UPDATE: Kingmaker only available to European audiences, for now. SRC: Joystiq
At the Eurogamer Expo today, Peter Molyneux gave a lengthy talk on the past and future of the Fable series. As part of his presentation, he revealed that a new Fable mobile phone app, known as Kingmaker, will shortly be available for fans to enjoy.
Kingmaker is Lionhead’s take on the check-in craze popularized by services such as Foursquare, Gowalla and GetGlue. But there’s a Fable twist on it this time around rather than being a simple vanity app.
Users of the app pledge loyalty to either the Rebels or the Royalists. Once they have done this, every geotagged “check in” to a location earns a point for their chosen side. The side with more points “controls” a particular location. And it sounds like the final result of this little experiment will have some sort of effect on Fable III when it finally releases. Molyneux was, however, tight-lipped on exactly what that effect might be.
The other use of the app is for players to earn in-game gold. Each check-in also earns players some gold. Molyneux was well aware of the gold-farming exploits used in Fable II Pub Games and promises that it will be much more difficult to game the system this time around.
It’s a nice idea, and it’s good to see a more “game-like” application of the geotagging phenomenon. Foursquare and Gowalla are fun, sure enough. Gowalla even partners with certain local businesses to offer discounts or special offers to those who check in. But some people desire further incentives to use apps like this. Linking the technology to a high-profile game is a smart move.
Molyneux was unsure of the app’s specific release date during his presentation. Since that time, Microsoft have revealed that the app will be released on Android and Symbian phones on October 4, with an iPhone version following on October 6.
That only gives you a few short weeks before Fable III’s October 29 release to pledge your allegiance. So take to the streets and fly the flag for your chosen side!
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