Advertising worked on me..

[draggar]

We were watching The Future is Wild the other night that ended up being a 3 hour commercial for the new game, Spore (think a new version of Simlife).

The game looks very interesting and I'd like to get it but there are two huge drawbacks:

1) $80 price tag for the galactic version
2) EQ only gives you 3 activations (if you need to reinstall it, you can only do so two more times and then they'll charge you $50 for a new license).

[LostMyMind]

You mean EA. :lol:

Yeah, EA has gone crazy on their "anti-pirating". Considering that the pirate community breaks EA's anti-pirating measures within a week or two (sometimes even faster), it's only annoying the legit folks.

I'm going to wait a long while. Any game that's been in development for several years going to have issues that will need several patches to fix.

[lordlundar]

1) I saw the contents of the galactic version. Not really worth the money. Go buy the regular for a lot less.

2) # activations then you have to contact them. It sucks, I know. But at least it's working better that the bioshock fiasco. And the cracks to bypass it are already out, as the game was released about a week prior internationally.

[draggar]

What does the galactic version give you that the standard doesn't? I haven't seen a side by side comparison yet.

[lordlundar]

The galactic version has (from amazon.ca)

* 'Making of Spore' DVD video
* 'How to Build a Better Being' DVD video by National Geographic Channel
* 'The Art of Spore' hardback mini-book
* Fold-out Spore poster
* Premium 100-page Galactic Handbook

That said, not really anything worth $35 to me.

[Lil Bunny]

OH Dh and I want this game so badly! I've had more fun surfing errr working hard while looking at the information during breaks. :angel:

[draggar]

The galactic version has (from amazon.ca)

* 'Making of Spore' DVD video
* 'How to Build a Better Being' DVD video by National Geographic Channel
* 'The Art of Spore' hardback mini-book
* Fold-out Spore poster
* Premium 100-page Galactic Handbook

That said, not really anything worth $35 to me.

Wow, and I thought it was a version that gave you the ability yo do space etc..

That is NOT worth it!!

Edit: I just ordered the plain version - $45 on Buy.com (as opposed to $50 every where else)

[Gravekeeper]

The DRM ( Thats the draconian copyright protection on it ) backlash is becoming a rather impressive shiatstorm. People are actively voting it down to 1 Star on Amazon because of the fiasco. its sitting at 815 1 star reviews.

Combine that with the fact its apparently not living up to any of the hype, doesn't seem to bode well. The reviews are pretty mixed. I was planning to pick it up, but I've changed my minded to be honest. I would have put up with EA's DRM if it was a really good game, like Mass Effect. But not for what Spore turned out to be.

Basically it looks like the plan EA is taking is the same they took with the Sims. The first game is just a basic framework and now they'll spend the next 5 years filling it out with expansions at $30 a pop. Not making that up either, EA has already stated they're planning on a series of expansions to money whore, er, add on to the game.

[Aethian]

It looked pretty good on the discovery channel a couple days ago.

[gbm85]

It used to be the case that getting a pirated version to work was so much trouble, I'd break down and buy a retail copy. Now the opposite is true, thanks to companies like EA.

[RayvenQ]

I got the Galactic Edition, for £5 more than the regular one does so I'm Happy.

The DRM that is in place, so far as I know is this

- Authenticates online once when you first install
- Authenticates any time you use the online features (Sporepedia)
- Limited to 3 Installs (Not quite clear on this but it's either removed OR it's limited to 3 installs IF your hardware drastically changes.

Not as bad as the DRM used to be, Will Wright really gunned for relaxed DRM for it.

Yes, it has been watered down, yes things have been removed and simplified but you know what, despite a couple of personal annoyances, it's still fun.

The scale of it REALLY impresses me, from being a creature so small that unless you jump, you can't reach fruit on a medium sized plant to, well, seeing the galaxy and making your entire planet seem as small as a single cell. There are billions of planets in the game, all explorable, all unique, some dead, some with life, some life advanced, some even in space.

Terraforming is also fantastic, watching a planet go from a dead, lifeless husk to a living planet able to support lots of life and eventually civilisations, or even the reverse, wiping all life off a planet to start again. And it doesn't just go from Living to dead, depending on HOW you terraform it, increase the atmosphere to get a sea and cloud raging planet, to increasing the temperature so much that it becomes essentially one big fireball.

It's a lot less than what was originally planned but still, it's very good.

Here is just ONE Planet being transformed from a raging inferno, to slightly being able to support life, to being able to support more and more life, beyong that into slowly cooling down and becoming an arctic wasteland. I didn't bother placing any life though, as i just wanted to show you the terraforming stages of this one planet. I didn't raise or lower the atmosphere so the water lvels star somewhat constant.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1226/spinus1bo4.gifhttp://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1702/spinus2fc6.gifhttp://img122.imageshack.us/img122/2736/spinus3ma6.gifhttp://img50.imageshack.us/img50/6800/spinus4ip8.gifhttp://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1527/spinus5gk6.gifhttp://img228.imageshack.us/img228/392/spinus6ad2.gifhttp://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5489/spinus7vz3.gif

[draggar]

It looked pretty good on the discovery channel a couple days ago.

That was an infomercial, do you really think they'd show it nor performing at the best performance possible? :)

[LostMyMind]

I would have put up with EA's DRM if it was a really good game, like Mass Effect. But not for what Spore turned out to be.
Well, for Mass Effect. The DRM was only in the install (which is real easy to break). If I have to. Which is fine with me. And I thank Bioware for taking out the DRM in the game itself.

I just hope EA learn that the only person making money on the DRM is the DRM companies. The pirates aren't going to buy the games.

[CaptainJaneway]

i have been holding off on spore and maybe sims 3 because of the securom fiasco.

of the several forums i have visited and there are a few dedicated to getting rid of securom.

There are so many issues with people's computers with securom borking the ability to burn cds and what not.

There was a video on you tube that some posted about a game he could ot install and had to find a crack. it was really interesting.

If i can find it i will post it.

I found some websites in regards to securom

http://reclaimyourgame.com/

http://securom.mustbedestroyed.org/phorum/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securom

Still looking for the video

I found the video (warning contains foul language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-uulRB1OmY&NR=1

[ImadeYouACookie]

I just have to link to this comic about Spore. I think it's hilarious :D

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20080627

[CaptainJaneway]

here are some links to reviews on amazon and google.

Amazon customers have rated it a 1 star.

http://www.amazon.com/Spore-Pc/dp/B000FKBCX4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1220943704&sr=8-1

Google review
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=spore+drm+review&meta=

[smileyeagle1021]

OMG, I love that game... I got it yesterday and already I'm at the galactic level, with 2 allies, 3 colonized planets, one with 2 colonies... oh yeah, and an ongoing war...

I'm not addicted, honest :blink:

[RayvenQ]

Same here and I only play it for 6 hours at a time...before taking a 2 minute break :lol:

I have 7 colonies, 4 planets in other solar systems, 6 allies and a wildlife reserve.

Any other CSers got it?If so I'll make a sporecast for us if you want.

[smileyeagle1021]

wait, how do you get a wildlife reserve?

[lordlundar]

wait, how do you get a wildlife reserve?

One of the purchasable items with a badge. It gives you the ability to create one on a planet so you can pace any creature that will survive on it.

Yes, I have it, I also know a couple of easter eggs too. PM if you want to know them.

[Lady Legira]

Got it, love it!

Not made it past tribal yet but I only got it the other day and that stuff called work keeps getting in the way!

DRM issue hasn't bothered me so far, I installed it fine and it works fine and I'm not planning any major upgrades. So it'll probably get altered before I do anything.

Yay to CS sporecast!

My Spore name is Legira if anyone wants my creations.