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Joystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams [update 3]
Last night, Randall Bennett and I had the good fortune to attend a special Wired event featuring Will Wright showing off his next masterpiece, Spore, with a wonderful guest appearance by Robin Williams. We managed to get footage of the entire event and we even scored interviews with both Wright and Williams. Thanks to everyone over at Wired for inviting us! In the interest of getting this to you as soon as possible, we've uploaded the full 40 minute, 420MB file, which you can access via this link: [link]. Please right-click and save the file locally before viewing. It's 480x360 3ivx wrapped in Quicktime and should play nicely on your video-capable iPod, should you own one. If you feel like waiting a bit and think that 420MBs is ginormous, then give us about an hour and we'll update this post with some separate chapter-sized versions of the video. Enjoy!Get the video[Huge] Get the full enchilada[Cutdown1] Get the first 10 minutes (Will Wright introducing character creation) [Cutdown2] Get the next 10. [Cutdown3] Get the following 10. [Cutdown4] Get the final 10. Update: Someone was kind enough to make a torrent: [link].
GDC: The evolution of Will Wright's keynote title
I'm finally able to begin to process the contents of Will Wright's keynote speech from Thursday, titled "What's Next in Game Design?" Well, it was called "What's Next in Game Design?" before being changed and then changed again. Like the rest of Wright's speech, the naming process was a twisty maze of ideas. More thoughts on his keynote later; for now enjoy how it began...
Will Wright confirms Spore will hit the DS
Ray Almeda, of AMN, sat down with the Spore creator yesterday evening and asked if gamers would be able to play the upcoming title on the DS (and Sony's handheld...thing), with which he responded "Yes...definitely." Will's past attempts in gaming have been nothing but gold, with his Simcity and The Sims franchises being easily accessible to people in all walks of life (heck, some of my assignments back in middle school were to build fully-functioning cities in Simcity) and pushed the envelope of conventional game design. It's no wonder that so many eyes are on him and his upcoming project. We just hope Spore on the DS will be WiFi compatible in some way. Spore is currently slated for a 2007 release. [Update: Definitely fixed a typo.]
Will Wright narrates SPORE gameplay video
Sure, it's nearly a year late in making its way onto the internet, but Will Wright's SPORE presentation from last year's GDC, titled "The Future of Content", is now available on Google video. Will Wright narrates the entire 36 minute video, discussing things like mating, Care Bears, and the finer points of procedural synthesis, so watch it already! See also: Will Wright to deliver GDC keynote Joystiq's SPORE coverage [Thanks, josh & D] UPDATE: Commenter bob correctly notes that the video has been available on the GDCTV website, although registration is required. Consider this the first time it's been available to those who are afflicted with web-registration paranoia.
SPORE evolves onto handheld platforms
An internet job posting reveals that EA is looking for "an experienced designer that will be responsible for designing, creating and maintaining game systems and content for SPORE Handheld titles." Will Wright's "Sim Everything" wowed developers at last year's Game Developer's Conference. Responsibilities include delivering "AAA quality and unique play experiences on multiple Handheld platforms."The job posting doesn't specify what handhelds they'll be developing for, but we're willing to bet this here magical unicorn that this is the big break the Gizmondo and NGage platforms have been waiting for.[Via CVG]UPDATE: Ginko biloba-infused reader Aaron correctly recalled Will Wright mentioning that he wanted to bring SPORE to handhelds. Dan Choi found the Joystiq coverage from last May: "Wright also lets on that he plans to bring a version of Spore to handheld gaming systems."
Best selling PC games: AoE 3 and Civ IV battle for top spot
For the week ending November 13th, here's the best sellers list for PC games in the U.S. 1. Age Of Empires III 2. Civilization IV 3. Call Of Duty 2 4. Star Wars Battlefront II 5. World Of Warcraft 6. The Sims 2 7. City Of Villains 8. The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack 9. Battlefield 2 10. Call Of Duty 2 Collectors Edition As is obvious from the list, Civilization IV and Age of Empires 3 are deeply involved in a strategic battle for getting the most cash out of gamer's wallets. Age of Empires 3 has been out over a month now but is still topping the chart. With Civ IV being out just under a two weeks, has it already lost the momentum required to knock AoE 3 off the top spot?
Spore grabs 4 nominations for Best of E3 Awards
Will Wright's Spore heads this year's pack of nominees for the annual Game Critics Awards: Best of E3. Spore is up for Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game and Best Simulation Game. Also nominated for Best of Show: F.E.A.R. Gears of War The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Xbox 360 The PS3 and Revolution were not eligible because judges did not get "hands-on" playing time with them. Winners will be announced next Tuesday, June 7.
Wired Exclusive Interview with Will Wright on Spore
Spore's the buzzed-about game of the moment. Wired news interviews its creator, Will Wright, the man behind the best-selling PC game franchise The Sims. Wired didn't score any new screenshots, but the questions they've asked Wright elicit some interesting answers, including some great information about the technology behind the game: And that is what gives the content high compressibility, because every piece of content can be defined parametrically. Every piece of content has, in essence, a genome, which we can now transport across the net very cheaply, because it's so small, or put a database on your hard drive that has 1,000 creatures and occupies a very small amount of space. Wright also lets on that he plans to bring a version of Spore to handheld gaming systems. See the rest of the Joystiq spore coverage here.
Will Wright's Spore gets a good going-over at Gamespy
Gamespy does a good job of catching some of the more subtle points Will Wright made at his recent GDC presentation. Wright showed off Spore to get some buzz going on the title, sure. But he also wanted to point out the many ways a game can be fun - without necessarily spending all these tens of millions of dollars that everyone is talking/worrying about. His point of view on "procedural" content is fascinating, and just sounds so right. In a nutshell, he wants to do more with less, and he wants the gamer to play a key role in creating a game's fun-factor. Wright has already proven himself as a practicer of his preachifying with The Sims series. Read this article to get an idea of where he's taking us next.
GamingSteve grabs exclusive shots of Will Wright's Spore
GamingSteve has grabbed some excellent pics of the hyped, heady Wright-sim, Spore. The site's writer (Steve, we presume) isn't sure how long the pics will be up, so head on over to get a peek that only GDC attendees could enjoy up to now. Actually make that the GDC attendees who could pack into the small room they put Wright in for the announcement (was that done on purpose, and if so, why?) The site also has some good coverage of GDC. What more do you need? Why are you still here? [thanks Gaming Steve!]
Will Wright's Spore caps off a GDC dedicated to the future
One of the themes of this year's GDC certainly played out well. We got a lot of peeks at where the bigwigs think the industry is going, with a few demos thrown in for good measure. Iwata's keynote and demos, Allards's keynote and demo, the next-gen tools on the expo floor, and now the announcement of Spores, the first game by Will Wright since The Sims series. Of course, this speech happened when I was on my way back home. It couldn't be avoided. But it sounds like the perfect way to cap off a GDC where the essence of gaming (for want of a better phrase, trust me) was at the forefront. From what I'm hearing, Spores is the kind of emergent gameplay that could make Allard's dream of a 20 million-unit best seller a reality. Hey, if anyone could reach that number, Wright's the guy. The game lets you start as a simple life form, just emerging from the slime. You can play the game in such a way that the life form develops in specific ways. From there the game is an RTS, where you become a farmer of sorts, controlling herds of animals. Then you can begin to interact with the world around you, in a Sims-lite setting. Eventually you'll be able to travel between planets and solar systems. Apparently the demo was a real highlight of the show. Check out the forum post on Shacknews for a good perspective on the energy in the room. Has Will Wright proven that lightning can indeed strike twice? Gamespot Shacknews ABCNews Gamasutra IGN 1Up
Here's your chance! Win The Urbz for the Nintendo DS
Just as we promised here's your chance to win a free copy of The Urbz: Sims in the City for the brand new Nintendo DS. Be the first person to comment on this post with the codeword "circular", and we'll hook you up with a little something to play on your new toy. Like we said before, remember to authenticate your comment via email, and that the contest is limited to residents and the United States and Canada (but you probably haven't read this far yet). Good luck! UPDATE: Dennis wins this one! Make sure you check back tomorrow when you'll have a chance to win Madden NFL 2005.
The Urbz: get hip now!
It's Sims in the city! Alas, after poor console sales of the Sims, EA decided it needed to get more hip with its latest offering, opting to strip away the basic Sims formula, replacing it with glitz & glamour, and of course, attitude. The Urbz is basically a popularity contest, and not unlike real life, you succeed by wearing the right clothes and telling people what they want to hear (don't worry, for you real life losers EA provides all of the right choices, all of the time). There's little here to appreciate beyond the somewhat entertaining character animations, as the entire game can be unlocked in a matter of hours. Perhaps the greatest lesson the Urbz has to offer is, when you strip away the fashion trends, all social crowds are the same. PS2 Xbox GameCube
The Urbz: Sims in the City sneaks out
In all the hubbub about Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Everquest 2, it sure is easy to lose track of other upcoming titles. Somewhere in this frenzy The Urbz: Sims in the City has been shipped to stores. This would usually cause quite a stir, but these days we had to find a press release to get the scoop. Weird. The marketing guy puts on his shades in this excerpt and inserts the word "cool" (please note the (TM)s)... "The Urbz(TM): Sims in the City(TM) is all about three things: cool city style, building your reputation, and living the dream in a 24/7 city that never sleeps. It gives players the opportunity to create and control their sims in a completely unique way and in a very different environment," said Sinjin Bain, Executive Producer and Vice President.
The Black Eyed Peas coming to a Sims game near you
If you like The Black Eyed Peas, you'll be happy to know that the band will be making an appearance in The Urbz: Sims in the City. Electronic Arts, A&M Records and iTunes have teamed up to offer the first cross-media album featuring a single band. The band will appear in the game itself, where they'll provide nine tracks that will be available on iTunes with a special download card. The intriguing part of the deal is that the tracks will be recorded in the creepy, but convincing, language of The Sims games - Simlish. That should make the album eligible for the New Age section of your local music store.
Official DS launch titles!
Nintendo has announced which games will accompany the DS for its North American launch. The first wave is short, but sweet. You'll have your choice between Super Mario 64 DS, Spider-Man 2, Madden 2005, the Urbz, and Mr. Driller. Also due out by the end of November are: Asphalt Urban GT, Feel the Magic: XY/XX, Metroid Prime: Hunters, Ping Pals, PictoChat (built-in), Rayman DS, Ridge Racer DS, & Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.
EA expands its horizons with Urbz toys
Taking a hint from the Japanese, EA is cashing in on the game-to-toy phenomenon. The gaming giant has plans to release a line of Urbz figures to coincide with the release of the game. EA is looking to market to the large number of females (especially "tweens") who enjoy the original Sims games. It's a decent scheme (i.e. there's a lot of potential money to be made), as both the game and the toys will help sell each other. Atomic Toys is set to handle the manufacturing bit.
