maxis
Latest
Sims Online is back (sort of) and free
Well, here's a story that we didn't expect we'd be writing today: The Sims Online is back. ... Yeah, we're as surprised as you are. Apparently, a team has been toiling deep within the bowels of EA to bring The Sims Online back to the former glory that all 17 of its fans remember. The game is now part of EA-Land, and has apparently been improved with Yahoo and Google integration as well as the ability to upload custom content that can be sold to other players.You can play without a subscription fee, but you'll be able to spend money to buy Simoleans, and (at some point) cash those Simoleans out. (If you want to cash out more than you put in, you'll need to be a subscriber). What will having a real-world economy grafted on to it do to the game? Well, let's just say that if you've never paid a Sim "masseuse" to talk dirty to you in Simlish, you haven't lived.
Overheard@GDC: Who's Will Wright?
"Who's Will Wright?""'Who's Will Wright?' You're out of my personal fan club. Have you ever played Sim City?""No."[Awkward silence.]-Two dudes at last night's Will Wright party
GDC08: We're at the Will Wright party
So, we've just arrived at the Will Wright party and we're literally awkwardly sitting in a corner. We're typing on our laptops while attractive people mill about and eat lots of food (mini-hot dogs and french fries) and drink. It's the same club as last night at the Sony event but this is clearly more of a video game industry crowd. (You can tell from the bigger crowds around the food table.)We're hoping that Will Wright comes out sporting a cane, then pretends to fall, does a somersault, and then kills us off one by one with an elaborate series of candy-themed traps. We'll let you know.%Gallery-16662%
GDC08: Spore producer talks user-generated content
You would think that after years working on the game, the developers of Spore would have seen all the game has to offer. But, to hear Maxis' Caryl Shaw tell it at her GDC lecture Wednesday, the real meat of the game has yet to be created. That's because the vast majority of the creatures and structures that will inhabit the Spore universe will come from the brains of its user base.When users get their hands on the creation tools, they may be surprised at the depth of their control. Besides fully fledged gaming consoles serving as buildings, Shaw also showed off an owl shaped spaceship, a craft that bore an eerie resemblance to Katamari Damacy's prince and ... a sentient race of Cheetoes. Really.%Gallery-16561%
Seen@GDC: Console war continues in Spore as Wii, PS3, 360 rebuilt in-game
Just how versatile is Spore's asset creation system? Check out these images we saw at today's GDC demonstration of the game's user-generated content features. No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, those are buildings shaped like a Wii, PS3 controller, GameCube and Xbox 360, created by one Maxis staffer.Just FYI, that dude's head isn't user generated ... unless God plays Spore. Which he probably does.
Spore Creatures producer Jason Haber talks up the game
To say that Spore Creatures is a radical departure from the PC game is an incredible understatement. But, we're not complaining, because hardware limitations on the DS are a lot harder to work with than say, oh ... a PC. But that doesn't mean all hope for the game is lost, as producer Jason Haber says Spore Creatures will be worth your time.One of the things that has been most criticized about Spore Creatures is its look. Haber describes the inspiration for the look of the game as being from "the look and feel of flat Japanese rod puppets and shadow box art, and how their creators would customize scenes to bring them to life." He goes on further, adding that this "was something that we wanted our players to be able to do on the DS, allowing the game to feel completely unique while supporting an intuitive and open editing system."Haber also hinted a bit in regards to DS-to-Wii functionality, responding to the question with "for Wii features and connectivity, we have not announced anything in particular, but that is the future and who can really predict the future?" The remainder of the interview is pretty interesting, so be sure to give it a read.%Gallery-15944%
Will Wright: Mac users will love Spore
Well, who won't, right? If you haven't read a single gaming blog this week (you serious worker bee, you), then you may not have heard the big news: Will Wright's rumored-to-be-a-masterpiece Spore has gotten a release date. It's hitting stores (for both PC and Mac simultaneously-- now that's what I like to hear) on September 7, 2008. Which means that later this year, PC and Mac users alike will be playing God, and creating creatures that virtually evolve from amoeba form all the way up to space travel.Mac|Life got a chance to sit down with Will Wright himself, and not only did he reveal some fun news about the game, but he thinks it will especially appeal to Mac users-- they expect the creative creature creator to do great things with Mac minds. Unfortunately, the game is a Cider port, and it's being released by Aspyr (that's right, I'm breaking my informal press boycott on them to talk about Spore-- don't disappoint me, Aspyr *see update below) but Wright sounds like he's expecting quality from this release, so I guess we should, too.And just like all the other great developers out there, he's very interested to see what happens with the iPhone SDK -- Wright is apparently an iPhone owner, and would love to get Spore on there. Believe me, Will -- I'd love to play it.[Via IMG]*Update: Aspyr has contacted us to say that they are not publishing the game. And at first I was confused, because Lucy Bradshaw specifically mentions Aspyr in the interview. However, after reading it a few times, it seems that Bradshaw is actually giving reasons for why they decided not to go with Aspyr-- their native ports come out too late, and EA wanted to release Spore simultaneously on all platforms.Aspyr also notes to us that they only do native ports, not Cider ports. So I guess my informal boycott against Aspyr is still on, but we're still not guaranteed to get a good game out of this: Madden '08 was created using Transgaming's Cider, and that didn't turn out so well. Wait and see.
DS Daily: Spore, Spore, Spore (How Do You Like It)
EA recently revealed the design for the DS Spore game, Spore Creatures. To be blunt, it's ... not the whole Spore. Instead of shrinking the whole game down for the DS format, Maxis decided to make a different, smaller-scale game about the life and adventures of one evolving critter. We kind of assume they know what they're doing (they're Maxis), and we know that Will Wright is a fan of the DS, so we have reason to believe that this is a good decision.But we aren't sure. Are we getting screwed over by a half-assed Spore, or has Maxis made the right decision by designing a more portable-friendly game? Obviously we haven't all played it, but we're sure you have some kind of feelings already.%Gallery-15944%
Europe to get Spore two days early
According to Maxis's Patrick Buechner, "Europe is the priority for Spore." After years of being shafted and having to wait while American and Japanese gamers get titles first, how does that make all of you in Euroland feel?Of course, it helps that there's a ton of PC gamers in Europe. Fortunately, for those of you planning to get the DS version known as Spore Creatures, the games are set to release on both platforms (and Macs) simultaneously.The goal for the European release is September 5th, which happens to be two days before the American one. Buechner also says that these dates are very makeable, so gamers shouldn't expect delays. We can't help but be a little bit skeptical on that issue, but we're willing to believe him for now.%Gallery-15944%
Joystiq gets their hands dirty with Spore Creatures
For many of you, yesterday's news meant that life would have to take a break on September 7th of this year. Friends will be lost and your job will likely alter to one of playing God instead of filing paperwork like you currently do. Yup, it should be a very good year.That is, until we read up on Joystiq's impressions with the DS version of Will Wright's game. First of all, it's being developed by Foundation 9 and not Maxis. Although Maxis did say they're handling "design" internally, we're not all too pleased to know that another developer is making this game and it won't be under the scrutinizing eye of Will Wright day and night.Second, this game is going to be very different from Spore on the PC. In Spore Creatures, you're abducted by aliens, along with a pal of yours, and you must go on a long quest to save your friend. You'll make other friends, evolve and fight to survive. But, the focus is clearly on collecting items and maintaining one creature, rather than all of the awesome stuff one can do in the PC game.That isn't to say that Spore: Creatures is a completely lost cause. The game will allow players to trade creatures over Wi-Fi Connect, so we're glad to see that. Also, the creature creation system sounds robust, from what Joystiq found. And, also the game will benefit from a good stylus-driven control scheme. %Gallery-15944%
Spore media blowout: impressions, images and more!
Four Spore and just over seven years ago (hah! we're punny), Will Wright set about his extremely ambitious "Sim Everything" project. Now that we have a confirmed release date of September 7, 2008 (and some parts even sooner), it's time to recap all the Spore news from the last 14 hours: Spore finally evolves to retail Sept 7, 2008 Can't wait for September 7? Creature-only Spore to launch sooner Will Wright talks Spore on Wii, delays, procedural music DS, mobile version of Spore titled 'Spore Creatures' A peak into Will Wright's office Today's most retrospective video: Spore's GDC 2005 unveiling Hands-on impressions: Joystiq impressions: Spore (PC/Mac) Joystiq Impressions: Spore Creatures (Mobile) Joystiq impressions: Spore Creatures (DS) Exhaustive galleries found after the break!
Can't wait for September 7? Creature-only Spore to launch sooner
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Spore_creature_editor_to_launch_before_Spore'; EA is releasing a separate SKU for a creature-editor edition of Spore even earlier than its September 7 game launch. The company confirmed with us that the stand-alone product will let players begin creating crazy creatures, although it won't include other components of Spore's Creature Phase. Those creatures will then be able to be used in the full version of Spore.EA didn't give any more specific details about when the creature-editor-only Spore will be released and its cost. Here's hoping it's a free download available, umm, yesterday. There's time travel in Spore, right?%Gallery-15883% Check out all our extensive coverage of Will Wright's Spore, including impressions of the PC, Mac, DS, and Mobile releases; the teaser trailer; some pics of Will Wright's office; and more!
Joystiq impressions: Spore (PC/Mac)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Hands_on_impressions_with_Spore'; At a recent Spore demo, I spent four hours seeing and playing the game. I can normally sum up an in-development game in a half-hour, but I frantically took notes that whole time. I gorged on Spore, like a starving hiker stumbling into an alpine restaurant. So this was what all the excitement was about. Even after watching and playing Spore to the point of delirium, I still had more questions. There was even more I didn't see. But I was so full that I figured if I never heard anything about Spore again, I'd be satisfied.Somehow, in the following days, I started to miss Spore a little: the teetering walks of an off-balance creature, an alien spaceship scaring my nervous tribe, and the curved horizon lines. I could fill pages here with these little snippets -- and I did in my notebook.But most of all, I came away thinking that Maxis could pull off Spore's overwhelming scope. This game could actually live up to Will Wright's intent, shipping on September 7. Through Spore, he could change gaming again.I never wanted to read another hype-generating Spore preview again. I never thought I'd be writing one.%Gallery-15883%
Joystiq Impressions: Spore (Mobile)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Hands_on_with_Spore_Creatures_Mobile'; Update: EA let us know that only the DS game will be called "Spore Creatures." The mobile version keeps the simple "Spore" handle.Spore Creatures for mobile phones is launching with the rest of the Spores on September 7. I figured that this Spore had no chance of infecting me. But after recently playing, I was impressed and surprised by its quality. The graphics -- and even its concept -- would be at home on a DS or Game Boy.Like Spore on the DS, the mobile version of the game doesn't even try include everything from the PC version. Spore for phones centers on the Cell Phase of the game. You use the phone's joystick to steer the creature through a slurry of suspended protein and other early life forms, eating objects and avoiding enemies.But like the other versions of Spore, you'll regularly use a creature editor to upgrade the character. While the body part choices are also scaled down, there's enough variety to make the creature your own. Certain parts, like a dangling lure, affect how other organisms behave. That lure attracts food to you, for example. Or you could add a shell for personal defense; hit a button, and hide inside for temporary invulnerability.%Gallery-15904%
A peek into Will Wright's office
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Will_Wright_s_office_It_s_not_a_bug_it_s_a_feature'; While wandering through EA's Maxis office for a recent Spore demo or two (or three), we snapped a few pictures of building art and Will Wright's office. (We've grown unexpectedly fascinated with people's desks.) "It's not a bug, it's a feature" never gets old. And it's a veritable game of spot-the-technology-that-shouldn't-be-here inside Wright's workspace. Well, "shouldn't" for game developers who aren't trying to launch the SimEverything genre. Somehow, we think Wright needs everything in the photo.%Gallery-15885% Check out all our extensive coverage of Will Wright's Spore!
Joystiq impressions: Spore Creatures (DS)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Hands_on_with_Spore_on_DS'; Like many other multi-platform games, Spore DS Spore Creatures is being developed outside of EA's Maxis office. Foundation 9 -- formerly the Amaze Entertainment studio -- is handling the game. (Maxis says it's doing the "design" internally, for what that's worth.) Spore's immense scope is being cut to fit the DS screen; instead of five different phases, the DS game is more of an adventure story centering on creature creation, exploration, and evolution.After hearing this scope -- "You know... for kids." -- I almost wrote it off outright. After seeing the game, I think it's going to appeal heavily to that young demographic, but it's also going to snag a lot of The Sims fans.%Gallery-15886%
Today's most retrospective video: Spore's GDC 2005 unveiling
Although you might be feeling a Spore overload as of late, we thought it'd be fun to take a moment and look back at Spore from GDC 2005, three years ago, and see how the game looked then. After the break, footage from the unveiling. We've also embedded The Powers of Ten, a 1977 short film documentary that reportedly inspired Will Wright to make the game.
Don't you Spore-get about Wii
If you've been checking some of your favorite game sites, there's a good chance you've already heard about Spore's September release date. Wii owners were kicked to the curb and left out in the cold after the announcement, though, which made no mention of the game's presence on Nintendo's newest home console.We may not have a date, but thanks to N'Gai Croal, Wii owners have some tiny morsel details to nibble on. The good news is that these details make the Wii version sound like the most immersive of any, and not just because of the Wiimote. Okay, it's totally because of the Wiimote.In a Newsweek interview with Will Wright, the Spore creator talks about the benefits of putting the game on the Wii. Apparently, Nintendo's system has a higher bandwith controller than the other consoles (and computers). Because of that, the creatures have the potential for an infinite number of animations. Wright also said that he has spent a lot of time working on even the most subtle aspects of the Wiimote controls, which makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's nice when the Wii's controller is used to its full potential, and not just as a gimmick.Hopefully the Wii version will be as good as it sounds -- we'd hate to wait an extra long time, only to be disappointed. No pressure there, Mr. Wright ... no pressure at all.
Spore gets dated for September as DS details emerge
Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. It seems that Spore has finally been given a release date (or at least, the DS, PC, Mac, and mobile phone versions were). The much anticipated game will be gracing our favorite dual-screened portable on September 7th. Yes, that's quite a long way away, but it's better than the "possibly 2009, but who really knows?" window we had before.We're wondering, though -- how many of you potential Spore buyers plan to get Will Wright's game for the DS? While there's been a lot of hype for the game, it's usually not on the handheld front. The lack of excitement might be slightly justified, however. Obviously, the DS and mobile phone games are going to suffer some cutbacks when compared to their computer counterparts.According to a Newsweek interview with Lucy Bradshaw, the vice president of Maxis and executive producer of Spore, the DS version will be called Spore Creatures and will focus mainly on creature creation. The title will also have a different, Japanese-based art style, and features "unique abilities" for the creatures in the game. The Wi-Fi will be similar to that of the PC and Mac titles, however, and allow players to trade or share their creations with friends.While the game might not be as deep as the computer ones, it still appears to be pretty epic, so having the option to carry it around at all times might be a good thing.Hey, and it beats getting the mobile phone version, amirite?[Via Joystiq]
DS version of Spore titled 'Spore Creatures' [update]
Update: EA has clarified that the DS version will be called Spore Creatures, while the mobile game will retain the original title -- just Spore.Though it may share half a name with the "everything but the kitchen sink, but also, probably, a kitchen sink" sim Spore, you've probably already guessed that the DS and mobile versions of the game are going to be drastically different than its big brother. In an interview with Newsweek released today, Maxis' Lucy Bradshaw, gave some idea of what would be shed to get the game onto handhelds.In short, the game's been designed from the ground up for the smaller platforms, eschewing all but the creature creation portion of the game. It's even adapted a different art style based on Japanese flat rod puppets (one of our top three favorite kinds of Japanese puppets). The mobile phone version pulls the zoom in even tighter, focusing only on the cell phase of Spore. If you want more info about how you'll be getting your Spore fix on the go, check the full interview here. Check out all our extensive coverage of Will Wright's Spore!
