Spore

[CleBrownsfan]

I had a fun time playing Spore last night... I'm nearly done with the creature stage. If you all want to add me to your buddy list it's under Broth32

RendeR - I've killed off a couple of your user made critters last night

Have you guys d/l any mods yet?

[Shepp]

Where did you see it $20.00 off? I've been tempted to get it but I just can't justify spending $50.00 on it.

[CleBrownsfan]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

There is a patch out now for Spore. You can download it in game if you load the EA Download Manager first. I didn't download the Download Manager because you supposedly can download the patch without it. I would advise not downloading it quite yet though as some people are reporting problems with it. Like slow loading of certain graphics after not having a problem with them before the patch.

Patch Features:

Features
New Cheat: "evoadvantage". Enter this cheat when are starting a new Creature game to choose any creature from the Sporepedia. Start a new game with one of your more evolved creatures!

Display part statistics when you are in Build mode. Rollover any part and hold down the 'i' key.

New Cheat: "blocksmode". Turns creatures into their blocky representations.

More style filters. Open the cheat window and type: "stylefilter -microscope" or "stylefilter -norainbows" or "stylefilter -nextgen" to see the new styles

Added 70 new planet scripts with a low terraform score, especially of the "hot and high atmosphere" type

Graphics/Aesthetics

Animation improvements

Improved the planets fogging, blooming and lighting

Fixed animation issues with tool handling, hand walking and some of the more oddly shaped creatures

Tuning

Creature phase: Improved the pacing towards the end of the game, and increased the challenge in Normal and Hard modes.

Tribe phase: Increased the challenge in Normal and Hard difficulty modes.

Civilization phase: Increased the challenge in Normal and Hard difficulty modes.

Space phase: Made Empires in Easy and Normal modes demand reasonable amounts of money in exchange for peace and adjust the level of punishment if the player doesn't pay

Space phase: Made disasters less likely to occur in Easy and Normal modes and increased the time between each attack from the enemy empire when the player is at war

Miscellaneous

Creature phase: Improved the way posse members behave during threatening situations and fights.

Space phase: Made finding your home world and colonies easier in the Galactic view.

Tribe phase: Made it so that tribe members can travel on steep hills if they need to do so now, but their speed will be reduced a lot.

Fixed an issue with attacks not working on some bigger animals and larger animals not dying correctly

Fixed collect mission not completing correctly when all parts have been collected

Fixed problems with the "Rolling Thunder" and "Déjà Vu" achievements not being awarded as they should

Fixed floating parts not being deducted from the budget when loaded into creator

Fixed an issue with the rotation rings not resizing correctly when a part was resized and improved their look

Fixed an issue where the terraforming score of planet could differ when revisiting a solar system

Fixed the keyboard controls for zoom & pitch in the Colony Planner not working properly

Fixed a crash that could occur when watching an epic creature attack a city

Fixed some issues where the game would freeze when using the Creature

Tweaker tool or when capturing a planet in solar view

Fixed an issue where not all tribe members would obey the raid order when a large group was ordered to raid

Fixed an issue where banning a creation from one of your other saved games would black out the main menu

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Alan T

This happened when I installed it for my wife on her vista system too. You have to manually create the shortcut yourself. No problem on XP from what I saw.

On my wife's system, the shortcut was in the "Games" browser, like nearly every other game that understands Vista. Was it not there for you?

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

On my wife's system, the shortcut was in the "Games" browser, like nearly every other game that understands Vista. Was it not there for you?

Oh maybe it was then. I'm not familiar at all with Vista, don't use it myself on anything. Does the one in the game folder automatically run as administrator? I noticed on the one I created for her, it won't work right unless she chooses to do that.

[CleBrownsfan]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

On my wife's system, the shortcut was in the "Games" browser, like nearly every other game that understands Vista. Was it not there for you?

Crud - never even thought to look there... what was odd was I did a search for Spore on my C: and nothing came up... oh well, it's working now so that's all I care about. I was seeing people were having problems with the game freezing after the patch but I didn't have any...

[gstelmack]

The Game Explorer is one of Vista's new big features, so yes almost anything made in the past year or so is going to install its shortcuts there.

[sachmo71]

Where was it $20 off? I have people thinking about getting it, and $20 off would be nice for them.

I played space for about half and hour last night with the patch. Many less annoyances from pirates and such, which was nice. I was able to actually administer some of my colonies.

[sachmo71]

Buddies (please make a note if you have inappropriate content)

Bonegavel - unclematch
Sachmo71 - mrsachmo
RendeR - RendeR
Mustang - kerg01
Bearcat729 - bearcat
JeeberD - JeeberD
spleen1015 - mayser
CoffeeWarlord - coffeew
Thomkal - Thomkal
Yellow5 - Yellow5
Gstelmack - gstelmack
Galaril - galaril
Macroguru - Macroguru
CleBrownsfan - Broth32
Swaggs - Swaggs
mauboy1 - mmau1

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

The Game Explorer is one of Vista's new big features, so yes almost anything made in the past year or so is going to install its shortcuts there.

Interesting, it's not in the games shortcut in my program files but in the explorer, I just created my own shortcut because I couldn't find it. Thanks for the heads up.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

Interesting, it's not in the games shortcut in my program files but in the explorer, I just created my own shortcut because I couldn't find it. Thanks for the heads up.

It wouldn't be in Program Files. Do Start -> Games.

[RendeR]

I'm thrilled that there is a patch for some stuff out already, it bodes well for their response time to real issues =)

I love this game.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

And I noticed the price had been slashed by $20 since I bought it, too.

It's $30 now? Pray tell, where?

EDIT: Sorry, this question's been asked; didn't need to be asked again. (I didn't see the last page.)

Be nice to see where, though. I can't find it anywhere for $30. Maybe someone's gotten confused with the DS version?

[Groundhog]

Sorry guys, I'm in Australia where we get shafted on videogame prices. I bought the game for $110, and it's now available for $90, which is stil a damn sight more than $50US.

[Thomkal]

yikes Groundhog, move out of Australia

[Swaggs]

add Swaggs to your buddy list.

I haven't played much yet, but thought I'd give it a try.

[mauchow]

mmau1 is my user name.. although I'm not so sure any of you would want my creatures or buildings as they all suck.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by mauboy1

mmau1 is my user name.. although I'm not so sure any of you would want my creatures or buildings as they all suck.

I don't think any of them can suck, they might need tweaking or additional touches, but nothing sucks, everything is just unique =)

[sachmo71]

Buddies (please make a note if you have inappropriate content)

Bonegavel - unclematch
Sachmo71 - mrsachmo
RendeR - RendeR
Mustang - kerg01
Bearcat729 - bearcat
JeeberD - JeeberD
spleen1015 - mayser
CoffeeWarlord - coffeew
Thomkal - Thomkal
Yellow5 - Yellow5
Gstelmack - gstelmack
Galaril - galaril
Macroguru - Macroguru
CleBrownsfan - Broth32
Swaggs - Swaggs
mauboy1 - mmau1

[RendeR]

I need to add a ew more of you, I'm tiring of slaughtering gstelmack, Jeeber, Sachmo, and Bonegavel's critters Spleen's one monster actually gave me fits in the tribal stage. Damn things just wouldn't....die

[sachmo71]

LOL...I never thought about making a creature to make the game harder. Even my military aircraft are weak, but i enjoy the way they look!

[mauchow]

They could have at least called the game Space Rangers 1.5+ or something. The + being that you get to create your little character from the beginning...

Space Rangers 2 much more with the game than Spore did. Spore mimicked a lot of what SR2 did but made it a lot more ... repetitive. Eco-disasters get annoying real fast... but at least I finally figured out what to do every time that happens. I let the planet go to hell until it's time to 'refresh' with animals again. *shrug*

Overall, I've enjoyed the game very much and I still have not 'beat' the game. I have re-started the game multiple times at multiple stages. The most recent replay I start from cell organism and played all the way through where I'm at now.. nearly finished with Space.. or at least the bar is almost full. I suppose I should be looking for the Gork by now.

Anyhow... off to play some more.

[RendeR]

Well I must say that I got a little worried when so many people started dissing the game. I've been playing the game almost constantly. I'm finding the tiny nuances of a little change here and there shaping the entire outcome quite intriguing.

Anyone else noticed that every time you get a planet to the space stage a new "new game" planet opens up? I've got like 12 planets available every time i start the game now when there were only 7 the first time I started things.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Well I must say that I got a little worried when so many people started dissing the game. I've been playing the game almost constantly. I'm finding the tiny nuances of a little change here and there shaping the entire outcome quite intriguing.

Anyone else noticed that every time you get a planet to the space stage a new "new game" planet opens up? I've got like 12 planets available every time i start the game now when there were only 7 the first time I started things.

Didn't notice that, either.
I'm also playing the game constantly, but I can definitely see the warts that turn people off.

[Critch]

Finally got a reply from support about why I can't register the game, apparently my code has already been used by somebody else. Since I bought the game sealed from an EB Gamestop on the day it was released, they're either reusing reg codes, or some warez kiddie stumbled on my code with a keygen. From what I've been reading, this is a pretty common problem, 500k warez copies and keygens.

EA's support is basically "not our problem, go away". Friggin annoying.

[Shepp]

Just saw this article over at Gamespot:

hxxp://www.gamespot.com/news/6198136.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;4

Its a shame that the regular consumer is the real loser. No matter what kind of copy protection is placed on a piece of software, some hacker somewhere is going to crack it.

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Critch

Finally got a reply from support about why I can't register the game, apparently my code has already been used by somebody else. Since I bought the game sealed from an EB Gamestop on the day it was released, they're either reusing reg codes, or some warez kiddie stumbled on my code with a keygen. From what I've been reading, this is a pretty common problem, 500k warez copies and keygens.

EA's support is basically "not our problem, go away". Friggin annoying.

so too bad for your $50?

[Critch]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

so too bad for your $50?

I have to take up my complaint with the retailer now, so I've got a support log thing open with Gamestop now.

[Surtt]

Originally Posted by Critch

Finally got a reply from support about why I can't register the game, apparently my code has already been used by somebody else. Since I bought the game sealed from an EB Gamestop on the day it was released, they're either reusing reg codes, or some warez kiddie stumbled on my code with a keygen. From what I've been reading, this is a pretty common problem, 500k warez copies and keygens.

EA's support is basically "not our problem, go away". Friggin annoying.

Maybe you need to download the keygen...
< /sarcasm>

[dbd1963]

Originally Posted by Critch

I have to take up my complaint with the retailer now, so I've got a support log thing open with Gamestop now.

They are asking either you or the retailer to pay for the stolen game. Seems kind of shitty and I feel your pain. I hate this stuff. It makes me think about just not buying any more games.

Speaking philosophically, it's a tough question now that I think about it. If you buy a car and it is stolen before it can be delivered to you -- who is on the hook? The dealer seems like the obvious choice. But this is no perfect analogy. The root cause is the software industry's inability to come up with a way to protect their product. I'm sure the key wasn't stolen from the store you bought the game at. It was stolen somewhere in cyberspace. It's a problem inherent to the industry, but the industry wants to pass the cost along down the line in a way that isn't fair. It'd be fairer (though way sucky) to spread the cost out with a price rise.

Anyway, I bought Spore and I'm not loving it. My kids thought building creatures was a riot though. To me, the game is too repetitive and not very rewarding.

If you are looking for kid-friendly downloads, you can check out dbd1963. We made about two dozen creatures.

[Fidatelo]

Why can't EA just cancel your original (stolen) key, gen you a new one, and give it to you over the phone? Problem solved, zero cost to anyone, right?

[Mustang]

Turn Gamestop into the police for selling stolen goods.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Why can't EA just cancel your original (stolen) key, gen you a new one, and give it to you over the phone? Problem solved, zero cost to anyone, right?

They have to make sure he's got the legal copy. Some companies will have you send in the old copy and they'll send you a new one with a new key. That handles the verification.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

They have to make sure he's got the legal copy. Some companies will have you send in the old copy and they'll send you a new one with a new key. That handles the verification.

I would imagine this is how Gamestop will handle it. I don't know if they will have to do any back-end dealing with EA, but functionally this isn't much different than a defective disc.

[Bonegavel]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Why can't EA just cancel your original (stolen) key, gen you a new one, and give it to you over the phone? Problem solved, zero cost to anyone, right?

Supposed I'm over at your house, grab your key and call them...

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

Supposed I'm over at your house, grab your key and call them...

If you were at someone's house and wanted to do something malicious to them, there are endless numbers of things I can think of that would be worse than canceling a game code.

[Bonegavel]

Originally Posted by Alan T

If you were at someone's house and wanted to do something malicious to them, there are endless numbers of things I can think of that would be worse than canceling a game code.

understood, but this is what the above idea could easily lead to.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

Supposed I'm over at your house, grab your key and call them...

My mom read this over my shoulder and says you're not allowed over any more.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Why can't EA just cancel your original (stolen) key, gen you a new one, and give it to you over the phone? Problem solved, zero cost to anyone, right?

That's kind of what I expected them to do, I even sent them a handy photo of my reg code on the back of the manual so they knew I really have it.

Seems now that I have to return it to the store that I bought it from and they "should" be able to exchange it for me. We'll see if that works.

I also plan on signing up the email address that registered my code for lots of spam and gay porn. I know it's probably a free email address that nobody uses, but it will make me feel better.

[Fidatelo]

I'm not sure how sifting through gay porn sites in order to spite someone using a phantom email account is going to make you feel better, but whatever floats your boat! :P

[spleen1015]

This is pretty damn cool.

hxxp://kotaku.com/5055113/holy-crap-spore-created-starcraft-amazes-us

[sachmo71]

who's still playing? im hoping to get my replacement hard drive this week and get back to the game. the kids and i really miss it.

[Marc Vaughan]

My kids are playing and loving it ...

I'm unfortunately busy working on FMH PSP so haven't allowed myself near it

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good Lord, they're already bringing out a $20 expansion pack in November?

Hooked on Spore - Ultimate Spore Fansite

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Good Lord, they're already bringing out a $20 expansion pack in November?

Hooked on Spore - Ultimate Spore Fansite

yeah, hoping it's more than a few new parts.

[RendeR]

I'm still playing off and on. Been playing some FOF again too so my time has been split between that and woking on my hobbies as well.

[RendeR]

And yeah, if its just a pile of parts there had better be about a thousand of them for 20 bucks.

This was my one fear, that they really dumbed the game itself down because they realized about 1/3 of the way through development that this was the single biggest cash cow they'd ever created when it comes to expansions and add ons.

great game, god awful company.

[Anthony]

if i had Spore i wouldn't buy that expansion. its so close to the release of the original that they could've easily have included it with the vanilla version. someone at some point made a conscious decision to not include whatever is in that expansion. we're not even talking 6-8 months after the initial release. don't feed the animals.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by RendeR

And yeah, if its just a pile of parts there had better be about a thousand of them for 20 bucks.

This was my one fear, that they really dumbed the game itself down because they realized about 1/3 of the way through development that this was the single biggest cash cow they'd ever created when it comes to expansions and add ons.

great game, god awful company.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Anthony

if i had Spore i wouldn't buy that expansion. its so close to the release of the original that they could've easily have included it with the vanilla version. someone at some point made a conscious decision to not include whatever is in that expansion. we're not even talking 6-8 months after the initial release. don't feed the animals.

Shockingly, for once I agree with you completely.