Will Spore Give EA a Boost?

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The higher demarcation areas have extreme arts, which add more nature.

bmw 328i trip computer of AL 8:27PM May 19, 2010

Well seeing as how i am a user of Spore, I dont think that selling the game will be a problem seeing as how they already have over 1,600,000 users.

Nick of MA 7:55AM September 09, 2008

I agree more with the first comment from ikenstein of LA, this game is a let down.
I'm a hardcore gamer and have written many reviews and even worked for Sony reviewing and betatesting games.
I was hearing about this game since about 2004-5 and have been drooling just waiting the years for it to come out.
I was disappointed. Based on all of the other games from Will Wright and Co., I was expecting an deep and complex game that would have had at least 30hrs or more of game play. Sadly, one can get a species to Space Traveling level in a mere 4-6 hrs (10 if you've never used a computer, never played a game in your life, if you have a low IQ, or are REALLY taking your time). The only demographic that this game is fit for is 6-12 year old kids.
The game feels more like it's just a set of mini games where you stack up points and then move on to the next game stage. Worse, all time and effort and planning you put into your creature (adaptations, defensive horns, feathers for mating, etc.) seem to have absolutely NO bearing on the next stage--meaning all you're doing is cosmetic stuff with no function or purpose and you're just playing the mini games (stages) for points to move on to the next mini game. Its quite sad.
For a game that had so much potential, it feels like it was neutered and dumbed-down.
I was also very disappointed in EA's choice to include that viral DRM garbage. It's not worth $50 to RENT--and it is renting--since one only gets 3 installs. EVER. This means that if you have multiple computers, want to lend it to your brother when you're done, upgrade your hardware, format your computer, upgrade your OS, or ANY OTHER COMMON THING YOU DO WITH A COMPUTER--you are completely screwed. Worse yet, you have to call (not toll free) EA's nightmarish tech support and explain that you're not a pirate, that you have legitimate reasons for re-installing, and then provide proof of purchase just to get one more install license...if your appeal passes.
The DRM gets even worse. It embeds itself in the root of your OS, meaning even after you uninstall the game when you're done, the DRM is STILL THERE. Forever sucking up your resources and processor until you finally reformat your whole computer.
I feel like I've been punished by EA for purchasing their game. It feels like they hate me and think that I'm some dirty pirate for buying their game. Excuse me, I meant RENTING their game, because you certainly only get to use for a limited time.
But it's ok, I now found out a way around all this-- I can just find a pirate version with the DRM removed and never have to pay EA a cent.
I like buying my games so I dont have to deal with pirate stuff, so that I can get tech support, so I can get legit updates and patches, and all the other reasons that its nice to own a legit copy. But this is a bad joke at the purchaser's expense.
EA will totally lose on this for punishing their paying customers. They are forcing people to pirate this mediocre game. Shame on EA

cykosisNorth of MI 4:18AM September 09, 2008

I have to disagree with the previous poster. My husband and I purchased Spore last night and have really enjoyed it so far. I like how the different decisions you make affect the game later on. We only have one creature so far (almost to tribal stage) but expect it to continue to get better. I don't think this is a game for dumb people but I do think it is intuitive enough for all levels of players. It s was so good last night that we played right trhough dinner and ended up going to bed late.

Andrea of AZ 6:40PM September 08, 2008

boy, did they ever get this wrong. here's a tip - if you're going to invest fifty million bucks make sure you give the customer what they want.
people who play sim games are not dumb. if you want to appeal to dumb people you make a wrestling game, or a football game. yet will wright and co deliberatly dumbed this game down, so that it now does not appeal to the smart people who play sim games. nor does it appeal to dumb people who did not like sim games.
next up, if your customers do not want invasive drm do not force it on them. the makers of this year's best selling game, sins of a solar empire, could have told you that.
fingers crossed this fiasco will force ea will to sell some popular brands so that some less monolithic, more customer focused businesses can turn them around.

ikenstein of LA 2:20PM September 08, 2008