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Spore comic book will import your creatures, share to YouTube

July 22nd, 2008, 4:49 pm by

Spore, coming Sept. 7Letting Spore fans upload their own creations to the new “Spore Comic Book Creator” is absolutely part of the deal, Lucy Bradshaw, Spore’s executive producer, told me. She just missed my deadline for an earlier piece on the comic-book Spore, in comic book form, coming soonsoftware, developed here in OC by Planetwide Games.

“Absolutely, that is the direction we’re headed,” she confirmed. “The full intention is to allow people to upload their own Spore assets.”

The free comic-book tool will be available online on the same day the game launches, Sept. 7.  Users will be able to send video and images directly to the tool from the game. At Planetwide’s Mashon.com site, users pick comic-book templates and drag-and-drop art onto those templates. All images, including video, can be resized and rearranged to create a story line. When completed, users can click the ‘share’ button and send links to personal blogs and social-networking accounts.

“It’s a lot about continuing to engage players with creativity. With the Mashon Spore, we’ve got that,” Bradshaw said.

Spore’s launch is one of the most anticipated this year for a PC game. That’s because Spore is from Will Wright, the creator of SimCity and The Sims. Beside the personalized Spore comic books, EA is also integrating links to YouTube and T-shirt site Zazzle.com within the game so fans can upload videos and create Spore T-shirts without leaving the game.

“We really look at all of our partnerships as ways players can take the game outside of the game,” she said.

The software will be demonstrated at Planetwide’s booth at Comic-Con, which starts Thursday. If you’re at the show and a fan of Spore, catch Spore creator Will Wright’s speech in room 6CDEF at 11:30 a.m. on July 24.

More Spore on Game Rover:

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Make your own ‘Spore’ comic book

July 21st, 2008, 2:16 pm by

Spore, coming Sept. 7Aliso Viejo’s Planetwide Games, which started life as a game company, returns to the genre. Somewhat. The company, best known for its Comic Book Creator software, is teaming up with game publisher Electronic Arts  to let fans create comic books of the upcoming game, “Spore.”Planetwide Games’ Mashon site is offering Spore Comic Book Creator

Spore, a game from the creator of “The Sims,” goes on sale Sept. 7. Planetwide’s “Comic Book Creator for Spore” will be available on the same day.

But unlike past versions sold in stores, the software will be available as a web-based tool so there’s nothing to download and no fussing with computer formats. And it will be FREE!

Planetwide, which went through a major reorganization in the past year (read “Planetwide Games, new CEO, ‘not going to develop’ for desktop“), is now focusing on web products and social networking. A few months ago, it unveiled Mashon.com, where people can share their comics.

As part of the union, Mashon will be at Comic-Con on Thursday with guest Will Wright, the creator of Spore.

“We cut a deal last year with EA for Comic Book Creator. And then we asked, ‘Can we take Will to Comic-Con with us?’ They said, ‘Why? We’re a game, not a comic book.’ I got him the keynote speech,” said Mark Politi, Planetwide’s vice president of media relations.

Mashon, the new comic-book sharing site from PlanetwideThe comic-book software includes lots of characters, images and art from Spore, plus the usual comic-book fonts and page templates. Users drag-and-drop art on the virtual pages and even add video. Everything can be resized and rearranged.

When done, users can choose to share their creation with Planetwide’s Mashon community, and embed a link into a personal blog, Facebook page or other social-networking site.

The Spore version has a lot more features than when I experimented with it 2 years ago. Planetwide’s CEO Philippe Benoliel offered a personal demonstration when I stopped by Planetwide’s office in Aliso Viejo. (Click images below to get an idea of how the do-it-yourself comic book progresses.)

Planetwide Games’ Mashon site is offering Spore Comic Book Creator Planetwide Games’ Mashon site is offering Spore Comic Book Creator Planetwide Games’ Mashon site is offering Spore Comic Book Creator Planetwide Games’ Mashon site is offering Spore Comic Book Creator

Here are some PDF samples of the Spore Comic Book Creator in action: Read the rest of this entry »

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Mobile ‘Spore’ game launches — but only for AT&T users

July 18th, 2008, 3:06 pm by

‘Spore Origins’ for mobile usersThe game “Spore” goes on sale Sept. 7. But AT&T users can download the mobile version to their phones today!

“Spore Origins,” from publisher Electronic Arts, released the game exclusively to AT&T customers. But that exclusivity ends Sept. 4 when the mobile game becomes available for “the iPhone and additional mobile carriers”.

Some freebies:

How to get Spore Origins? On your phone, go to AT&T Mall and select ‘Shop Games.’ Or visit www.att.com/spore. Or text SPORE to 386.

If you haven’t heard about Spore, wake up! This game has been building hype since its creator Will Wright mentioned it at a gaming conference in 2005. Similar to The Sims, where you build your own home, Spore lets you build a universe, starting with a single-cell organism. It’s one of the most — if not the  most — anticipated PC games this year.

Past Spore-aforia:

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Spore for the Wii could happen, says one Maxis producer

July 17th, 2008, 6:39 pm by

E3 & Game Rover

John Crandall

Spore for the Wii is a possibility, says one of the game’s producers.

Though the upcoming life simulation game will not be making an appearance on Nintendo’s console any time soon, Thomas Vu, a producer at Spore’s development company Maxis, said it could happen.

“It’s something we have considered,” Vu said. “It’s one of the options on the table.”

“Nothing we want to announce though, ” Vu added.sporsewmacpftright.jpg

I talked to Vu momentarily at E3 while he was showcasing a version of the game at the Electronics Arts meeting room. When we spoke he was guiding a herd of creatures that looked like the dinosaur Yoshi from Super Mario Bros. to attack a neighboring tribe.

Spore is slated for release for PC and Nintendo DS this September.

More E3 Spore/Sims coverage:


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MySims coming for PC and 7 of your friends

July 17th, 2008, 4:08 pm by

My Sims for the PC coming Fall 2008Tamara “Gadgetress” ChuangWhen “MySims” for the Wii came out last year, creators said it was made especially for the Wii controller. Now, the same game is coming out for the computer. Go figure.

Publisher EA did add a few new features to the game where you design your own town and build your own furniture. Just like the original, you can unlock buildings and new areas.

But the coolest new feature is that you can “play” with up to 7 friends. Ed Chang, a product manager with The Sims, demonstrated the game for me using the good ol’ keyboard and mouse.

Watch the video of the “My Sims” for the PC demo at E3.

In the game, each player has a shared space, which can be accessed by your friends (invitation only). Just hitch a ride at the train station to get to the shared area. Once there, you’ll see a series of buildings, a central court, and access to other activities for friends. You can also give gifts of home-made furniture to friends directly in the game, or send them objects via e-mail. Read the rest of this entry »

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A visit with Spore’s Orange County developers at E3

July 16th, 2008, 2:01 pm by

E3 & Game RoverTamara “Gadgetress” ChuangOne of the most anticipated games this year, Spore, isn’t on E3′s show floor. But inside game publisher Electronic Arts’ private suite, Spore is playable, if you can get past Stephen Lim and Thomas Vu, who are from the game’s developer Maxis.

Lim (pictured on far right) and Vu (pictured on near right) were super enthused to talk about Spore, which seems like it’s been in the works for eons. Spore’s Stephem Lim, from MaxisSpore’s Thomas Vu led the team that created the planets in the game.Or maybe their excitement was from discovering that we were all from Orange County? Lim is from Fullerton and Vu from Anaheim. They both live in the Bay Area now, but their families are still here. No, they didn’t know each other when living in OC.

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Watch the E3 video interview with Spore developers Stephen Lim and Thomas Vu
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Vu is a producer for the game and was in charge of a team that created Spore planets.  To promote the game, they also got cool business cards with eight different creatures. Lim, the Development Director on Spore, showed me his (click image for larger view):

But back to the game plus 10 screen shots and a VIDEO! … Read the rest of this entry »

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