The Fancy Bastard Forum

Yeah I'm playing it. I find it to be an altogether enjoyable experience. The reviews that call it "boring" complain that the gameplay is too simple. The gameplay is simple, but it has a charm to it. Plus, it means I can get my daughter started playing with me that much sooner, so that's a plus. I don't think this will be replacing Civ 4 as my go-to time-killer but I've been getting a kick out of it.

A couple annoyances, mostly having to do with the Space stage. First, the game assumes you have the time and interest to design new buildings for each colony you build. You can go into the menu and choose a building you've already used, but that's a little extra time in many different places. Second, it's hard to get any sort of exploration or colonization accomplished because you're constantly having to babysit colonies or allies that are getting attacked, pirated, suffering from infected creatures, or just want you to come by for a visit. They need to turn the frequency of those events way down.

I feel reasonably confident that these issues will be resolved in a patch. However, because my wife installed the game on her computer first EA has determined that I am not worthy to receive online content. From the sound of it, that includes game updates. I hope I'm wrong about that. Only allowing one installation access to online content - but allowing other installations to exist - seems like a reasonable compromise, but not allowing patches would just be petty. Also, apparently the maximum number of allowed installations is 3 and uninstalling doesn't give any back, so let's hope I don't suffer any hard drive failures.

This game clearly suffered from over-hype, and EA is largely to blame for that. Had this been a sleeper hit it would have been widely celebrated with positive reviews. Instead I think it's having a hell of a time living up to inflated expectations.

I'm playing it on the iTouch. Even though it's only really the cell stage I'm loving it, great little game and the best I've played on the Pod...

Further introspect on the game has lead me to the conclusion that its very much on the warcraft/starcraft vein. They have thrown a considerable amount of lipstick and lampshades on, but I just watched the GF send troops to harvest meat while defending her camp so she could advance to the point that she could wipe out the other villages. many aspects are considerably deeper than the earlier strategy games, and many are simpler. I think most people complaining about the game being boring are looking for more action, and the ability to build and unstoppable force to t-bag your enemies with.

In fact, I would go to the point of saying that the strategy play in this game has been simplified to the point that Spore could be used as a primer to get people interested in the older, more complex strategy games. It will certainly be easier for the GF to handle a zerg rush after getting through this.

Yes! My hyper-realistic penis monster simulator has finally arrived!

As this whole feeding myself while I'm in school thing has really drained my game budget, I'll probably be picking Spore up closer to Christmas. I read reviews, but I don't look at scores. And of the reviews I've read, the complaints are that it isn't as much of a typical challenge game as others have been, but I think that's the path that Maxis has chosen to pursue. For me, the exciting part is exploring my own creativity with the help of their tools a la creature creator, building designer, ship construction etc, AND see the crazy and unique stuff that people around the world make ... AND then importing it into my game! That sounds so unbelievably cool to me.

With all of the expected genitalia-themed creatures out there, it's good to see some good old fashioned geek-inspired creations as well.

I gave in to my desire and bought the game earlier today. Wait, no, so far it's not a game. It's a simulation-toy-something-something. I'm enjoying it so far.

Posted By: FlankedI gave in to my desire and bought the game earlier today. Wait, no, so far it's not a game. It's a simulation-toy-something-something. I'm enjoying it so far.

Yeah it takes until the space stage before you really see some of the classic gameplay elements. From a "gameplay" perspective, that's clearly the most fleshed out of the stages. The civilization stage has a little bit but for a "Civilization" addict like me obviously anything would fall short.

wait. this game does MORE than make giant dick monsters?

Posted By: joelwait. this game does MORE than make giant dick monsters?Artist and Creator of HijiNKS Ensue

Well that's the primary purpose, but a few people have found alternative uses.

"I'm sure it's written somewhere that all Spore users have to make one of these..."

Um, NSFW? Can Spore creatures fall in that category?

Posted By: Flanked"I'm sure it's written somewhere that all Spore users have to make one of these..."

Um,NSFW? Can Spore creatures fall in that category?

You kids and your fancy electro-mechanical amusement devices. Back in my day, we had to make our penis monsters out of clay we harvested from the stream out back and bake them in wood fired stoves both ways uphill in a snowstorm. Get off my lawn.

Sure, everyone can remember back to their first penis monster created from much more base means. For me, it was LEGOs and Play-Doh. When I watch this, it makes me hopeful for REAL user created penis monsters in the decades to come.