Yeah I had the same problem with it not showing up in the start menu or in the app list.

I had McAfee installed as well but I uninstalled it, I wonder if McAfee has something to do with the problem. I uninstalled McAfee last night while trying to fix things and I don't plan to reinstall it b/c it was giving me performance issues anyway.

As for the windows firewall I have added exceptions, I even added exceptions for the specific ports Spore uses, at least the ports I got from the Spore UK forums where one of the support guys posted them. I have tried it with Windows Firewall OFF and ON too. I even tried DMZing my PC in my router and when that didn't work I tried hooking my cable modem directly to my PC, and still no dice.

I tried installing Spore on my laptop but that didn't work either and now I wasted one of my 3 installs (which is another thing that pisses me off, thanks EA). Now that I think of it though my Laptop has McAfee too (I get it for free from Comcast).

I'm going to try uninstalling Spore on my desktop and reinstalling it now that McAfee is gone. Hopefully (PLEASE MAGICAL SPACE BEING FROM DIMENSION X I BEG YOU) it will work. I'll let you know if it does. I am HOPING that McAfee hasn't screwed with my registry to the point where uninstalling it won't help Spore, if that is the case I might have to reformat.

Yes, please keep me filled in on what's happening.

Does seem like a lot of trouble for one game, though. I get McAfee through my employer, but it has caused minimal trouble with my apps since installing it.

Oh well, good luck.

Make sure when you uninstall spore that you remove ALL the files that it installed. The uninstaller doesn't remove everything and you will have to clean up by hand.

I hope you get to connect soon

Didn't work but maybe I missed some of the files. Do you know where else it installs files besides the install directory? I checked in appdata and couldn't find anything.


man I am going to blow my brains out this is so frustrating!

I haven't been able to access the Sporepedia in-game since I bought it (I can login and upload, just not get any content and some pages are messed up). Maxis says they have no idea what's causing it, EA says the same but they'll look into it and get back to me. :\

sigh..

I called EA support and they couldn't help me at all. They told me to call my ISP...

They also asked me if my video card had a firewall....

Same problem:

1) Bought Spore regular version at midnight; sealed box, security stickers, etc. Installed fine, cd-key entered fine.

2) Used my Spore email/pw from the Spore Creature Creator to try logging in; unsuccessful with errors about invalid key and/or insufficient privileges.

3) Tried creating a 2nd EA account through the Spore interface; SUCCESS...for about one playing session. Now it tells me I never validated my account, even though I never received any validation email.

It's not my firewall, my virus protection, or anything on my end. I am reaching their server, but the server answers are borked.

My system:
HP dv8408us laptop
1 GB RAM
GeForce Go 7600 with latest drivers (game works GREAT, just no online content)
XP SP2

Big surprise but Comcast told me they weren't allowed to help me because I have a router and that they don't do anything with ports anyway. Then they told me to call the manufacturer of my router.

I hate this. What did I do to deserve this EA?!?!

Man, I'm about to just give up. The only thing that is keeping me going anymore is my curiosity, I just want to know what is causing the problem already.

I'm having a very similar experience here...cant even log in the first time. Telling me that my validation code is incorrect.

Sigh*...having the same problem, except for me..I am connected wirelessly from my laptop to a router of another pc. And yet, I cant register the game. My EA downloader is working fine...but, nothing is working. I cant register, I cant see anyone else's creations, I cant share, I cant see my spore page. Yet, I am connected. This has been going on since Monday. I give up.

Hey guys!

I figured out the problem and how to fix it... but you aren't going to like it.

Our accounts are just bugged. I created a brand new EA master account and used it to buy another copy of spore, I DL and installed it and it works fine, so far anyway. I am going to call EA later today with this info and ask them for a refund for the digital copy. When I called EA last night I told them I thought it may be a problem with my account and they told me my account was fine!

ugh. Anyway, I am wondering if linking the Creature Creator account to the install is what causes this problem.

I have heard grumblings in other locations that the codes on the back of many GEs were actually printed incorrectly. So it isn't a problem w/ the game it is actually a problem w/ the fact that the validation code is wrong.

Would make sense...but come on... Fix it already.

Maybe when they release a patch for the game's bugs, it will fix the "not being able to register or go online" bug? I really hope they do. Im bot buying another copy of the game...I just spent my paycheck...>___<*

Wow Kill, that is one hell of a way to fix the problem. Sorry you had to foot the bill for a new game. I am just frustrated because this seems to be the ONLY game I own that cannot connect to the internet.

I guess I do nto understand how creating a new EA account fixes the problem at all. When I go into the game and I hit the "register" button it tells me "unable to connect to the internet or the sproe server... blah blah blah... this is obviously your fault and not our's...".

How would a new account fix this problem if the game cannot "touch" the internet at all?

Also, how do I even go about attaching my game to my account if I cannot access the internet?

Bump, too.

I honestly don't believe that it is an internet issue. I really think that it is an issue w/ the validation codes that were sent out with the games are not being recognized on the EA side. Mine is connecting to the internet...it just isn't recognizing the code and won't let me connect to Spore.Com.