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Play with Spore before (most) everyone else

August 29th, 2008, 10:59 am by

Spore, coming Sept. 7Get ready for “Spore!”

The game launches next week but if you preorder it today, says publisher Electronic Arts, you can preload the game so you’ll be among the first to play the game when it goes on sale Sept. 7 in the United States.

The game, from the geniuses behind “The Sims,” is an other-worldly adventure. Similar to “The Sims,” Spore requires players to build and create. But instead of a house or city, Spore is all about creating a universe, starting in the primordial ooze with a single-cell organism.

The preorder deal is for gamers who buy the PC version of Spore from the EA store, at eastore.ea.com. Mac users will be able to start their download at gametreeonline.com. But the special “Galactic edition” will only be available as a box in stores.

After pre-ordering the game, Spore will appear in the EA Download Manager and players will be able to download 99 percent of the game to the computer, with the remainder of the game available for download on Sept. 7. At that point, it will take 30 to 60 minutes to install the rest of the game.

Also on Sept. 7, the make-your-own Spore comic-book launches, as previously mentioned here on Game Rover. The comic book software will be available online at Mashon.com, a site from Aliso Viejo’s Planetwide Media.

Users will be able to send video and images directly to the tool from the game. At Mashon, 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.

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,” said Lucy Bradshaw, Spore’s executive producer.

Spore will also be available on the Nintendo DS and mobile phones.

More Spore on GAME ROVER:

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Newsguy777′s top five games of E3

July 27th, 2008, 10:12 pm by

E3 & Game Rover

John Crandall

We were wrong. About the best game at E3, I mean.

I asked a number of different game reviewers, columnists and reporters at E3 to pick THE GAME OF E3 – I actually asked in bold, capital letters like that – and they gave me a lot of different answers. Left 4 dead, Prince of Persia, Fallout 3 and Spore were some of the top picks.

In fact, we had a poll on what games you, our discerning readers, were most looking forward to at the event and the most votes went to Spore. I know I thought Spore was going to be THE GAME OF E3 (cue echo and thunder and lightning).

However, I can say that we were all categorically wrong. Spore was great, but one game beat it. So without further ado or adon’t, here are my choices from my trip to video game nirvana.

The top 5 games of E3

5. Halo Wars by Ensemble Studios

This game has to go on the list, not only because I’m a huge Halo fan, but also because the game looked … well, pretty. It had the traditional real-time strategy gameplay feeling (like Command and Conquer or Age of Empires), but the thing looked so doggone beautiful that (though this is sacrilege in the gaming community) I felt I could have just watched someone else play instead of playing the game myself.

The metal shimmered, the weapons glowed and the whole game had that familiar shine of a program polished like the brass ring on a carousel.

4. Red Wars: Guerrilla by THQ

I already previewed this game, but suffice to say, in this futuristic martian dystopia buildings done blowed up real good.

3. Fracture by Lucasarts

Fracture was the last game I got to play at E3, and it was wonderful.You have these grenades you can use to change the surrounding terrain and … words don’t do it justice, so check out the video here.

2. Spore by Maxis

Spore has so much depth, so much replayability and so much charm that it’s hard to believe it was greater than I thought it would be. But it beat all my expectations. However one game topped it and that is …

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed by Lucasarts

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was the best game at E3. It sounded great, it played well, and it looked as close to the CGI that Lucas throws at the big screen as we’re going to get.

Aside from the brilliant graphics, the game gives the player the heady rush of absolute power. Whether it’s crumpling a two-story robot walker into a ball(I know they’re called AT-STs, Star Wars fans) or picking up a spaceship with the Force (if you don’t know what the Force is, I weep for you) this game will grab you and not let go until it’s shaken all the change from your pockets.

For those of you who played Psi-Ops you’ll understand. For those of you who didn’t, shame on you, that game was great.

Even if you don’t see have some sort epiphany while playing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed when it arrives in September, you’ll have a lot of fun.

Unfortunately for my readers, THE GAME OF E3 (distant rumble) title is subjective and completely dependent on my whims, so there are bound to be some who disagree. If you do, leave a comment. The more comments the better. And tell us your top E3 game.

For my next post, I’ll be answering the questions you sent me about E3.

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‘Spore’ creator speaks to his people at Comic-Con

July 25th, 2008, 11:08 pm by

JoeMega-otaku Will Wright’s first-ever Comic-Con speech was, as expected, a well-rehearsed and entertaining PowerPoint presentation.

For the uninitiated, otaku is a Japanese word for … well, nerd. Wright, who also created “SimCity” and the “Sims,” describes himself with the term. He explained the phrase by PowerPoint-ing up an anime still frame of a large, bespectacled young man with bad skin, long hair and a small figurine clutched in one hand.

Spore, coming Sept. 7I haven’t seen “Welcome to NHK” yet, but I’d guess the scene’s from that show. It certainly wasn’t “Genshiken.”

See? I’m the target audience for his presentation. And so were the 18-year-olds to my left, who whiled away the time before the show by playing tic-tac-toe on the DS. And so were the young couple on my right that busied themselves watching videos on a tiny device I didn’t recognize. And so were the too-serious game nerds a few rows in front of me. And so was the 40-year-old long-haired gamer a few rows back. And so was the high-minded 20-something woman just within earshot.

That’s the genius of Wright — he’s dug into the mindset of a remarkably broad and fickle audience, mined out what most of us want, and laid it out in a small package that you and I can buy. The end result? Profit. The Underpants Gnomes could learn a thing or two. Read the rest of this entry »

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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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