New game: SPORE

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Enmos, Jul 20, 2008.

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  1. MacGyver1968 Fixin' Shit that Ain't Broke Valued Senior Member

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    I tried it out this weekend on a friend's machine, while the character editor is neat, I was a little disappointed on how basic the game is, not very deep at all. Very disappointing after waiting for so long, and hearing so much on how bad ass it was going to be.

    What was really disappointing to me was the vehicles. I spent like 30 minutes designing this neat vehicle, placing all the different weapons in stratigic places and such, and too my disappointment, none of those weapons have individual animations, no matter what you mounted on the vehicle or where, it just fires a single mortar round out of the top of the vehicle.
    Kinda made me wonder what the point was of all that customablity, when it does nothing in the game.

    I just hope some expansions come out with a little more indepth gameplay.
     
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  3. SkinWalker Archaeology / Anthropology Moderator

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    Many things that are claimed not to run on PC run fine in Wine (a Linux app that makes Winx apps run). I've played several Lucas Arts games in linux and run MS Office in Linux as well as several others.

    Once the game comes out, I'm sure someone will try it in Linux under Wine. I just didn't want to be the first to try it. The game costs too much for me to buy and try

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  5. brokenpower Registered Senior Member

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    the game already is out, and it already has been tried on Wine. If you would like there is a torrent available for it at isohunt.com if you don't want to buy it
     
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  7. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    I'm getting it for my husband for his birthday. He's been wanting WoW, but I think he'll like this better. No, I know he'll like this better.
     
  8. SkinWalker Archaeology / Anthropology Moderator

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    No thanks. If it doesn't work in Wine/Linux then there's no point -you told me all I need to know. Besides, I'd have bought it if it would work. No theft for me, thanks.
     
  9. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    Seems to be comments that say:

    Notice none of the comments are actually about the game but just about the DRM.

    I actually used EA's online shop. Again the problem is you can only download the program for 6 months, unless you of course increase the cost a little to extend the period of time. There was no SecureROM DRM as the actual EA download downloads an encrypted form, checks to make sure that your key is accurate with their main DB before decrypting then allowing install.

    Technically online purchases are the future as they don't require printed manuals or CDs/DVDs. Online purchase also allow compatible versions to be sought and if people give the right feedback they might even open it up to include cross platform licensing (As long as it's an Identical game).
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2008
  10. Xelios We're setting you adrift idiot Registered Senior Member

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    Yes, it's about the DRM. 3 installs and it stops working. Call EA to get more installs credited to you. A call that's not even free if you're outside the US. Can only download for 6 months? No thanks. You're not buying the game, you're renting it. And it's all completely useless, Spore was already cracked and released on bittorrent days before launch. Without the DRM.

    So no, it's not comments that say "I can't copy it", you obviously can, it's comments that say "I'm not paying $50 for the privilege of renting a game from EA and being treated as a would-be criminal in the process".

    And no, I haven't downloaded the cracked version. I haven't bought the game either. I was excited about buying it, then I read this:

    "We were very focused, if anything, on making a game for more casual players. “Spore” has more depth than, let’s say, “The Sims” did. But we looked at the Metacritic scores for “Sims 2″, which was around 90, and something like “Half-Life“, which was 97, and we decided — quite a while back — that we would rather have the Metacritic and sales of “Sims 2″ than the Metacritic and sales of “Half-Life.” - Will Wright (the creator)

    Which translates directly to "We dumbed it down to get more sales". Shame. It had a lot of potential.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2008
  11. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    Do you really think copying the game is going to remove DRM systems? A game being mass copied is exactly the reason DRM's have been put in place to begin with. If you don't want to see such DRM's then Mass Boycott the purchase or use of the software (This means don't copy)

    If you are copying the software and using it, then you are just providing clue there is still a market for it. If you boycott and state why, then they have to reshape for the market or lose sales.

    On top of that I question how many people complaining are actually in the Second Hand Games market. (You know, trade-ins) those companies rely upon the ability to have multiple installs of a game, now the second hand trade is under threat by DRM limitation. This basically means you buy a game and you keep it because you can't sell it on.

    Another point is looking at Electronic Arts Share value which has been lowering because of the DRM controversy. While some might think this a way to push EA into rethinking it's DRM, people are going to be exploiting it's loss for a quick gain in Finances. (Incidentally Share holders are the reason for DRM's use to begin with, you aren't talking just about a company trying to protect it's profits, you are talking about Shareholders protecting profits)
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2008
  12. Xelios We're setting you adrift idiot Registered Senior Member

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    I don't know anyone who physically copies PC games, do you? I'm sure there are people out there who do, but this has been with us since the dawn of PC gaming. Obviously games are still a lucrative industry dispite this.

    It's also obvious that game studios would try to maximize their profits by making copying as difficult as possible, but it's a fruitless process that's only going to annoy legitimate customers. Anyone prevented from physically copying Spore or any other DRM laden game can simply download it. Game studios are about 20 years too late with this DRM, because now there's an even easier way to get a game you don't want to pay for. Whether you get the game through physically copying a CD or downloading an .iso is just an irrelevent technicality.

    Another point is console games. People generally say console games are much more secure than PC games, because they can't easily be pirated. But what do people do all the time with their console games? They loan them to friends. Trade them for other games. Resell them. They can't actually be copied, but when you can borrow a game from a friend long enough to play it through there's often no point in buying it yourself. People are not going to understand why a console game is treated as a fiirst-sale product, while a PC game is treated as a limited liscense to use a product.
    And that's exactly what those people are doing.
     
  13. Dr Lou Natic Unnecessary Surgeon Registered Senior Member

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    Don't boycott it, I hope billions of morons buy it so they make sequels and eventually one might be good. If this catastrophically fails we can look forward to never seeing anything like it again, just more doom/wolfenstein 3d clones and expansions (this includes all of your favourite games that I'm sure you'd insist are nothing like wolfenstein 3d due to the physics engine on the frag grenade, or wtf ever, loser reading this post).
     
  14. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Just a few in-game screen shots of my latest creature (creature stage):

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  15. Mr. Hamtastic whackawhackado! Registered Senior Member

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    This game is absolute crack. If I could smoke it I would. Each portion of the game is a new mini-game. Once you've tried a stage, you don't HAVE to ever play it again. I think it is sheer genius. It's not so overcomplicated that you have to stress about how it is going(a la Civ 4), it's not so mindless that your brain never engages(a la sims 2), it's got nice eye-candy(a la Black and White 2), but doesn't unnecessarily stress even an average system(a la world in conflict). I highly recommend it, and the game guide. The only complaint I have is the lack of clarity about how to get your desired trait as a spore to creature, specifically how to enable omnivorous mouth discovery. The guide seems to be wrong. Then again, I've only played it twice, so this is all just an initial impression.
     
  16. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

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    Anyone made sporn yet ?
     
  17. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

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    is it as gay as it looks?
     
  18. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Definately

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    The Space Age is not playable after a while, too damn difficult and annoying.
    And it only takes perhaps 1 - 1 1/2 hours to get there.
    It's fun to do for a while but it doesn't live up to expectations..
     
  19. MacGyver1968 Fixin' Shit that Ain't Broke Valued Senior Member

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    I gotta agree with X, the time for cd copy protection has really passed. The copy of Spore that I played at my friend's house was a cracked copy he dl'ed off a torrent. It was out at the same time the game was. All of the game pirates I know, (yes, including myself sometimes) get their illegal games from torrents. It's actually easier for me to get the torrent myself, than to walk 2 blocks to my friends house and get it from him.

    I heard a rumor of trying to do something to a kernel, that would not let cd immulator programs like Daemon Tools work. Anyone know of anything like that?
     
  20. Stryder Keeper of "good" ideas. Valued Senior Member

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    It's been talked about for years, however it usually gets complaints. There were potentials for deleting the pirated software on after the first run, or even installing viruses, deleting drivers or shutting down hardware on pirates computers, the problem of course is *if* the programmer hasn't generated code that is advanced enough to tell pirates from legitimate software owners as well as the stink that pirates like to make about why it wouldn't be fair to destroy their program or OS in retaliation.
     
  21. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    I installed it and played it some. I really should go find some instructions. I made it to land stage, but not sure exactly what was going on. All I did was find whatever I can to eat, avoid enemies, and level up my mutant.
     
  22. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    That's basically what it is in the cell and land stage.
    Of course, if you have a carnivore you are forced to attack other animals.
    In the top left corner of the screen are your missions. Carry them out as you see fit.
     
  23. lixluke Refined Reinvention Valued Senior Member

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    I don't get it. Whenever I died, I just came back to life. Both in cell stage and creature stage. Cell stage seems pretty quick. I'm guessing civilization stage is where ther real gameplay is?
     
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