Bryan Henderson is going to have to watch his back.
Earlier this week, the 18-year-old incoming university freshman from Scotland became the lucky winner of game designer Peter Molyneux's Curiosity cube contest. Henderson's reward: He'll be a god ruling over all other players of the upcoming "god simulation" game called Godus.
But Molyneux says there's a catch. "His reign will last a certain period of time ... and then he can be overthrown," he told Wired via phone.
When he announced that Henderson was the player who clicked the final cube in his Curiosity game over the weekend, Molyneux said that as a reward for playing a virtual deity in Godus, Henderson will receive a "significant" percentage of the game's profits. But, the game designer told Wired, other players will be able to usurp Henderson's heavenly throne – and his salary.
Will the fear of being overthrown make Bryan Henderson a just and benevolent ruler?
"He could have turned out to be 12 years old. That would've been philosophically interesting." - Peter MolyneuxSince winning the Curiosity contest, Henderson has become something of an internet celebrity. He's already doled out high-profile interviews. His Twitter account has gained well over a thousand followers – and a parody account modeled after "Peter Molydeux."
At least one person has sent a gift to the 22Cans offices to be delivered to Henderson. Yes: The faithful are already giving him offerings in an effort to win his favor.
Although 22Cans isn't yet revealing exactly what in-game powers Godus' god(s) will have, it assures concerned fans that there will be limits.
"He can't kick everyone in the world," Molyneux says. "He can't suddenly decide that everyone's games get deleted. These [powers] are within the confines of game balancing. Some of them are moral decisions, some may be territorial decisions."
Molyneux, a man with an infamous reputation for big promises and under-delivery, seems to be trying to keep his excitement under control this time.
"Godus is definitely, by a long, long way, the..." Molyneux began, then caught himself, trailing off.
"Well," he continued, "I'm not going to say it's the best game I've worked on ... but it feels like the most complete game I've worked on. I love playing it, and maybe other people will love playing it."
Mostly, Molyneux is relieved that Henderson is the person that won the Curiosity contest.
"He could have turned out to be someone who couldn't speak English," Molyneux says. "He could have turned out to be 12 years old. That would've been philosophically interesting, I think."
Bryan Henderson told Wired via email that any potential heretics conspiring against him will have to come prepared.
"If anyone tries to overthrow me," he says, "they'll have to give me everything they've got."
