List of Lionhead Studios games

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Lionhead Studios was a British video game developer located in Guildford, England. It was founded in July 1997 by Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance, and Steve Jackson, following their departure from Bullfrog Productions, which Molyneux had co-founded in 1987. In 2001 it released its first title, the real-time strategy game Black & White; over the next year it launched deals with independent studios Big Blue Box Studios and Intrepid Computer Entertainment, who were developing Fable and B.C., respectively, to serve as a producer for their games. In 2002, after helping them sign publishing deals with Microsoft Game Studios, Lionhead purchased the companies outright, though they continued as satellite studios working on their games. After the launch and success of the action role-playing game Fable in 2004, however, at the urging of Microsoft B.C. was cancelled and Intrepid shut down, and Unity, a collaboration between Lionhead Studios and Llamasoft, was also cancelled. The following year Lionhead released the games they had been developing at their main studio, Black & White 2 and business simulation game The Movies, neither of which were as successful as the company's first two titles. Lionhead had financial difficulties as a result, and was purchased by Microsoft Game Studios in 2006.[1]

Over the next decade, Lionhead only released titles in the Fable series; although several other projects were worked on, such as Project Dimitri, Survivors, and Project Milo, sometimes for years, none turned into published products.[1] Lionhead released five titles in the series between 2008 and 2012, including action role-playing games, a beat 'em up game, and a tie-in minigame pack. Molyneux, the face of the company, left in 2012, before the company's final two games were released that year. In 2016, with no further titles finished, the studio was shut down by Microsoft, cancelling its in-progress projects Fable Fortune and Fable Legends, the latter while in closed beta.[1] During its lifetime Lionhead Studios released nine games, primarily for Microsoft Windows personal computers and Xbox consoles, and worked on at least ten other titles which were cancelled in various stages of development.

Games[edit]

Games developed by Lionhead Studios
Title Details

Original release date:
27 March 2001[2][3]
Release years by system:
2001 – Windows[3]
2002 – MacOS[4]
Notes:

Original release date:
14 September 2004[2]
Release years by system:
2004 – Xbox[2]
2005 – Windows (The Lost Chapters)[10]
2008 – MacOS (The Lost Chapters)[11]
2014 – Xbox 360 (Anniversary)[12]
Notes:
  • Action role-playing game
  • Published by Microsoft Game Studios[2]
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Expanded and re-released as Fable: The Lost Chapters on Xbox, Windows (2005) and MacOS (2008)[13]
  • Remade as Fable Anniversary on Windows and Xbox 360 (2014), including The Lost Chapters[12]
  • Fable Anniversary included in Fable Trilogy compilation release (2014, Xbox 360)[14]

Original release date:
3 October 2005[15]
Release years by system:
2005 – Windows[15]
2009 – MacOS[16]
Notes:
  • Real-time strategy game
  • Published by Electronic Arts[15]
  • Part of the Black & White series
  • Sequel to Black & White
  • An expansion pack, Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods (2006), developed by Lionhead Studios and published by Electronic Arts[17]

Original release date:
8 November 2005[2][18]
Release years by system:
2005 – Windows[18]
2006 – MacOS[19]
Notes:

Original release date:
13 August 2008[22]
Release years by system:
2008 – Xbox 360[22]
Notes:
  • Pub games
  • Developed by Carbonated Games and Lionhead Studios
  • Published by Microsoft Game Studios[23]
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Tie-in game to Fable II, featuring three minigames from that game[23]

Original release date:
21 October 2008[23]
Release years by system:
2008 – Xbox 360[23]
Notes:
  • Action role-playing game
  • Published by Microsoft Game Studios[23]
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Sequel to Fable
  • A port for Windows was cancelled[24]
  • Two pieces of downloadable content (DLC) released, "Knothole Island" and "See the Future"; base game and DLC included in Fable II: Game of the Year Edition (2009), also released as Fable II (2009) in the "Platinum Hits" line[25]
  • Included in Fable Trilogy compilation release (2014, Xbox 360)[14]

Original release date:
26 October 2010[26]
Release years by system:
2010 – Xbox 360[26]
2011 – Windows[27]
Notes:
  • Action role-playing game
  • Published by Microsoft Game Studios[26]
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Sequel to Fable II
  • Two expansion DLCs released, "Understone Quest Pack" and "Traitor's Keep"; additional DLC content also released[28][29]
  • Tie-in game Fable: Coin Golf (2011) for Windows Phone 7 developed by Ideaworks Game Studio and published by Microsoft Game Studios[30]
  • Included in Fable Trilogy compilation release (2014, Xbox 360)[14]

Original release date:
2 May 2012[31]
Release years by system:
2012 – Xbox 360[31]
Notes:

Original release date:
9 October 2012[33]
Release years by system:
2012 – Xbox 360
Notes:
  • Action role-playing game
  • Published by Microsoft Studios[33]
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Sequel to Fable III

Cancelled[edit]

Cancelled games developed by Lionhead Studios
Title Details
Black & White: Titan

Cancellation date:
2002[34]
Proposed system release:
Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2[35][34]
Notes:
  • Announced in 2001, last update in 2002; never officially cancelled[36][37]
  • Part of the Black & White series

Cancellation date:
22 October 2004[38]
Proposed system release:
Xbox[38]
Notes:
  • Action-adventure game
  • Under development by Intrepid Computer Entertainment prior to its purchase by Lionhead[1]
Untitled B.C. sequel

Cancellation date:
22 October 2004[39]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
  • Cancelled alongside B.C.[39]

Cancellation date:
10 December 2004[40]
Proposed system release:
GameCube[40]
Notes:
The Room

Cancellation date:
2005[41]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
Project Dimitri

Cancellation date:
2006[42]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
  • Game iterated through several concepts under the same project name starting in 2001[42]
  • Later inspired Project Milo[42]
Survivors

Cancellation date:
2007[42]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
Justice and Survivor

Cancellation date:
2009[43]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
  • Game cancelled while in concept stage[43]

Cancellation date:
September 2010[42]
Proposed system release:
Xbox 360[44]
Notes:
InkQuest

Cancellation date:
24 September 2014[45]
Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
  • Announced as a cancelled game by internal incubation group[45]

Cancellation date:
7 March 2016[1]
Proposed system release:
Windows, Xbox One[1]
Notes:
  • Cooperative action role-playing game
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Project cancelled when Lionhead Studios shut down while in closed beta[1]

Cancellation date:
7 March 2016[1][46]
Proposed system release:
Windows, Xbox One[46]
Notes:
  • Digital collectible card game
  • Part of the Fable series
  • Project cancelled when Lionhead Studios shut down[46]
  • Developers of the game founded Flaming Fowl Studios to complete it; was finished with assistance by Mediatonic and released on 22 February 2018[46][47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Yin-Poole, Wesley (13 May 2019). "Lionhead: The inside story". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Developer Profile Lionhead Studios". GamesTM. No. 80. Imagine Publishing. February 2009. p. 166. ISSN 1478-5889.
  3. ^ a b c "Black & White". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. ^ Cohen, Peter (28 January 2002). "Apple spells it out for gamers in Black & White". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (17 May 2006). "Black & White development update". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  6. ^ "In The Chair With Peter Molyneux". Retro Gamer. No. 71. Imagine Publishing. November 2009. pp. 82–89. ISSN 1742-3155.
  7. ^ McDonald, Thomas L. (May 2002). "Black & White: Creature Isle". Computer Gaming World. No. 214. Ziff Davis. p. 89.
  8. ^ Deci, T. J. "Black & White Deluxe". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  9. ^ Deci, T. J. "Black & White: Platinum Pack". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  10. ^ Deci, T. J. "Fable: The Lost Chapters". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  11. ^ Deci, T. J. "Fable: The Lost Chapters". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Fable Anniversary". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Fable: The Lost Chapters". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Matulef, Jeffrey (18 January 2014). "Fable Trilogy confirmed for February". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "Black & White 2". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  16. ^ Holt, Chris (23 February 2009). "Review: Black and White 2". Macworld. International Data Group. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  18. ^ a b c d "The Movies". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  19. ^ Deci, T. J. "The Movies". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  20. ^ "The Movies: Stunts & Effects - IGN". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  21. ^ "The Movies: Superstar Edition". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  22. ^ a b Sutyak, Jonathan. "Fable II Pub Games [Xbox Live Arcade]". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d e Marriott, Scott Alan. "Fable II". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  24. ^ Chalk, Andy (16 May 2011). "Fable II on PC: Not Gonna Happen". The Escapist. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  25. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Fable II [Platinum Hits]". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  26. ^ a b c Deci, T. J. "Fable III". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  27. ^ Deci, T. J. "Fable III". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  28. ^ Rovi Games. "Fable III Understone Quest Pack". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  29. ^ Scoville, Max (25 February 2011). "Hands-on: Fable III: Traitor's Keep DLC". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  30. ^ Andrew, Keith (7 April 2011). "Fable: Coin Golf". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  31. ^ a b c "Fable Heroes". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Interview with Gary Carr on Fable: The Journey and why Kinect non-believers will change their tune". New York Post. News Corp. 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  33. ^ a b Brown, Cristopher. "Fable: The Journey". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Black & White: Titan". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Black & White: Next Generation". IGN. j2 Global. 2 December 2002. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  36. ^ "Black & White: Next Generation for GCN". IGN. j2 Global. 2 December 2002. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  37. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (1 February 2007). "Missing in Action: The Lost Games of Xbox". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Changes for B.C." Intrepid Games. Lionhead Studios. 22 November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  39. ^ a b Goldstein, Hilary (1 February 2007). "B.C. goes MIA". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  40. ^ a b c Feldman, Curt (10 December 2004). "Unity canned by Lionhead, Llamasoft". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  41. ^ a b c d Yarwood, Jack (14 February 2023). "Revealing The Secrets Of 'The Room', Lionhead's Answer To Portal". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  42. ^ a b c d e f Leone, Matt (21 March 2013). "How Milo met Kate: The story behind Lionhead's virtual boy". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Peter Molyneux Interview – Lionhead's Canceled Projects". YouTube. IGN. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  44. ^ a b Donlan, Christian (9 February 2014). "The lost worlds of Lionhead and Bullfrog". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  45. ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (24 September 2014). "Fable developer Lionhead reveals cancelled game InkQuest". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  46. ^ a b c d Yin-Poole, Wesley (31 May 2016). "Former Lionhead devs take Hearthstone-style Fable Fortune to Kickstarter". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  47. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (19 February 2018). "Ex-Lionhead devs' collectible card game Fable Fortune leaves Early Access this week". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

External links[edit]