So yeah, I played Spore and I have to say that I'm slightly diappointed.
I also watched this epsiode of 'Invisible Walls' where a long discussion about Spore goes on and the guy who played it beat the game in one sitting - 8 hours.

Myself I've played more than halfway through the game in one sitting and I have to say that the length of this game is quite disappointing.

This game was been in development for so long and it's been so hyped for such a long time I would have expected a whole lot more than a normal 50EUR-pricetag-8-hours-to-beat stock game off the shelf. The main criticism that I have for it is that the first 4-5 hours of the game is extremely linear. You don't have much to do in the first 3-4 phases and it's all about conquering other races which is childishly easy to do. I played the game on normal and I breezed through the phases without much effort. Oddly enough it's way easier just obliterating other races than being a diplomat.

The problem is that in its core, Spore is a bunch of minigames, a very watered-down evolutionary-game-simulation and I cannot help but think that when playing as a carnivore it's just a typical crude version of grind in leveling up. All you do as a carnivore is to make sure that you are evolutionary stronger than all the others and it's just way too easy to do that.

The biggest liberty the game had to offer was notoriously the creature creation which do offer all the fun. Sadly I feel that it only is a cosmetic choice and it doesn't affect the gameplay or the outcome of the game in any way. The only thing that affects the gameplay in any practical way is if you're a carnivor,herbivor or a mix of both.

It saddens me to know that 8 years of development gave me this dumbed-down and almost childishly looking and childishly easy game as a result. I would have expected more.

What are your thoughts?

Personally I think that 8 hours is a bit of an understatement, it's probably going to take me that long to do the registration phase. I've tried to log in, it said it was invalid, so i changed my password, still invlid, so I make an account with a different email and it says my registration key is invalid, despite installing fine. It's things like this which is why I hate EA!

Yes, the whole EA-thingie is kind of sickening.

The fact that you have to use their software - and theirs only to download patches, updates and stuff is just blah. I don't like using dedicated spyware-ish download managers for that kind of stuff. Some would argue that it's nice of EA to make a download manager that can patch and update all your EA games, but I really don't trust them that much with my data.... o_O

I'm currently at the space stage and I'm feeling no urge to play at all anymore right now. I had to almost force myself through most of the civilization stage. Really, the most fun in the game was the first stage. I though the game was going to be much longer.

I don't really care, I wasn't hyped up the least bit by Spore anyway. In my eyes it's just another overhyped game. I feel bad for the people who really looked forward to this though.

It took me 3 hours to beat....

What is your definition of beating though?

Overhyped game disappoints, millions shocked.

well 8 hours... sure is longer than Prince of Persia Sands of time :P

CyberAkuma:
Yes, the whole EA-thingie is kind of sickening.

The fact that you have to use their software - and theirs only to download patches, updates and stuff is just blah. I don't like using dedicated spyware-ish download managers for that kind of stuff. Some would argue that it's nice of EA to make a download manager that can patch and update all your EA games, but I really don't trust them that much with my data.... o_O

Just sickening! Just like those bastards over at Valve! Them and their damn Steam! Damn you Gabe Newell! Damn you! *shakes fist*

Seriously though, I haven't actually tried the system yet, I guess I'll get a taste later today. But, I don't think I'll have much of a problem with it, as long as it's somewhat user friendly, although...not too sure what to expect. As for the Spyware...well, there's no information on you that someone can't be if they -really- wanted to. I take the veiw that if your aren't up to any trouble, you've got nothing to worry about, nor would I think a big company like that would risk both their reputation and their customers by be so careless with the kind of data they collect.

Companies are only as good with their security as the people running their security departments... vOv.

I also want to know what you mean by "beat" the game in 8 hours? I haven't gotten the game yet, however, the concept seems really interesting to me.

AK

Manic Depression:
I don't really care, I wasn't hyped up the least bit by Spore anyway. In my eyes it's just another overhyped game. I feel bad for the people who really looked forward to this though.

I totally agree, I believe people thought it would be the new "the sims". totally overhyped... And 8 years to make? god thats about of coffee breaks!

I have yet to purchase it..creature creator is awesome though!

GothmogII:
Just sickening! Just like those bastards over at Valve! Them and their damn Steam! Damn you Gabe Newell! Damn you! *shakes fist*

I've never had any trouble with Valve, works a treat for me, butEA always seems to screw me over with their registration processes.

Spore CC=5$=worth it. Spore=100$(Norway that be)=not worth it. A little disappointed now... well well, back to TF2.

Wait, isn't Spore supposed to not be beatable? Isn't it supposed to be filled with all sorts of user made penis monsters that are downloaded through the internet and set free into the world?

It seems to me that the longer a game is in development the worst it is? just look at that pile of shit Too Human.

Imagine what the duke nukem forever game will be like!

I wonder if Spore was purposely designed to be easy, to cater the the casual crowd. I'll probably pick it up and play it with my 3-year-old then. ;-)

optimistic_kid:
It seems to me that the longer a game is in development the worst it is? just look at that pile of shit Too Human.

Team Fortress 2? 10 years! Best game ever!

I can honestly say that this doesn't really surprise me at all. I've been watching the 'Phase' videos on IGN over the last 2 weeks and I began to see how shallow Spore really was. Each phase really just seems like a dumbed down version of some other game. It took Will 8 years to combine 5 mediocre games? When I first saw Spore I was very excited because it looked like something new and I thought the design of your creature would heavily effect the gameplay. After what I've seen lately I'm not really interested in this game at all.

I hate that game..it lags like crap... or is this just on the 360?

dib_dib_9@hotmail.co.uk:
I hate that game..it lags like crap... or is this just on the 360?

What?

They should give the proceeds for Valve so that they can make more Cake... I mean, Portal 2 more quickly.
Anyway, we do know that games that are painfully slow in development can be masterpieces. Just look at OoT...
Wait, they had to pretty much gut the game with the hardware game, didn't they? ...Drat.

Team fortress 2

I think he maybe means Too Human? But then thats 360 only so I'm alittle confused

No..I mean team fortress two

dib_dib_9@hotmail.co.uk:
No..I mean team fortress two

I see that now, simultainious posting.

As for spore I played a little, and am yet to be impressed, seems pretty meh.

One of my friends played spore for 7 hours, he's already disappointed enough to stop playing entirely. I played it for about 4 hours, and i put it back on the shelf. :-/
maybe i'm just really picky, but this seems far too much like a child targeted version of an MMO or a "feature" game, by feature game i mean a game based around 2 or 3 gimmicks more than based on excellent game play and mechanics with a decent challenge, which happens to include 2 or 3 cool gimmicks.
Oh, a personal shout out to EA for adopting valve syndrome, i hate you guys so much now. -_-
Don't get me wrong, i actually use steam a lot, by CHOICE! O_O but steams games are the actual CD versions of the games install folders, you can use any updating you want, any mods you want, any blah blah blah... EA has once again placed itself squarely beneath me, allow me to quote pure pwnage here, with the E suckin on one ball and the A on the other.
And this is why i've placed my hope in Fallout3. The only game in quite a while with got me up in a rush. Until of course, i heard Bethesda was going to be doing it at which point i gave up on "fallout three" and started hoping on "post nuke oblivion 2"

I was excited about Spore only for the early phases; when I learnt those were being cut down to the bone to focus on the civ stages, I lost interest. Doesnt sound like im missing anything

I'm curious what your definition is of beating the game. Maybe you are only getting into space and doing nothing once you get there? How many planets have you terraformed? How many alien civilizations have you made peace with, or wiped off the map? Have you downloaded any of the non-existent custom content yet that expands your galaxy of 5 or 6 planets to dozens?

If its easier to annihilate other races, why not challenge yourself with being a "nice" character?

Also, a note on the graphics, so we don't go through another WoW / Wind Waker style discussion.
The "look" of spore has barely changed from the time we got our first screenshots all the way up to release. What, exactly, are you expecting from MAXIS? I was personally expecting exaggerated cartoony graphics... exactly what I got. Were you shocked somehow when you got exactly the style of graphics they've been showing the entire time?

I wish he would have spent 8 years just making a new Sim City

You can't really beat Spore since getting to Space isn't the end of the game. That's more where the game actually begins in earnest. The rest of it's essentially a thoroughly enjoyable tutorial that teaches you the ropes of the game. When you get into Space, THAT is when Spore really begins.

I'm a bit disappointed that people are reporting on it as being easy though, particularly after the economic nightmare that was Sim City 4.

StatikShock:

If its easier to annihilate other races, why not challenge yourself with being a "nice" character?

I wouldn't say that the challenge is that much greater (or even a challenge at all) with being a "nice" guy. In the first two stages I find it easier (and more fun) most times to just be a nice guy (e.g herbivore). I just gave the game another shot as a carnivore and for the life of me I really can't be bothered to play anymore.

Overhyped, but I didn't get caught up in the hype because I rarely do - And i'm enjoying it, its a great game if a bit simplistic.