Ea And Maxis To Ship Spore In September

[chrono]

Well if it truly is a sandbox/SIM hybrid and doesn't have anything along the lines of a plot or MP it's gonna flop per hard because SIMS had personal appeal because the SIMS looked human and not alien. Toss in any "Internet to play requirement" and that further lowers any appeal for me to buy it.

[BDelacroix]

Spore is hard to put into a category. It is different from just about everything. Sandbox is the best label one may be able to place on it except that it is one hell of a sand box.

[chrono]

The Basics

Q: What does “massively single” player mean?
A: Spore is the best of both worlds. It has some of the best features of online multiplayer games. You can share all your creations with people round the world, and check out everything they are making. AI-controlled copies of their creatures and vehicles will populate your game, keeping it fun and fresh. At the same time, you are not playing directly with other people so no-one can come into your personal world and destroy it.

Q: Won’t my planet become over-crowded with everyone’s creatures being downloaded into my world?
A: Your game will only download as many creatures, buildings, and vehicles as it needs to build a great experience for you. If you have created a list of buddies, their creations will be prioritized when the game needs to download new things. This system keeps your game fresh, and makes sure there are always lots of cool new things to encounter as you explore the universe of Spore.

Q: Can I make creatures that live underwater or in trees?
A: In Spore’s Cell phase your tiny creature will grow in its underwater world. The remainder of the game takes place on land, where you can grow your humble little beast into a world dominating species.

Versions, Dates, Costs, Ratings

Q: Will the Mac and PC versions share the same “Sporepedia” of creatures?
A: Yes. You’ll be able to share and explore the great creations that your friends with both Macs and PCs make.
Q: Why aren’t there more details about the Wii version?
A: Will mentioned in an article that we are working on a Wii version, but that version is in the early proto-typing phase. It will not be released at the same time as the PC and Mac versions.

Tech Questions

Q: Am I going to need a top-of-the line new computer to be able to play Spore?
A: While Spore is offers a unique gameplay experience, our team is working hard to make sure Spore will be accessible to as broad an audience as possible.
Spore Creatures

Q: How were you able to fit all of Spore into the DS version?
A: Spore Creatures on the Nintendo DS is a fully custom sku developed specifically for the DS platform, featuring a unique storyline and art style optimized for that platform. It focuses on guiding and evolving your creature in interactions with others, collecting parts, and evolving your creature in the Creature Editor.

Q: Can I trade creatures between the DS and PC versions?
A: No. The DS and PC games are tailored quite differently, for the best game experience on each platform.

Well that clears up some things. But not nearly as much as I'd like... :\ Seeing this on the DS will be interesting, though I'd rather see this on the Wii far far more!!

[Unimatrix]

Any tried out the free creature creator tool from the spore site?

You can download the full version for a price but the trial gives you an idea of how awesome it is with 25% of the content.

[Martocticvs]

Has anyone heard anything about the DRM issues over this game? I keep seeing reports about there being a 3 install limit (ie you can install it a maximum of three times before it won't activate anymore)... if so... well, I might want to think again

[Annihilator]

Spore is on my "to visit" list on the Games Convention i will try to get some info on that.

but why do you bother? that kind of DRM is pretty common today. for example Bioshock.

[chrono]

It's a scheme that will drive away some buyers if true and will also prevent later purchase as well. And to be honest a simple crash or yearly OS reload can cost you access to the game. It's flat out silly really as there are better ways.

[Martocticvs]

Several of my favourite games I have installed more than 3 times over the years, due to OS reinstalls usually. If there is some limitation on that then I don't see why I would want to buy it? I don't want to rent it after all I think aggressive DRM such as that comes extremely close to contravening the fundamental rights of a consumer anyway (if not breaching them completely), and they will only serve to put off legitimate users - those who want it for free will get it for free no matter what developers come up with. There's not a chance in hell that I will allow Sony's SecuROM shizer on my system,

[Viper]

Well, Mass Effect has something like that, but it´s actually that you can´t install the game on 3 different hardware specs...but from what I gather, if you ask for more, you can get it provided you explain the situation.

[chrono]

That's fairly ridiculous and invasive. Why should a consumer be required to tell anyone why! It's not a lease where the seller has a legal right to exercise continuing control over the leased product.

But it's the software company's fault "doing business as usual" and not using common sense to move outside of the medium's that are causing the theft to be "easy"! Moron's, all of them!