Hitti-Litti
Deity
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- Messages
- 3,767
w00t, I'll get Spore most likely tomorrow. 
First Impressions
- Thread starter Ambler
- Start date
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
A couple of technical questions for you guys!
#1, What's the deal with this horrible Secu-ROM stuff? Any problems registering/activating the installation and all that? Could it be done easily enough with slow dial-up internet?
#2, How does the auto-downloading of content work? Would I need to be online all the time while I play, or just at the start of the game, or the new phases? And/or can you manually bulk-download stuff in one big session to use later? (that would be cool for me - no permanent connection here!)
(OK, that was technically six questions
)
#1, What's the deal with this horrible Secu-ROM stuff? Any problems registering/activating the installation and all that? Could it be done easily enough with slow dial-up internet?
#2, How does the auto-downloading of content work? Would I need to be online all the time while I play, or just at the start of the game, or the new phases? And/or can you manually bulk-download stuff in one big session to use later? (that would be cool for me - no permanent connection here!)
(OK, that was technically six questions
)SpurnSpore
Chieftain
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2008
- Messages
- 96
A couple of technical questions for you guys!
#1, What's the deal with this horrible Secu-ROM stuff? Any problems registering/activating the installation and all that? Could it be done easily enough with slow dial-up internet?
#2, How does the auto-downloading of content work? Would I need to be online all the time while I play, or just at the start of the game, or the new phases? And/or can you manually bulk-download stuff in one big session to use later? (that would be cool for me - no permanent connection here!)
(OK, that was technically six questions
I have installed it 2x (2 different Computers) Some have had problems registering it E.g like this is not a valid copy message
I couldn't even log in to register it.
I don't know if this will affect and count to the 3 activation limit?
As I have to get a new pc to be able to play it. So that would be the 3rd time....
The auto downloading isn't too big Apparently, and is done fairly quickly they say.Creatures and content are 30k each, but there are already millions?
How many are needed to start off populating your Galaxy I don't know.
Dale
Mohawk Games Developer
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2002
- Messages
- 7,853
There's already heaps of content (Maxis content) included with Spore, so you don't actually need any downloadable content to fill your galaxy. However, if you ARE connected to the internet, it will slowly download content to fill those slots for you.
And I mean slowly. In 4 days, it's downloaded ~40 user made content.
And I mean slowly. In 4 days, it's downloaded ~40 user made content.
Daftpanzer
canonically ambiguous
SpurnSpore said:
@SpurnSpore, that doesn't sound good
I hope the server is just busy, or something. Do you have to re-install from the DVD every time you try, or can you go straight to the validation thing?Dale said:
Is there a way to download lots of stuff at once, like from specific users or something?
Thorbal
not enough ram!
You can also download individual creatues from the Sporepedia
.( which is what I do, I don´t want it to download automatically)
SpurnSpore
Chieftain
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It would work straight from install, perhaps the EA servers are waiting until Sept 7 (official start date?)
I'm sorry I cannot know until I upgrade and be able to even to have the processor power to play it- graphics card as well.
It should install fine (even if you don't have the specs (took 30 mins install on mine)
So you will be fine if your PC has the capacity.
They say the install content download is barely noticeable, while you play and are connected online.
I'm sorry I cannot know until I upgrade and be able to even to have the processor power to play it- graphics card as well.
It should install fine (even if you don't have the specs (took 30 mins install on mine)
So you will be fine if your PC has the capacity.
They say the install content download is barely noticeable, while you play and are connected online.
Hitti-Litti
Deity
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w00t, I'll get Spore most likely tomorrow.
Got it, installing.
SuperBeaverInc.
Groucho
I hate all you Europeans. Spore isn't released here until the 7th, and even then, I won't be able to get my hands on it until the 10th. Why must you make me so jealous?
salty mud
Deity
Because we can. 
The game arrived for me today. Just sat there as I got home. I was quite pleased.
The game arrived for me today. Just sat there as I got home. I was quite pleased.
SuperBeaverInc.
Groucho
Thats what you get for living in the Yukon.
Try moving to a real city
Try moving to a real city
Hitti-Litti
Deity
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First impression: Wow. This game is awesome.
Still in the Creature phase, it's fun, but Cell phase was fabulous. Though seeing a humongous flying creature with level 1000 has it's own charm, but Cell was very simple and fun.
Still in the Creature phase, it's fun, but Cell phase was fabulous. Though seeing a humongous flying creature with level 1000 has it's own charm, but Cell was very simple and fun.
Kan' Sharuminar
Fluffy
It makes a pleasant change
Only really played the cell stage in depth, which was good fun. There is a thrill of desperately fleeing from larger predators, then being able to attack them after evolving.
The cell phase is fantastic, as is the creature phase. Tribal and civilization phases are both somewhat dull (probably because I'm used to civ), haven't tried space yet.
Thorbal
not enough ram!
Cell phase is my favourite so far as well 
, followed by creature phase. Tribal and civ phases are a bit... underwhelming and I have not really tried out space phase, just flew around a bit - too busy starting one game after another !
, followed by creature phase. Tribal and civ phases are a bit... underwhelming and I have not really tried out space phase, just flew around a bit - too busy starting one game after another !
salty mud
Deity
I've played all the stages so far, and I'm quite pleased with the game. I'll give a rundown of my experiances...
Cell Phase - Although it doesn't appear to be much, it is strangely addictive and beautiful. I love the graphics in this stage: the moving water, the various colours of the cells and other objects floating about all create a fantastic looking play area. You start out as the most basic cell possible - that is you have a mouth, and something to swim with. If you chose a carnivore mouth, get attacking other cells! My first cell was a carnivore, and I found the 'spike' upgrades very useful, even helping me to kill a cell 10 times my size! Carnivores have to hunt for food, obviously, and this means endangering yourself fighting with other cells. A herbivore has it easier, as they only have to find plants to chomp on. When I replayed this phase as a herbivore, I added lots of swimming parts, to the point where I was eventually zooming through the ocean, gobbling up food before anyone else had a chance to notice!
Creature Phase - This phase is entered when the player's cell has been given a pair of legs. You amble up onto land, with a handful of creatures, and you take control of one of them. You start at your nest, where you can heal or mate to produce more generations of creatures. If you have collected enough DNA, you can evolve your species in weird and wonderful ways. The gameplay here is simple. Carnivores must ravage other nests and eat the fallen, herbivores must browse for food in bushes and trees. How one actally collects DNA is from other creatures. You can either befriend them, who can join into a pack with you and help with your later adventures, or fight them to the death. When you make a species extinct (after killing a set amount of the creature) or ally with them (After befriending a set amount of them) you gain DNA. As progress is made, more difficult creatures are encountered, requring help in the form of your pack to kill/ally. My carnivore quickly finished off the pathetic species around my first nest, but when around my later ones I was frequently challenged by more competant creatures.
Tribe Phase - This phase begins when your creatures evolution is complete. Your brain has become large enough for you to form a simple society and start doing some conquering! You start off with a tribe's hut and a small number of villagers. These can be given a variaty of tasks, such as hunting, foraging, fishing or fighting. Food is the main currency here, and it is vital you select some of your villagers to gather it as quick as possible. Your village can be outfitted with various buildings. The most useful, in my opinion, was available to me from the start and that was the stone hut, giving your creatures the ability to wield fearsome clubs. To get other huts (e.g. throwing spears, maracas or didgeridoos) you must ally or conquer another tribe to learn their secrets. It is fairly easy to destroy the first village, as you have been building for a while and then they appear, so a rush attack is easy to do. However, other tribes what appear are more powerful, and will require a bit more strategy to defeat. Sensing I couldn't fight everyone in the world, I bit the bullet and allied myself with another village, who then bestowed me with useful gifts of food. They also helped repel a raid or two off my own village. The tribal clothing editor is cute and gives some cool bonuses to your creatures fighting, gathering or social abilities, giving them the edge in these situations. Just to clarify as there seems to be a bit of confusion about, you are fighting different species than your own - in the Civilization Phase, your must fight your own creations.
Civilization Phase - In my opinion, the weakest of the five main stages. You begin with a simple city. This has a town hall and nothing else, until you start to build in to. You also start with one vehicle - invaluble for collecting 'spice geysors,' or Spore's equivalent of money. You have few minutes to get geysors and vehicles under your control, until eventually other civilizations will appear, challenging you for the resources. You can fight them, trade with them, or convert them for victory. I have only played a fighting game so far, and to be honest I got a little bit bored. I managed to take five cities quite quickly, but then lost them just as fast. Maybe the game is different when played from another angle. Once all cities on your continent have been conquered, you gain access to air units. Air units can cross the sea and attack enemy cities there. Coastal cities can produce ships, which can bombard coastal cities. Again, it might just be my play style, but I thought land vehicles become redundant when the continent is yours - there is no way I can see to transport them across the ocean. The editors are all awesome here, allowing you to build anything you see fit. You can edit houses, factories, entertainment facilites, city halls, land vehicles, air vehicles and sea vehicles. It is also possible to create your own national anthem. If you like creating stuff, you will love this phase. If not, you won't like it as much.
Space Phase - The final, and by far largest portion of the game. Once all cities are united and your spacecraft is built, you enter the Space Phase, where no one in the galaxy is safe from you anymore! The first 10-15 minutes of this stage seem a little tedious as you must do the missions set, but after that you can do as you see fit. You can continue exploring the galaxy, seeing who's creations lurk beyond your own solar system, construct a formidable empire with colonies and numerous spacecraft, or do other creatures bidding and become a widely liked and respected species. This is where Spore really shows off what it's got. The whole galaxy moves exactly how it should. Planets orbit stars, moons orbit planet, comets swoop around the stars and asteroid belts rotate realistically. The most fantastic thing is all of this can be seen from the planet you are on, which can create some fantastic views. As early as the Creature Stage I was watching the skys, with the planets and moons flying past and thinking "I'll be there soon." I feel travelling to the centre of the galaxy will take a gargantuan effort. The galaxy really is that huge, especially with the constant fear of transgressing in a hostile species territory. I haven't yet got the super-duper devices, like the planet destroyer or terra-former, but doing missions, meeting species, and finding artifacts all give you badges, which in turn allow more amazing gadgets to be bought.
So far, Spore has been a pleasure to play. If you want to guide a speices to the height of dominance or simply tinker about building ships and planes, this game is for you. I hope you enjoyed the read.
Cell Phase - Although it doesn't appear to be much, it is strangely addictive and beautiful. I love the graphics in this stage: the moving water, the various colours of the cells and other objects floating about all create a fantastic looking play area. You start out as the most basic cell possible - that is you have a mouth, and something to swim with. If you chose a carnivore mouth, get attacking other cells! My first cell was a carnivore, and I found the 'spike' upgrades very useful, even helping me to kill a cell 10 times my size! Carnivores have to hunt for food, obviously, and this means endangering yourself fighting with other cells. A herbivore has it easier, as they only have to find plants to chomp on. When I replayed this phase as a herbivore, I added lots of swimming parts, to the point where I was eventually zooming through the ocean, gobbling up food before anyone else had a chance to notice!
Creature Phase - This phase is entered when the player's cell has been given a pair of legs. You amble up onto land, with a handful of creatures, and you take control of one of them. You start at your nest, where you can heal or mate to produce more generations of creatures. If you have collected enough DNA, you can evolve your species in weird and wonderful ways. The gameplay here is simple. Carnivores must ravage other nests and eat the fallen, herbivores must browse for food in bushes and trees. How one actally collects DNA is from other creatures. You can either befriend them, who can join into a pack with you and help with your later adventures, or fight them to the death. When you make a species extinct (after killing a set amount of the creature) or ally with them (After befriending a set amount of them) you gain DNA. As progress is made, more difficult creatures are encountered, requring help in the form of your pack to kill/ally. My carnivore quickly finished off the pathetic species around my first nest, but when around my later ones I was frequently challenged by more competant creatures.
Tribe Phase - This phase begins when your creatures evolution is complete. Your brain has become large enough for you to form a simple society and start doing some conquering! You start off with a tribe's hut and a small number of villagers. These can be given a variaty of tasks, such as hunting, foraging, fishing or fighting. Food is the main currency here, and it is vital you select some of your villagers to gather it as quick as possible. Your village can be outfitted with various buildings. The most useful, in my opinion, was available to me from the start and that was the stone hut, giving your creatures the ability to wield fearsome clubs. To get other huts (e.g. throwing spears, maracas or didgeridoos) you must ally or conquer another tribe to learn their secrets. It is fairly easy to destroy the first village, as you have been building for a while and then they appear, so a rush attack is easy to do. However, other tribes what appear are more powerful, and will require a bit more strategy to defeat. Sensing I couldn't fight everyone in the world, I bit the bullet and allied myself with another village, who then bestowed me with useful gifts of food. They also helped repel a raid or two off my own village. The tribal clothing editor is cute and gives some cool bonuses to your creatures fighting, gathering or social abilities, giving them the edge in these situations. Just to clarify as there seems to be a bit of confusion about, you are fighting different species than your own - in the Civilization Phase, your must fight your own creations.
Civilization Phase - In my opinion, the weakest of the five main stages. You begin with a simple city. This has a town hall and nothing else, until you start to build in to. You also start with one vehicle - invaluble for collecting 'spice geysors,' or Spore's equivalent of money. You have few minutes to get geysors and vehicles under your control, until eventually other civilizations will appear, challenging you for the resources. You can fight them, trade with them, or convert them for victory. I have only played a fighting game so far, and to be honest I got a little bit bored. I managed to take five cities quite quickly, but then lost them just as fast. Maybe the game is different when played from another angle. Once all cities on your continent have been conquered, you gain access to air units. Air units can cross the sea and attack enemy cities there. Coastal cities can produce ships, which can bombard coastal cities. Again, it might just be my play style, but I thought land vehicles become redundant when the continent is yours - there is no way I can see to transport them across the ocean. The editors are all awesome here, allowing you to build anything you see fit. You can edit houses, factories, entertainment facilites, city halls, land vehicles, air vehicles and sea vehicles. It is also possible to create your own national anthem. If you like creating stuff, you will love this phase. If not, you won't like it as much.
Space Phase - The final, and by far largest portion of the game. Once all cities are united and your spacecraft is built, you enter the Space Phase, where no one in the galaxy is safe from you anymore! The first 10-15 minutes of this stage seem a little tedious as you must do the missions set, but after that you can do as you see fit. You can continue exploring the galaxy, seeing who's creations lurk beyond your own solar system, construct a formidable empire with colonies and numerous spacecraft, or do other creatures bidding and become a widely liked and respected species. This is where Spore really shows off what it's got. The whole galaxy moves exactly how it should. Planets orbit stars, moons orbit planet, comets swoop around the stars and asteroid belts rotate realistically. The most fantastic thing is all of this can be seen from the planet you are on, which can create some fantastic views. As early as the Creature Stage I was watching the skys, with the planets and moons flying past and thinking "I'll be there soon." I feel travelling to the centre of the galaxy will take a gargantuan effort. The galaxy really is that huge, especially with the constant fear of transgressing in a hostile species territory. I haven't yet got the super-duper devices, like the planet destroyer or terra-former, but doing missions, meeting species, and finding artifacts all give you badges, which in turn allow more amazing gadgets to be bought.
So far, Spore has been a pleasure to play. If you want to guide a speices to the height of dominance or simply tinker about building ships and planes, this game is for you. I hope you enjoyed the read.
SpurnSpore
Chieftain
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2008
- Messages
- 96
That is a great write up Salty Mud!
I have some questions-
can You name planets? I heard you can name your star ship.
When you find a new planet an you create another creature race or you just stay as your own species?
Can you enslave another race?
I have some questions-
can You name planets? I heard you can name your star ship.
When you find a new planet an you create another creature race or you just stay as your own species?
Can you enslave another race?
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