth what they're getting. It's simply a supply chain issue like they said.

Llost

@Danobaka: Play.com have no mention of the soundtrack etc on their product page anymore <- [www.play.com]

Its also the same price as the regular edition so I guess even they don't think its worth a premium.

Hdfisise

I wonder if there is some kind of massive printing/production/shipping problem with the extra bits:

Leaving Microsoft to either delay the CE or strip it. Delaying the CE would piss people off---waiting a month after everyone else got the game...

The actual basic videogame is pretty easy to manufacture. Disc, manual, assemble, ship.

All this premium stuff requires at least a few months of lead time. And if the wrong cargo container is sealed improperly and collects water and mold, that all goes away.

moofrank

I already have my $80 paid off. This make me a sad sad fellow. This was one of the games I was using frequently over the past few months as a prime example of the "See guys, sometimes collectors editions really are worth it" argument. Now this is looking like "Ninja Gaiden Sigma" all over again. Ten bucks for nothing. Barf.

MrGilder

I take it Fable 2 won't be having that F1-boasted but didn't happen 'Plant seed at beginning of game, end game with mighty oak' bit either

arniejolt

I really feel bad for Molyneux and Lionhead, though... I mean, they're the ones that designed the game, obviously whether the game gets manufactured the way it's supposed to is completely out of their hands, but poor old Peter will get blamed for it by his backstabbing fanbase anyway.

mispeld

@TomGuycott: ...with extra pallet-shredding shards of sadness and despair.

Amsterdaam

@Fuzzy Logic:

Ha ha i was thinking the exact same, except tequila...

Qix213

Buy Fable II! (in small print) Game not included.

deathsyth8888

Not that I was going to pick up the CE anyway-- I never do, lord knows the last thing I need is more random junk, no matter how tempting that Pip-Boy is, and I toss out the cases anyway-- but I feel bad for these guys.

I was going to pick up Fable 2 anyhow, but now it will be with a sense of sympathy that I do so.

tk.

Wait what? The hell is this? -_-; I just got an email from Amazon earlier myself, but I assumed it was the previous canceled items. I'll have to take a closer look now. Fucking Lionhead...

Kia

Wow, what a load of rubbish. I don't really care about CEs, but the Fable II one did sound pretty cool ... those who've already paid for it must be pretty pissed right about now.

Just scrap it all together?

sanzen

@betterthantelevision:

This just in:

The actual game was cut from the collectors edition.

But dont fret! You still have the spartan armor! You cant actually use it, download it or own it in any way, but you can say its yours!

EtisArap

It's probably too much to expect a representative from either Microsoft or Lionhead to explain exactly what the freakin' problem is. Out of nowhere, the CE for one of the biggest releases of the year gets completely destroyed, and nobody's got anything to say about it except there was a "supply chain" issue?

Did their production locations all burn down or something? Who's getting fired/blacklisted from the industry over this one?

I wonder if we'll still see a Gears 2 CE...

mispeld

CE Includes: Game case, Instructions, air from the packaging factory, Shattered Dream Pie.

TomGuycott

wonder what arrogant frenchman has to say about this?

paydirt76

I wonder who's heads will role at MS for this debacle. I've never heard of this happening before. They cut like 80% of the CE version. Whats the point of having one anymore. Seriously.

garrland

I'm not planning on picking this up at launch anyway, so I wasn't really interested in the CE to begin with. But based on some recent posts, I think all game developers should follow the example set by Gears 2 and just start throwing additional features and game content at us for no discernable reason. I feel like that would be a good solution.

moutski

I'm holding on to my pre-order. All I wanted was the extra dungeon, weapon and armor.

As for the soundtrack, Lionhead said it was never a part of the package and I don't remember it being listed as a part of the package either. Even if some thought it was included they will still be able to download it come Oct 6th by visiting sumthingdigital.

Puhgete

What's stopping them from putting the developer dairies on the disc? They're already on Xbox Live! I'm still buying this for the in-game extras and they already dropped the price, so no big deal.

munkah

@Numerous:
It affects it heavily. If they can't get something so simple as extra goodies in a CE, whats to say they got the actual complicated part (making the acual game) right. Besides look at their track record. Did you honestly think the first Fable was the epitome of RPGs like Molyneux promised? Cuz if you did, your as bad as a Star Wars fan.

SolidLatino83

"Also because you have ordered from GAME.co.uk you will have already received
your code to download the Fable II Xbox Live Pub Games. If you have not
received this yet have no fear as they are being emailed out every Friday
afternoon, fear not! They are being emailed out every Friday afternoon."

Then were the hell are my damn pub games?? Huh game? It's Friday evening!!

CrazyBlue

I don't get all the folks talking about not buying the game now. All this stuff affects the gameplay absolutely Z-E-R-O.

Numerous

@arniejolt: Oh god yea!
I remember seeing the developer diaries on that, right up till about a month from launch...then a quick video from Molineux saying that it took too much resource...

Would have added a bit of replayablity tho

juscallmeweasel

Can't get it anyway, I don't have an "Xbox LIVER", just a plain old silver one.

figurhead

Were sorry to inform you but Fable II will no longer come in a box but in a CD envelope. Sorry about the cuts.

>_>

So uhm what's so special about this collectors edition now?

Godstation99

I am still getting it, but this is Joke Microsoft I dont see many other people gettting this now.

sargemat

Okay, whats going on? Fable II is literally falling apart.

hagridore

Well I just saved a few bucks.

Boudabras

This seems like Lionhead and Microsoft are begging for a class action lawsuit. This is kind of false advertising, after all. Any one want to take bets that the DLC won't be ready by Fable 2's release? I'm saying the CE DLC won't come out with Fable 2's release, prompting them to concentrate on it so they don't get sued, which pushes back online co-op to 2009. Any other hypothesis?

gogt200

Lame, no point in even having a CE if theyre not including all this sweet stuff

May as well just get the sweet Saints Row 2 CE, that shit is so ghetto its awesome

Altima NEO

What is Microsoft trying to do?

Breaking down Lionhead Studios so that they can close it and keep the Franchaises by worse word-PR?

That absolutely sounds like:

Everything else costs us so skip it.

It seems the only reason that they do not cut the DLC is cause it doesn't need any extra Material and costs to bring it out.

fELIXADER

If they're going to cut all that out, they might as well just drop the price to a reasonable $60.

Piemonkey

So is there another price drop now?

BurntToast

What poor news. And wait, doesn't the game come out this month?

TheMurderer

What is collectable about this edition?

cynric

I just got a call from gamestop telling me about this.

NightMystic

Like I said on my last post. They might as well open up and tell the consumers everything before the release date gets closer.

By far I never seen a CE ever take such a sever change. Specially for a close release date.

Can they have anymore bad news for the Fable games? Most likely but I'm willing to guess that it either happens on a monday. Or 2 after a week or 2 aftert the game is release *hint hint* Coop Mode still no where to be see yet in public eyes.

Cunder

And....now I'm moving my preorder deposit over to my REAL collector's edition: Fallout 3.

HT Tenrai

Seriously? It didn't even start out as a particularly exciting CE, but now it's just plain bad. What happened?

Xenigma

WTF, not cool molenyxeperthg... wat ever the hell his name is!!!!!!!!

theJUGERNAUTbitch

You sure it requires "Xbox LIVER", can I not just use my human liver?

Vixtro

@Refused: Well, if folks put down money for a preorder on the CE version, on the assumption that Lionhead was going to be offering all of said material in the CE version, and then you find out that isn't the case, well, there's a reason for folks to be at least upset with the fact that they've basically had the rug pulled out from under them.

I haven't put money down on the CE, but I can see why folks would be upset if they did. I'm more just peeved that there's no soundtrack with it now. I love video game soundtracks.

Salen

This is very strange yes but people should really not overreact to this. You aren't being forced to buy the Collector's Edition, just buy the standard and you still get to play the game.

Refused

Lionhead just really doesn't want your money, I guess.

imaria

well thats nice. 80$ for the game and a dvd. wow!

airdom

Now that's a funny thing.

Considering the stuff they say's further not there... was never in there in the first place.

J-Boogie

That just sucks... what marketing problems could POSSIBLY arise from videos and soundtrack? don't they belong to the fablers?

Ultrasinc

I really only ordered it for the extra content, but still, wtf.

MPSai

@Qalbert: seriously i hate when they put extra in game content in collectors editions and half the time it sucks. But if you don't get it you feel like your missing out. its lame. just make one version yo.

sampagne

@Murrytmds: i agree that they should just say fuck it and cancel the collectors edition if its going to be that lame and just make the extra dlc available for a few bucks or whatever. However I think passing on a game you've been waiting for cause the collectors edition doesn't have a bunch of lame extra shit is kind of stupid.

sampagne

@DanoruX: Good gag.

Its true though - there has been little positive news coming from Fable 2. Even Molyneux isn't psyched - and thats not like Moly.

This whole thing smells of Fable 1. Imo, F2 has gone from "day 1 purchase" to "sometime after Fallout 3, when its cheap".

Dr Terror

Wow, let's hope it still comes with the game at least.

Frologic

Just forget the collector's editions and just include the bonus stuff to everyone!

There! Was that so hard?!!

HALO-32

what exactly makes this a collectors edition then? what the hell happened to all the other merch that was being produced for the original box content?

elislider

[community.lionhead.com]

I'm gonna keep linking this and hope somebody at top pays attention. Or if somebody can let me know who I email about this I could just do that, too.

J-Boogie

Well! Time to change pre-orders! Fug this shite.

Brlito

People people PEOPLE!

Jebus tap dancing christ.

Before people start bitching and such you might wanna pay attention to one thing:

[community.lionhead.com]

IT WAS NEVER PART OF THE LIMITED EDITION.

We now bring you back to the resident bitchfest.

J-Boogie

Oh Petah, Petah, Petah! How M$-like of thee!

I don't mind that you talk big ideas and deliver, well, something less. It's good to dream, you know? But customers, Petah, customers. You need them. They pay the bills. So that you can have that fancy office in the countryside, rather than being stuck in some lugubrious industrial estate in Reading. So that you can tool around a Lotus or TGV rather than a dilapidated Mondeo.

Back when unlettered men had long memories, you done us over. Yea, thou donst us over before. Thems of us wot bought Fable I only to cry "WTF? Whar be the content, matey?", ye donst us over. For within a year there appeared Fable I: The Lost Chapters, proper superset of the original, and closer to what we thought we were buying in the first place, though not all. And what remedy? "Turn out thy pockets, again, sucker," spoken like a common brigand or highwayman. "Dropest thou 100 clams total for a 50 clam experience." And, verily, being the suckers thou hadst so pegged us, we did.

But no more, Petah.

After years of experience with M$ OSes, we've finally learned never to buy one of those goddamed things at least until after the frist service pack has hit, and we've read the fora for a few months to see what SP1 itself has broken. Same for thee, Petah.

Ye promised us the moon, the planets and the stars with Fable II, and we knew perfectly well we'd never get the stars. That was just Petah being Petah. But now, Petah, no co-op on zero-day? No CE content to speak of? What, Petah, just what the hell to do take us for? And what further disappointments await once we've actually sprung for Fable II?

No, matey, thou hast squandered thy credibility with us, old son. We'll wait a year (think of it as clusterfuck + 1) for Fable II: What It Should Have Been to hit before selling our livers in some dingy Bangkok back-alley to pay for the present offering. Then, if the reviews manage to rate it somewhere above "Doesn't Suck", we'll consider it. Kinda like what we did with Vista.

With maturity, we've learned patience.

I mean, what the hell art thou thinking, Petah? Dost thou not suss there's an economic collapse on?

m1lkb0ne

i meant nuts not buts

koeramco

this blows i was going to get it for 70 because i don't mind much for cards or figures but now that they are taken out no more CE for me unless they lower price on the good side more money for gears of war 2 ce and banjo kazooie: buts and bolts

koeramco

this is so fail.

very disappointing, i hope the game turns out to be good.
if its gonna be anything like Fable 1 with improved graphics, i'm going to be so pissed

Mr.Sad

I...I feel heart broken.

Aeros

@SolidLatino83: You realize Peter Moleneux and Lionhead are completely helpless when it comes to stuff like that, right? That stuff is out of their hands, but the gameplay itself is not.

Kytano-Skorpius

@catapult37: What they should be apologizing for is overcharging players for a few extra features nobody will ever use.

Collector's Editions = Ridiculous

Zorantor

This should cost the same price as the regular edition. Hell, even with all the stuff they originally promised, it should only be an extra 10 bucks.

MafiaAce

Maybe if we're lucky they'll apologize by releasing the material for free online later.

catapult37

@Ad-hominem: I completely agree. It seems like they're turning this game into Swiss cheese. I guess delaying things and doing the right thing isn't an option some fat cat company exec wants to consider. With the online features cut from the disc, bonus content cut once, and then bonus content cut again a second time one has to wonder if someone forgot this game was even coming out... What's next? "Due to supply chain issues, Fable II will be available only via DLC due to a disc shortage".

But hey, it's easier to pre-order than it is to go back and cancel an order...or so management things of those "stupid" consumers out there...

BigDragon

@Ad-hominem: I'm not one to argue, but you're still directly comparing them, regardless of how you spin it.

That the CE lacks a few extra items isn't detrimental to the gaming experience.

On the other hand, missing game features IS detrimental.

And please, don't even bother with the co-op thing because there are conflicting comments about that.

MouseCircus

Wow, this is effing ridiculous. Don't make promises you cant keep. I ant the effing soundtrack LIKE YOU PROMISED! Same with the cards and stuff. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!

Amazon_Chris

Uncharted had more features/content and that didn't even HAVE a collector's edition.

Hibikino

of course there's problems. when there were cat helmets, the economy didn't suck this f'ing bad. america is microsoft's main demographic. economy blows, company losing money because your target audience has less of it to spend? cut useless crap out of something you can't afford to viably produce in current conditions.

jsolomon

That's why I hate the hype.

AxelMinami

Ugh, I was only getting the CE because of the soundtrack. I pre-ordered it off Amazon for $66 so I'm still paying around the same price as the regular version at a brick and mortar store so I guess I'll still get it.

Voltar

I bet that a lot of stores will get people who want to take back their preorders...

for some reason the word "scam" comes to my mind...

Shad0X

@Voltar: Oh wait a sec. I got this in an e-mail:

"To help you pass the time until the Limited Edition ships, a special Fable album has been created and is being offered for free download for a limited time. Go to *website* , and enter the *code* promotion code. This will be available beginning October 6, 2008 @ 9am PST."

Voltar

ok, then what the hell do you get for an extra $10? A bland second disc? Lighter wallet?

I just hope the CE of Fallout 3 is not hobbled like this. "fingers crossed"

Fuzi Lojak

They should cut the game from this CE. It should just be the box art with nothing in it completely sealed and unopenable. And, it should come with a little card explaining that this CE of the game only contains the hype.

firstworldman

wow people are heated. but i don't blame you. this is really stupid. i thought this was a highly anticipated game. they are hacking it up like they don't expect it to sell well. now you can buy the "kinda-sorta special edition"

INDIGOVENOM

@INDIGOVENOM: This is alot like how Fable 1 turned out: You will get this, this and this! But when its out you'll really get fuck-all. Trust me, People saw this coming INDIGOVENOM

infestedDemon

This is perfect - it's the collector's edition for people who hate to collect things.

Chef

So does that mean the Collector's Edition will be cheaper now? I'd pay $70 for it.

kid6488

i'm canceling my preorder today

reverseclipse

@betterthantelevision: @zentex:

I concur. Epic fail indeed. It had so much promise at first and I was actually hunting down online retailers that would still sell this limited edition. Not any longer though. I'll get the game and get the CoD:WW collectors edition I guess.

Adam In Texas

I know this was a rumor but after the box, cards, and figure cuts, The Hall of the Dead' Dungeon, The Wreckager' Legendary Cutlass Weapon, Spartan armor and energy sword better be EXCLUSIVE to the LE.

They should not be released a month or 2 later for less $ on the marketplace because all the people that didn't buy the LE cry about it and Microsoft wants to make an extra buck.

Knowing Microsoft it won't be though which makes the LE lame. Nothing will be "limited" about it.

Everything they are giving to people to make up for it is available to everyone, even if you didn't buy the game, not just the LE people who lost out on stuff they were expecting to receive with their purchase.

Yeah I know I know, "don't buy the LE if you don't want it". I do want it for The Hall of the Dead' Dungeon, The Wreckager' Legendary Cutlass Weapon, Spartan armor and energy sword. But if Microsoft makes it available to everyone it's kinda pointless to buy the LE.

LuckyXIII

I guess this can been seen as part of Peter's legacy: First there is no co-op (out the box); then the "Collector's" edition.

Could this be similar to Fable 1, Peter promised the world, and all we received was an island. Even though Fable 1 was good, I feel that I should wait for a while to buy it. Because, I feel they will re-release the "completed" version of Fable 2 in about six months after its release date.

thomasonfa

I am really disappointed in my fellow Kotakuites here. The comments have been pathetic. It's obvious that most people didn't bother to read much of what was said before they got in on the discussion.

Several people have tried to explain that the additional items being removed according to the e-mail were never part of the CE in the first place. One very helpful commenter even took the time to post information from Lionhead's web site explaining this and yet there are 6 pages of complaints about the removal of the soundtrack that follow.

What has happened to us? The comments on Kotaku are supposed to be a step above the rest. When did we stop reading and thinking and start posting in ignorance. The number of comments in most articles is outrageous, and in many cases people keep saying the same things that have already been said.

We need to make the effort to read a little more carefully so we hear what others have to say. Let's draw on our collective intelligence, rather than our ignorance, so we can all contribute to each other's appreciation of a shared interest and hobby.

fleet

As for there being no co-op out of the box Lionhead commented on a uk site that this is not the case as microsoft said and it will be available day one. Also the limited edition being gimped down is microsofts fault not Lionhead the game maker. And lastley as for the exclusive limited edition DLC items Lionhead has said there is no plans to allow it to be downlaoded on live for those who dont get the limited edtion, so according to them the ONLY way to get it is via the collectors edition. Go here to this fable foeum and they keep on top of the game better than anyone and all the info above can be found there with links to the statements by Lionhead and others http://www.projectego.net/ Dont blame Fable 2 and Lionhead for things they arent doing, it would be like saying I wont but Halo 3 cause Sony said they arent gonna add a Cortana figure.

MilesEurystheus