Next Generation Previews Spore

[fitbabits]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has posted a preview for Will Wright's new opus-in-the-making, Spore.

You can read the full preview here (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3454&Itemid=2).

In many ways, creature design will be the core element of the game, though. And we were able to dive into the editor, design a creature and send it out into the wild. The Creature Editor is astonishingly easy to use and powerful.

If you are feeling particularly vindictive towards a planet, you can hover above it and indulge in a spot of terraforming – such as submerging the main city under a lake. And you can acquire nuclear weapons which completely destroy planets, which is why Will Wright developed Spore’s database system, which sucks up and redistributes content created by other players (apparently, a fully compressed creature occupies a mere 3Kb). Early indications suggest that Spore’s gameplay should live up to the hype – with the super-friendly yet powerful editors and the space phase offering particularly rich rewards.
Damn, I want to play this game N-O-W!

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

Can we destroy entire galaxies? Would be kewl...

[Kamalot]

I'm already sold on this game. No need for me to read any more. I'm gonna check out of all the hype until it is released in 2007.

[gzsfrk]

It's probably my most anticipated game at the moment. I do, however, hope that the game eventually finds its way to release on a console (preferably the 360), since after a full day working at this comp, I find it preferable to spend leisure time in the recliner in my home theater with an 11' projected screen as opposed to staying yet longer at the old KVM in my upstairs office.

[torrefaction]

This game is probably one of my most anticipated. That may bite me in the ass, but all well :)

[Goronmon]

This is the kind of game I buy a new computer for.

[Wyrm]

Do you need to buy a new computer for this game? I was under the impression that while the graphics are certainly good, they aren't anything that would tax the crap out of a decent system.

[AntB]

I hope when I upgrade my computer it can run this game. I know this game will definately need a boatload of memory.

[SexualChoc]

I can't wait to dick about with evolution.

[gzsfrk]

I can't wait to dick about with evolution.

Actually, this game bears less resemblance to evolution than it does to incremental creationism. After all, the changes aren't random; you (as the god-figure) direct the individual changes according to what you think will work best for your creature. (Or, possibly, according to whatever malevolent tendencies (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=200) to which you might succumb.)

[Goronmon]

(Or, possibly, according to whatever malevolent tendencies (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=200) to which you might succumb.)Will Wright: "So it's got butts for eyes?"
God (cat): "He poops to see."

I will never not laugh my ass off when I read that comic. :D

[SexualChoc]

Actually, this game bears less resemblance to evolution than it does to incremental creationism. After all, the changes aren't random; you (as the god-figure) direct the individual changes according to what you think will work best for your creature. (Or, possibly, according to whatever malevolent tendencies (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=200) to which you might succumb.)

I see your point, but I was to understand, while you can create and destroy at your lesiure, they would adapt as well?

[zrikz]

This game is looking pretty great, I'm sure it will consume me for quite a while once it is finally out. Nothing new was really released in this news article tho, pretty much the same stuff we heard/saw from E3... the E3 video was pretty sweet tho.

[gzsfrk]

Do you need to buy a new computer for this game? I was under the impression that while the graphics are certainly good, they aren't anything that would tax the crap out of a decent system.

I seem to remember reading that Spore will be an EXTREMELY demanding game, with regards to both processor and GPU. Remember that with the advent of procedurally generated content, processor speed takes on a far more important role that it does in pre-generated, scripted game environments. Sort of like the processor needed to handle an MMO, handling all the actions, reactions, and environment for 100s if not 1000s of objects contained in a gameworld all at once.

Of course, I suspect they may well implement ways to "cheat" in order to render and maintain the gameworld without needing the latest dual-core, 64-bit, DDR7 OMGWTFBBQ processor/GPU combo.

[zrikz]

OMGWTFBBQ
Sorry a little off topic.. wtf does the BBQ part stand for?

[fitbabits]

Sorry a little off topic.. wtf does the BBQ part stand for?
Barbeque. :)

[Goronmon]

Sorry a little off topic.. wtf does the BBQ part stand for?Barbeque...

[gzsfrk]

Sorry a little off topic.. wtf does the BBQ part stand for?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=omgwtfbbq&page=1

[zrikz]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=omgwtfbbq&page=1
Ok thank you I think... I see no point in the BBQ part but um oh well. I was really hoping BBQ had some insane acronym or something.. omgwtf Big Booty Quaggas.. but no its Barbeque.
quag·ga n.
A zebralike mammal (Equus quagga) of southern Africa, extinct since the late 19th century.

/off topic

[Rafer]

Actually, this game bears less resemblance to evolution than it does to incremental creationism. After all, the changes aren't random; you (as the god-figure) direct the individual changes according to what you think will work best for your creature. (Or, possibly, according to whatever malevolent tendencies (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=200) to which you might succumb.)

I remember watching a panel interview with Will Wright (and David Jaffe and a couple other guys) where he joked that his game resembled "intelligent design" more than evolution. I hope creationists don't use this game as a vehicle to promote their beliefs.

[gzsfrk]

Ok thank you I think... I see no point in the BBQ part but um oh well.

Exactly... the point is that it has no point. Sort of like all the comic segues in "Family Guy".

[gzsfrk]

I remember watching a panel interview with Will Wright (and David Jaffe and a couple other guys) where he joked that his game resembled "intelligent design" more than evolution. I hope creationists don't use this game as a vehicle to promote their beliefs.

Lol at anyone who would use the content of a videogame as the basis for any argument. Elsewise, I would go around arguing that all women should expose their breasts for me when I wave money at them on the basis that that's how women responded in Duke Nukem 3D.

I am, for the record, a subscriber to the theory of Intelligent Design, but I certainly don't feel the need to abrogate the original subject of this thread with a flame-war on the topic here. (Or anywhere else, for that matter.)

[NoName]

Every new piece of information that comes out for this games causes a mess in my pants.

It needs to come out soon. The game, that is O.o.

[Rirath]

I.... just hope there's a game to play when it does come out. Hey, I love sandboxes as much as the next guy... but sometimes I like something to do in my sandbox. But meh, if anyone can do it, he can. It's just that sometimes previewers get so preoccupied, nobody notices the game itself gets stale before you know it.

The concept of ordering your own monster model sounds nifty, though it also sounds like something that'll be left out. Makes me wonder why we haven't seen 3D print kiosks crop up like digital photo printing. Heck, even online ordering. I can think of some great .3ds files I have that would look incredible as models.

[ProfPuppet]

Man I wish this game made me as excited as everyone else gets. *shakes fist at art school*

[torrefaction]

Man I wish this game made me as excited as everyone else gets. *shakes fist at art school*

What's your thing against it? The procedural art, rather than a defined artistic direction?

[fungaljones]

I always thought BBQ stood for "be back quick." I seem to remember the acronym struggling for dominance with BRB over the "i'm going to leave for a moment but will return shortly" niche until it became extinct. Or maybe it was just intelligently designed into obscurity.

[ZeroCool99]

I've played Spore on E3. It was really promising.