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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 19:49:11 [Permalink]
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| So my kid and I went from single-celled organism to space-faring being in about eight hours today. Would have taken less time if the boy hadn't wanted to get into the little details of creature and vehicle design (although having a space ship with working oars is pretty funny, even if it's an old joke - well, it was new to him). |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 20:39:16 [Permalink]
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Okay, I've been playing Spore, lightly, for a few days. I've only just gotten one species to the beginning of the "Tribal" stage. Given that I've not gotten into all aspects of the game, and given that I've deliberately ignored other reviews, here's some of my first impressions.
It's one Hell of a "god game" (that's a generic term for a game -- like "Populous," "Sim City," or "Black and White" -- in which the player acts with god-like powers). It's quite engrossing in the depth of its detail, its humor, and the challenge in making and guiding a species toward success and advancement.
One thing it's not, is "evolutionary." At least not in essence. At every stage, one choses characteristics by buying organs to "advance" one's species. There is no sign of Dawkins' "blind watchmaker" at work. Real evolution doesn't set species on a path to "advancement." It is simply a survival mechanism. (Nor, I suppose one might say, does God need to purchase organs for His creatures.)
Spore could just as inaccurately be called an Intelligent Design game as an Evolution game. The game is neither, but it is great as a game. For all I know, it may be that featuring actual evolutionary processes would destroy the game's playability. Or it might be simply that Will Wright and his crew were unable to implement any such process that was playable.
Perhaps one of Spore's greatest contributions may be to get masses of people thinking about what ways other intelligent species might be wildly different physically -- and yet share many features of behavior. The vast variety of encountered non-player character species are provided by both Maxis and other players. (I was surprised to run into a band of Taffy-skinned Strokers, a species I'd designed and shared weeks ago. Those onanistic bastards kicked the crap out of my new character. If anyone wants to see my shared species, just check for HalfMooner.)
More later, as I ponder the game.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 09/13/2008 20:53:23 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2008 : 20:58:42 [Permalink]
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| By the way, I'm registered as "DaveW13" but because of my kid I'm only accepting stuff from "buddies" and we haven't shared anything at all, yet. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 09/13/2008 : 21:45:27 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
By the way, I'm registered as "DaveW13" but because of my kid I'm only accepting stuff from "buddies" and we haven't shared anything at all, yet.
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Wise move. Fergodsake don't share my "Strokers" with him!
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2008 : 00:26:38 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by HalfMooner
Wise move. Fergodsake don't share my "Strokers" with him! |
From what I saw, it doesn't look like I get a choice. If I declare you to be a buddy, then I might get anything you share. Unless I missed something, the only way to prevent getting Strokers is to not buddy with you at all.
I'll look again, though. Maybe there is an a la carte option. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2008 : 23:29:03 [Permalink]
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I just got through with a solid four hours of colonizing planets, trading spice and running errands to keep my alliances strong.
I have Spore Arm.
It's been a long, long time since I did that much mousing, especially with all the mouse-wheel work. My right forearm is visibly larger (like Popeye) than the left.
If I get a whole day to myself, I may wind up with carpal tunnel syndrome. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 07:15:29 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by HalfMooner
It's one Hell of a "god game" (that's a generic term for a game -- like "Populous," "Sim City," or "Black and White" -- in which the player acts with god-like powers). It's quite engrossing in the depth of its detail, its humor, and the challenge in making and guiding a species toward success and advancement.
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Ahh, sweet Black&White (and its evil cousin, Dungeon Keeper), Sim City and Populous! I love them so. Methinks I might love Spore just as much, but alas, the hardware says otherwise (it says, in fact, a big fat "NO GAME FOR YOU"). |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 07:59:01 [Permalink]
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Didn't play this weekend...I am at the Civ stage and spent most time designing vehicles and buildings...
Since I played a herbivore and did not attack other species unless provoked, I have been designated a "religious" culture. Boo... |
by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
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chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 08:06:33 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by pleco
Didn't play this weekend...I am at the Civ stage and spent most time designing vehicles and buildings...
Since I played a herbivore and did not attack other species unless provoked, I have been designated a "religious" culture. Boo...
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As if religous cultures don't attack unless provoked...  So much for realism. |
-Chaloobi
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 08:31:06 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by chaloobi
Originally posted by pleco
Didn't play this weekend...I am at the Civ stage and spent most time designing vehicles and buildings...
Since I played a herbivore and did not attack other species unless provoked, I have been designated a "religious" culture. Boo...
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As if religous cultures don't attack unless provoked... So much for realism.
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Religious cultures could be cool. Witch hunts, religious wars, a good schism every now and then. I'd go for that. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 08:53:28 [Permalink]
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One of the great improvement of Civilization IV compared to its predecessors is the introduction of actual religions in the game.
Although, it is still quite limited, it adds another layer of depth to what is my favourite game of all time. |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 09:06:09 [Permalink]
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| Ya know, maybe I will go buy Spore. Might be a nice break from all of the news shows I am watching, now that I am home most of the time... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 10:31:25 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Simon
One of the great improvement of Civilization IV compared to its predecessors is the introduction of actual religions in the game.
Although, it is still quite limited, it adds another layer of depth to what is my favourite game of all time.
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Have you played Civ 4: Beyond the Sword? A new concept from the original Civ 4 is corporations which work similarly to religions, though they require resources and great people to found. But they spread around to other cities even in other civilizations and they bring in revenue. I love that game...
Also, I have Spore at home though I haven't installed it yet. Been too busy... |
-Chaloobi
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pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 10:39:15 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by tomk80
Originally posted by chaloobi
Originally posted by pleco
Didn't play this weekend...I am at the Civ stage and spent most time designing vehicles and buildings...
Since I played a herbivore and did not attack other species unless provoked, I have been designated a "religious" culture. Boo...
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As if religous cultures don't attack unless provoked... So much for realism.
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Religious cultures could be cool. Witch hunts, religious wars, a good schism every now and then. I'd go for that.
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To be ultra realistic I should be able to acquire the ability to Crush Big Science... |
by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2008 : 10:49:05 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by chaloobi
Originally posted by Simon
One of the great improvement of Civilization IV compared to its predecessors is the introduction of actual religions in the game.
Although, it is still quite limited, it adds another layer of depth to what is my favourite game of all time.
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Have you played Civ 4: Beyond the Sword? A new concept from the original Civ 4 is corporations which work similarly to religions, though they require resources and great people to found. But they spread around to other cities even in other civilizations and they bring in revenue. I love that game...
Also, I have Spore at home though I haven't installed it yet. Been too busy...
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I don't... But I bought 'Warlords' that I needed because of the template I used to customize my civilization (I am not 'pretty handy with computers' enough to create a new civ. from scratch but I definitively can change a few variables).
Yeah, I use religions that way. I try to discover all of them and build the corresponding wonders. It is a very substantial source of income later in the game. |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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Spore is out today!
