MS Taps Player Community

Months before the release of its role-playing game Fable, Microsoft announced it would release Web developer tools that allow players to create fan pages complete with buttons, background tiles, screenshots, logos and forum avatars.

Online games developers understand that the backbone of any successful adventure is the fan community. The initial stories may draw people, but it's the interpersonal relations that keep them paying each month so.

That is even more important with this game. Microsoft is attempting to build an emotional attachment between the actual game player and the digital avatar they've created, making the personalized Web site even more critical. The Fable characters will change in appearance, depending on what happens over time. Much like real humans, they will age, grow wiser and evolve, depending on the actions.

The hope, I'm assuming, is to create two strong reasons for people to stay (and pay).

Of course, it's ironic that this announcement comes one day after the Boston Globe column discussing the negative impact of players creating modified versions of games and game consoles.