This is something that I think is so fundamentally right up the alley of any SETI enthusiast, I had to post it here.

Will Wright, the man who brought us Sim City and the Sims, has made a new game called SPORE....arguably his most ambitious title yet, if not one of THE most ambitious video games of all time...


The game plays like this:

You start off as a single-celled organism on a planet in some star system; you "eat" other organisms and gain "DNA points" which you use to evolve your creature, specifically evolving it using your own creativity.

Eventually you evolve into a creature (which YOU made) that lives in a functional, complex ecosystem complete with carnivores, herbivores, etc.

Here's the catch: EVERY SINGLE CREATURE on the entire planet is a creature that was made by another player just like you. Your creature, along with everyone else's, is uploaded to a giant database which the game dynamically pulls creatures from to populate the world you live on. It does this intelligently, as every creature is rated on abilities and types, so that your world will have its own unique ecosystem.

Eventually, your creature continues evolving the way YOU choose so that it becomes intelligent and can use tools. You enter the "tribal phase" of the game where you control groups of your custom-made species in huts where they can wage war or diplomacy with other groups and even DOMESTICATE other creatures in the world.

Next, you enter the Civilization phase where you can custom design your own buildings, structures, and vehicles (which include planes, tanks, cars, ships, etc etc). Large-scale warfare and diplomacy are engaged in here.

The final phase of the game is the Space phase. Eventually you get to design your own spaceships which you can use to finally leave your world and explore your local solar system. Once you've done that, inter-stellar travel and exploration becomes available to you: You will find other inhabited worlds which encompass the entire range of phases you yourself went through. There will be worlds with alien space-faring civilizations, some in the tribal phase, and some filled with creatures not yet intelligent.

There are also space phenomenon like nebulae, supernovae, and black holes that you can explore.

You can initiate diplomatic relations with other equally-evolved civilizations, form alliances, or even go to war and wage interstellar conquest. You can also terraform planets, or even destroy them outright! You can abduct any species from any world, transplant it on another world and create whole new ecosystems and biospheres with your own panspermia. You can even contact lesser tribal societies and appear as a god to them, or even spark their own advancement by placing a Monolith (ala 2001: A Space Odyssey ).


The clincher:
There are reportedly FOUR BILLION PLANETS (yes four BILLION) in the game's galaxy. All of these are dynamically generated by the game engine using creatures at various stages drawn from what players all over the world have created.

No two worlds will ever be the same and no two playing experiences will ever be the same.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spore_%28video_game%29
http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/spore-most-ambitious-game-ever-/1220932
http://www.spore.com/

Video: Will Wright gives an overview of the game
http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/spore/spore-developer-videos/1218608

.....as you can tell, I'm really excited about this game. This is basically a SETI fan's dream (especially if you're into video games, like I am).

The SPORE Creature Creator was released early (the full game isn't out until September), and you can download a free-trial right here:
http://www.spore.com/trial

Basically, this is the editor from the Creature phase of the game, and by releasing it early, it gives the game's database a head-start to be filled with enough creatures to populate the worlds when players start playing the full game in September. The Creature Creator's only been out for one day and there are already 100,000+ creatures in the database.


I've already started making creatures myself! My username is CarlSagan1942 (heh, I figured Sagan would be into a game like this since he always said the universe could be "teeming with life").

Here are my creations if anyone's interested...
http://www.spore.com/sporepedia#qry=usr-CarlSagan1942


So who's gonna join me and play SPORE??

SPORE is going to be the BOMB!!!

Umm... I mean, it will be very great!

:D

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Do you have to buy the SPORE creator? Or will it come in the full game?

Luke.

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- Luke.

Do you have to buy the SPORE creator? Or will it come in the full game?

Luke.

It will come with the full game on release day in September.

If you're willing to pay $10 USD though, you can have access to it right now with all features unlocked. On the other hand, you could just download the "free trial" version. It's the exact same thing, but most of the optional body features are unavailable.

Do you have to buy the SPORE creator? Or will it come in the full game?

Luke.

It will come with the full game on release day in September.

If you're willing to pay $10 USD though, you can have access to it right now with all features unlocked. On the other hand, you could just download the "free trial" version. It's the exact same thing, but most of the optional body features are unavailable.

I've been watching the development of SPORE for months, and I will definitely be buying it, but I think I'll give the creator a miss...

Luke.

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- Luke.

Video of the game for those who don't know what we're talking about:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8372603330420559198



.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

the demo('s) were fun

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Scorpions - Wind Of Change

I can't wait for Spore! I've been following its development for years. I'm extremely excited!

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that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me

Space Empires souped up! And I mean by a lot. Sounds like something I will have to look at.

If I get any spare time that is...

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Never surrender and never give up. In the darkest hour there is always hope.

I heard about [i]Spore[i] about a month ago, and I've been waiting for it. Thanks for the preview! I'll certainly give it a look. :)

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"Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living, that's something else." (Han Solo)

I downloaded the creature creator for free so I could start practicing,

Made this tonight in about an hours:







They even have a built in video maker that automatically uploads your movie to your YouTube account if you have one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM_uOhoOdRY


Pretty fun and easy after ya stare at the controls a little.



.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

What a hoot! Downloaded the free trial and built 7 or 8 critters yesterday. Can't wait for the game to come out. My guys all "test drive" around the little circle just fine. But as Han Solo says, "Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living... That's something else."

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"Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living, that's something else." (Han Solo)

What a hoot! Downloaded the free trial and built 7 or 8 critters yesterday. Can't wait for the game to come out. My guys all "test drive" around the little circle just fine. But as Han Solo says, "Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living... That's something else."

I agree buddy,

It always looks better on paper, and then... reality kicks in.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Tried to think a little different for this one:







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtwIRRdybc4

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Very nice, what's your SPORE account name? I'd like to rate your creations!

I'm kind of on the same insect-like vibe myself; I think insectoid creatures are more fun to make for now... ;)

Hi Taurus,

Thanks much! I don't know if you'll be able to find my creations since I'm using the free version but my user name is: Krill

Lemme know your user name and I'll return the favor for your creatures.

:D

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

I found this user page, but nothing is uploaded...not 100% sure if it's yours..
http://www.spore.com/view/profile/Krill


Here's my user page btw. :)

http://www.spore.com/view/profile/CarlSagan1942

WOW!!!

Nice creatures! My user name is actually:

Kr1ll

Sorry about that. I forgot the "i" is actually a "1".

:(

:)


.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Here's one that doesn't look too scary... Unless it's Thanksgiving!!!!

Huahahahahahaha







Anyone who's ever owned or tended a bird before will know what this is all about.


Ba-GOK!

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Ah! I played around with the Creature design application at my buddy's house over the weekend. It's so much fun! I can't wait for the game! I haven't been interested in playing a video/computer game since Sims 2. My enthusiasm has been rekindled! I may have to upgrade my computer in order for it to run smoothly, however...

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that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me