Spore (PC Games, 2008)

The game makes use of a draconian DRM (digital rights management) system! Each copy can only be installed a total of three times (this is especially important on Ebay as the used game you are getting may not have any installations left at all). After the three you can call EA to try to reset your activations, they are under no obligation to do so. In addition, the game installs with SecuROM, a controversial copy protection product. I would encourage all users to research this product before purchasing spore.

I waited for Spore for over 3 years and cannot bring myself to buy it because of the DRM. Basically, its anti-consumer not anti-piracy by limiting consumer rights, spying on consumers without consent and not limiting piracy. It's very unfortunate, I wish I was playing the game and not warning other potential buyers about the restrictions. So everyone looking for the game here is well aware: the game is limited to three installs, so buying a used copy, or even one not originally sealed is an even riskier proposition. I want EA to know I will buy a version of the game the moment it is DRM free, I am not a pirate or a child- just someone who loves the theory of evolution, heard about the game years ago and could not wait to buy it- until I could not bring myself to buy a product that restricts consumers in hopes or earning a bigger buck. The saddest part, I would probably have gladly paid more than $50 for the game- and it seems others would have as well- but I cannot bring myself to support such terrible business practices.

For those who do not care about the DRM- I am sure the game is loads of fun. In fact, its the only game I was excited about playing in quite some time. It looks really creative, the graphics look great, it has reasonable system requirements and probably has excellent replay value if you're a creative and imaginative person. Although, those are all the reasons I am so upset about not being able to bring myself to get it and play it- if it did not look like a wonderful game I would not have wasted time writing a review or be so sad I cannot get over the DRM and just play it.

Do not buy Spore yet! I am a big Spore fan, have been a big fan and probably always will be a big fan. I've played Spore intensely for a week now and it's simply not ready. It's less buggy than most game releases these days, but there are some serious game flaws. Sharing is a big part of Spore. It's broken. Space exploration is a big part of Spore. There's little time for exploration. Do yourself a favor and wait until the game is updated and patched.

PROS:
Creature and Vehicles sandbox is AMAZING!
Very user friendly
Accessible
Interesting evolution stages
Excellent for children
Lovely Design

CONS:
Limited multiplayer
Shallow gameplay of each genre (Not for any really hardcore gamer)
Short (unless you are in the mood for replaying it with another creature look or nutrition tendency)
DRM (digital rights management) You can only can install it register on 3 computers. Then you need a fresh copy.

Overall Thoughts:
The 5 evolution stages are an interesting mix of Pacman, The Sims, Black & White, RPGS, RTS and Civilization. First 4 feel like an introduction mode to other games of the genre which is perfect for children or Really Newbies. The only unique one is the Galactic Stage which is interesting while it last. Speaking of lasting appeal Spore is a bit short, I finished the evolution process in 8 hours...
Its is called a massively single player game, cause of its sharing user created content system. But you ultimately feel alone...
I would really suggest this game but when its price drops at $19.99.

ok, ya, the 3 limit sounds bad. BUT read the advantages too! You don't have to use the disk while playing anymore, just for the first load. And its not 3 loads, its 3 computers! Once the game is registered to a computer, it is always registered to that computer, until you call them for a reset. You can format and reload it onto the computer with no decrease in uses of the disk. The advantage here is, and I have had it happen, you are playing the game one day, and damage the disk. You can play it without having to buy a new one! Also, if you have 2, 3 computers, you can play on all at the same time, which is great if you have kids! You can't do this if you need to keep the disk in. Its a trade off yes, but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Oh ya, the game is fun too! nothing like finding, and blowing up a planet full of Pikachu!

I'm a long time Will Wright fan...
I've bought and played most of the maxis titles ever since the original simcity, and I've bought all his more recent projects including The Sims and The Sims 2. However, I will NOT be buying Spore the way it is currently packaged!

The game secretly installs SecuROM software on your computer, and won't let you install the game more than 3 times total.

- Upgrading your computer soon? .. oops, too bad! There goes one of your 3 installs.

Need to reformat your computer because its become slow or has a virus? Oops, there goes one of your 3 installs.

Need to uninstall the game to make space for other games and want to reinstall it in the future to play it again? Oops, There goes one of your 3 installs.

Have more than one computer in your house that you want to install Spore on? Maybe a desktop and a laptop? Or a laptop and two home desktops? Oops, there goes 2 or in the case of the later, all three of your 3 total installs that you get for the game.


Boycott this game until EA wises up and gets rid of this annoying DRM they package with it.

Don't Purchase this game, its over advertised and too protected.

Please Vote "Yes" if this review was helpful to you.

The game itself is fun, but definitely not worth the headaches that the EA DRM Nazis have attached to it. The game I purchased was brand new and still in the cellophane, however after I loaded it and tried to register, I got an error stating that the product key was not valid. I can play the game offline, but can't register or take advantage of any of the online features.

I really don't have the time or patience to call EA's customer service and sit on hold for 30 hours to get this sorted out. It's a computer game, it really should NOT be this problematic to install and play. Next time I'll save my money and just find a torrent, since ironically the pirated version seems to work with no problems.

Good job on the DRM, EA. If your goal was to ensure less sales and encourage piracy, you have succeeded 100%.

you should always trust this guy S+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++per

Just a week ago I received SPORE by mail, downloaded it, and began play. Since then I've gone from a single celled herbivore to the title of Omnipotent. This game is quite addicting. Like your species, whatever one you create, the game progressively gets more complicated. Whether it's large carnivorous microbes, competing tribes, or the dreaded Grox raiding your planet while you're trying to find a collection of missing snow globes.

As you progress, the tools available to you become greater. You can buy vehicle upgrades for your ship, terraforming tools to make and decorate your own planet, even, in a "Space:2001" twist, deposit obelisks which will evolve a lower species from tribe to civilization, even to space capable!

For a twist, follow the wormholes to distant parts of the galaxy. Besides the variety of other people's creatures you'll encounter, you can encounter your saved games. Some time along the way I hope to encounter my wife's species (she says she's seen space ships flying over her tribe, but they weren't mine).

A great game, well worth the time and monetary investment.

The game has everything you could want from cell stage to space stage it's like living custumizibaly through a creatures life great game for everyone Who cares about DRM i've only needed one install for every game i've played DRM or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! buy it and you won't be dissapointed.

i have been waiting for this game for over a year, and it is everything i thought it would be. i love it!

Thanks for a super smooth, easy transaction- amazing Ebayer- need more like YOU!!! A+++!!!
I am so glad to see that there are still good people around who sell exactly what they claim to have- you are appreciated and will certainly get a return visit from me! Thanks- all the best to you and your company.

Well, I could say alot about this game. There are alot of phases, so much to do! It never ends, and its always interesting! Best game of 08 if you ask me, for PC of coarse. Buy IT!!

Good Game, not liking EA'S DRM make sure that when you buy it's a sealed copy . EA says because of DRM they can not change the install key with the email address that you use to set up your account and reg the game! So be carful when buying this game used!

Have you been waiting for the ultimate pc game? Well, look no further! You get to start your own creation from cell all the way to a space faring race! The graphics on this game is really good! You have to quit playing once and awhile to give your eyes a break!

Could only download ONE TIME. Children VERY disapointed. EA setup very hard to understand. The children justed wanted to play the game, not have mom or dad spent houry on the computer tring to reset game thru EA. THIS IS A JOKE.

Pro - This is a great game! It is really enjoyable getting your creature from a simple cell to colonize space. There are so many ways to change and create new creatures, buildings, ships. Great Game A+. Massive replayability.

Con - Couple downsides I've seen are at points the controls are a bit odd and then the AI is rather predictable.

I was really looking forward to this product, and it was more then what I could have expected. A very great game for anyone who enjoys games like the Sims.

While it is great fun and as easy as could be expected to design a creature from scratch, with amazing freedom, the game can be very repetitive. The worst offender is the Creature stage, where you're only task it to find other groups of creatures and either befriend them (by imitating them in an almost-minigame) or kill them (by clicking on your attacks in a menu in real time).

In order to complete this stage you need to "buy" more powerful and sophisticated parts for your creature in order to realistically be able to continue to progress, which takes away from some of the freedom of design.

Later stages are more complex, but not much. Everything really just leads up to the Space stage, in which your civilization builds a spacecraft (custom-designed using the same editing tools as your creature) and you set off to explore the galaxy. Planets are divided into solar systems, and as you leave your own you will run into many other space-faring creatures, as well as ones in earlier stages of development.

The amazing part is that many of the creatures (and building designs and vehicles) you encounter were created by other players. You can even track which players have seen your own creatures. This is by far and away the best reason to keep coming back. Even at this stage gameplay is still repetitive but there are literally thousands of planets to explore as you build your galactic empire. You can even manipulate each planets ecology by adding species of plants and animals picked up from other planets, and manipulate the atmosphere to provide ideal living conditions. There is a lot of replay value here if you are not easily bored by repetitive tasks.

Overall, the game works pretty well, but by the space stage it really makes little difference how you played through the other stages.

There's also the infamous Securom, which installs itself with the game despite being independent software that does not uninstall with it (in fact it is very difficult to uninstall at all). I made sure I knew how to uninstall it beforehand, and so far have not have problems, but I do think there should have been some indication that such intrusive software is being used when you install the game. Performance is completely unaffected.

I have heard a lot of hype over this game, and turns out, it is all true. This game is very well made, very creative, and it will keep you busy for endless hours! I have really enjoyed what i have played thus far, and look forward to getting further.

This is probably my second favorite game out of the Maxis games (Sim City 2000 being my favorite), everything flows very well, and the creatures are quite humorous.

I highly recommend this game to those who have enjoyed past Maxis games. It is easy to learn, but by the end, it provides a challenge for everyone.

This game is so much fun you wouldn't believe it!! It is challenging, fun, and violent!!! You go through 5 stages: Cell, Creature, Tribe, Civilization, and finally Space!!! The graphics are great and the creations are endless. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Son bought because all friends play. It can change every time they play and they don't get bored easily.

This game has kept me entertained for hours on end. I haven't even completed the first game that I started and there is so much to do. There are so many things to unlock and so many different ways that you can make your creature look. The possibilities are endless, and that is what makes this game so great! I would recommend this game to anyone.