I like Lionhead studios, but I've come to recognize quite plainly that Molyneux lets his ambition and desires get the best of him (and he's got incredibly loose lips) and nothing he says about a game till it's viewable in a demo is guaranteed to be in the end product. What about Will Wright though? Has anyone followed the development of Sims, Sims2 or Simcity4 before it was released? Or, followed it enough to know whether Wright is of the habit of mentioning 'hopeful inclusions' or if he only mentions 'concrete features'?
The reason I ask is because there has been a great deal of speculation (based on a lack of any information what-so-ever) about underwater features and flying creatures. If Will is good for his word then I think we can be assured that flying creatures are in and so are underwater civilizations, no matter how many previews, interviews or demos go by without seeing them.
I followed all three, and Black and White and Black and White 2 very very closely. As far as I remember the only thing left out was WEather what was mentioned. The much larger problem is community. Idle speculation or over analysis of screenshots causes most of Will Wright's problems.
The Sims 2 was full of it. I remember there was a concept art picture that showed a woman holding food and a telephone at the same time. Regardless with the fact this was concept art it was quickly accepted by many to be a game feature. Although it was never announced by Will Wright or anyone else. In the end they never had the ability to do that, people were angry, but it was simply their own fault.
Another cause, like I said is idle speculation. It was announced in the Sims 2 that you could have twins. It was then wildly assumed by many members of the communty (at least at the board I went to) that the ability to have twins = the ability to have triplets or quadruplets. No one at EA announced this, it just became an accepted feature/
And while Mr. Molyneaux does indeed run at the mouth, one cannot blame him for everything. Some examples from B&W1 are.. A screenshot of a red, evil landscape. This led people to assume the more evil you became, the landscape in your area of control would reflect that. In reality the red landscape in that picture was from a single mission where the entire island was evil and red. Your alignment did not change the landscape at all.
Another example is when it was announced that snow would accumulate. Now I believe this feature was in it. But the fans took that simple statement much farther. If snow could accumulate then you could collect it and roll it up to make a snowball. If you were playing multiplayer and got bored you could have a snowball fight, or build a snowman. Obviously you can do neither but it's another example of imaginations of fans going into overdrive.
This is the main reason I avoid this board, there are too many wild theories and uncomfirmed things most people simply accept as being true. I'm going to avoid getting caught up in it as best I can. However I do pop my head in hear to try and get others to realize what they may be doing.
