| Spore | 
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| From: Electronic Arts
Category: Video Games
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $38.00
You Save: $11.99 (24%)
New (17) Used (12) from $32.05
Avg. Customer Rating:  3159 reviews
Sales Rank: 101
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Macintosh, Windows Vista
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 15352
Model: 15352
UPC: 014633153521
EAN: 0014633153521
ASIN: B000FKBCX4
Release Date: September 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed Ships from Ga.
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| Customer Reviews:
 DRM issues kill this thing September 8, 2008
72 out of 82 found this review helpful
For those who insist that reviews be limited to "product, not politics", these reviews definitely pertain to the product. Would you positively review a car that intentionally inserts razor blades into its seats, or a DVD player that "bricks" itself if you attempt to play a burned DVD? I didn't think so.
Publisher EA claims the biggest advantage of using the widely rejected SecuROM DRM product both in Spore and Mass Effect is that you do not need to insert the disc to play. It's not much of an advantage given the price one has to pay for a DRM system that consumes valuable processing resources and yet was already rendered ineffective by crackers everywhere. Punishing the customer in this fashion is NOT the way to sell a product.
A counter-example would be Sins of a Solar Empire, a top-rated PC game which managed to move half a million copies (so far) while having NO COPY PROTECTION whatsoever. For a game that took less than a million dollars to make (a drop in the ocean compared to say, Grand Theft Auto's development costs), this is incredible profit and proof that the quality of a game can eventually trump any percieved losses to piracy. In fact, SecuROM marketers attempted to sabatoge Stardock's sales efforts by posting links to pirated copies of the game on various forums in a transparent attempt to prove SecuROM was needed. It didn't work.
The first review is quite right in noting that EA holds absolutely no obligation to keep its activation servers working, and in fact stands to benefit from screwing everyone over. EA's use of this DRM method with such high-profile titles as this and Mass Effect is a disgusting attempt to establish precedent, in order to justify more and more draconian DRM. "Hey, these games sold well DESPITE our shafting the consumer! That must mean the DRM works! Let's put it in everything!"
Granted, this DRM will not affect everyone. It doesn't affect me, as I doubt I will be installing this game more than 3 times, but think of this as a case wherein one attempts to deny your rights and freedoms as a consumer with their reason for doing so being "you don't exercise them anyway, why should you have them?". I sincerely hope you don't think that's a fair deal.
Please do not support this copyright version of the Patriot Act. It's an insult to consumers and to yourself.
 Not even mad about DRM . . . It's just not a good game. September 8, 2008
33 out of 42 found this review helpful
I played Spore on my friend's computer for about an hour. He told me to keep playing because it would become fun. All I can say is it should have become fun faster. The beginning of the game is so pointless, so slow. I couldn't make it to the rest of the game. It's more like lets play dress up instead of a real game. I don't even think the creature creator is that good. I get so frustrated trying to create the shape I want or the look I want. Overall, I think it is an interesting topic, but better left to the science books. Sorry Will, not this time.
Just another cruddy god game. September 8, 2008
49 out of 55 found this review helpful
WTF? The first part of the game seemed fun, but terribly undeveloped. Just when you start loving your little creature it throws you into a completely different game with a whole new set of controls and play. Promises broken again. Spore is a victim of the marketing and research guys and should be avoided at all costs.
If you like god games and are 8 to 12 years old (and male) you'll play through the first part, never play it again and might even end up liking it. But after all the hype, it's worse that Black & White 2 (and that was pretty bad).
Hello? Powers that be? PLEASE release a "SPORE Evolution" that expands upon the original thought behind the game and brings the first part up to it's full potential. Rrgh, I hate this game.
PS-You'll need to know a bit about files and programming to get the game to launch in Vista. Simply put: IT WON'T LAUNCH unless you've gone in and edited some of the code. Oh, and did it say I hate download managers as well... particularly ones that are just aimed at selling you crap that you don't want or need? Rrgh, I hate EA. Like the man said, "It's about control."
Another loss for DRM September 8, 2008
89 out of 110 found this review helpful
I was going to buy the game today, but got too busy and decided to get it tomorrow. After seeing trailers and reading about the game, I was pretty excited. But then I read the reviews here and saved myself the 50 bucks. 80 actually, as I was going to buy the Galactic Edition. DRM programs being put on my computer is unacceptable. There are already enough useless programs trying to clog up my computer and browser with cookies and background services and start-up entries and bloatware for me to sign up for another one, especially one that feels free to mess around with not just the program I buy but others it suspects might be objectionable too. I don't need another parasite on my computer or in my life.
Sorry, EA, you messed up. Like Bioshock, Spore is a game I really wanted to play a lot, but won't because of DRM. I couldn't do it not just because of the way it will invade my privacy and limit my use of the game, but because in good conscience I can't support a company attempting to do that to others either. I will seriously consider whether I want to buy any EA games at all until they knock this off, just as I avoided Sony when they tried the same thing EA is trying to pull.
By the way I have never pirated a game and never will. I'm just an ordinary guy who wishes companies were less draconian and would mind their own business.
was gonna buy but... September 8, 2008
24 out of 30 found this review helpful
i read about the DRM and sadly enough would probably end up reinstalling it 3 times within a year or so and have a useless piece of junk. Looked forward to this game... guess i'll buy something else.
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