EA just released some prototypes that they used while making the game. I'm not sure I have the patience to try them all, but some of them seem pretty cool. Maybe they're even more fun to dabble with after a while ;)

http://www.spore.com/comm/prototypes

EDIT: Or maybe those have been around for a while and they're just reposting the links? In any case, I just learned about them now. Maybe some of you will have interest.

Thanks man, that's some interesting stuff! I've just tried the 'SPUG' one so far.

Downloading the space sim now. :)

Downloading the space sim now. :)

The only one I tried now. It seems like it would have been pretty cool for the actual Spore game, except I can't quite figure it out yet. I think it's not entirely functional.

It's pretty fun to waste an hour every now and then.

I think these were already posted in the original spore thread.