You are right MinionJoe. The API is for developers (like yourself) to build their own webpages about Spore exactly as they want to. Currently the buddy browser and the profile widget are using the Spore API. We are excited to see what other applications you come up with!

Applications to see?

* How about a MAILBOX like AIM or some other chat.
* Application to open creations in a mini-Window to rotate similar to the creator BUT unable to DO anything to it other than look at it in 3d.
* SKINS baby! I want to slap on a SporeTV overlay on my main page.

@MaxisMichael, is there anyway to get a 3D image instead of the png?

hmm.. there's no easy way to show the asset in 3D.
We only store the thumbnail and large PNG from one angle.
However, the XML does have 3D transforms for each part so you *could* reconstruct the asset on your own, even if it's an abstract representation (since the 3D models for each part aren't available)

Stay tuned for more explanation about the contents of the asset XML.

Just curious, could this board be used as a "Suggest an Idea" board as seen on The Sims 2 BBS?

MaxisDangerousYams wrote:hmm.. there's no easy way to show the asset in 3D.
We only store the thumbnail and large PNG from one angle.
However, the XML does have 3D transforms for each part so you *could* reconstruct the asset on your own, even if it's an abstract representation (since the 3D models for each part aren't available)

Stay tuned for more explanation about the contents of the asset XML.

Awesome DangerousYams

I'm going to have a look and see what i can do with the news feed for the moment. (boring.... )

I would like to introduce my idea for an internet application for Spore.

As I am not a programmer, I can share my idea. And if anyone likes it they may try doing it

A small program like the buddy browser or Spore widget, that resembles a city/colony for you just by dragging png's of buildings into it.

The program could work like this.

1. The colony is viewed in 2D (of course) from the side (like the pngs).
a. It has a background, like a screen from a planet (which you can select maybe)
b. it has a front layer, which is the part of the city wall
c. it has several building layers, where the dragged buildings are displayed

2. Housing/City Hall, Entertainment and factory
a. of course the program does not have to be complex. it is okay when there are predefined slots for each building type.
b. It only has to display all types of buildings, e.g. 1 City hall, three factories, 2 entertainments and 5 housings or so. (maybe taking a lot screenshots from ingame helps defining what most cities look like when viewing them from the side.

3. Drag and Drop.
I think it would be really nice having that program open in one browser-window and then being able to simply drag buildings into it.


The aim of this program is simple. You can mix and match several buildings from the Sporepedia to see how your city would look like ingame. Then you can decide if it is worth downloading something or nor.

Problems:
The size of buildings on the png is not the actual size ingame. but I am sure there are informations about that in the png file. Question is, if an internet application can use these infos.

What do you think?

what is the point of this!?!?!?!?

Tutthoth wrote:what is the point of this!?!?!?!?

It would help if you actually read the threads in this section before posting comments like this.

OneBlackbird wrote:

Tutthoth wrote:what is the point of this!?!?!?!?

It would help if you actually read the threads in this section before posting comments like this.

NO, I MEAN THE BUDDY BROWSER LOOKS COOL, BUT YOU CAN''T DOWNLOAD FROM IT! WHY DO WE NEED THIS PROGRAMS? WE ALREADY HAVE THE SPOREPEDIA! PLUS WHY IS MAXIS DOING THIS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THEIR DARN PATCHES DOWNLOADABLE!!!

Tutthoth wrote:

OneBlackbird wrote:

Tutthoth wrote:what is the point of this!?!?!?!?

It would help if you actually read the threads in this section before posting comments like this.

NO, I MEAN THE BUDDY BROWSER LOOKS COOL, BUT YOU CAN''T DOWNLOAD FROM IT! WHY DO WE NEED THIS PROGRAMS? WE ALREADY HAVE THE SPOREPEDIA! PLUS WHY IS MAXIS DOING THIS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THEIR DARN PATCHES DOWNLOADABLE!!!

They probably are working on a patch. Maxis is not run by a single employee, Tuttoth. Applications like these are very helpful for people making fan sites or who want to customize or improve on the Sporepedia experience.

Don't be so narrow-minded.

I think it is also a good idea to involve the community and let them come up with programs and share ideas to improve Sporepedia and Spore in the internet. That gives Maxis more time for making patches You always have to look on it from another point of view.

Felix78 wrote:I think it is also a good idea to involve the community and let them come up with programs and share ideas to improve Sporepedia and Spore in the internet.

While I've not successfully created any nifty new apps yet, I do at least feel INVOVLED with improving Spore. One of the problems was that people had all these idea and no way to implement them. At least now we can do SOMETHING.

Unfortunately, most of the people that are left can hardly spell, much less work with RSS feeds and XML. But so long as they get a new parts pack every now and again, I don't think they'll care much.

I like the idea about the towns. But what if there was an app that would download a random creature everyfew minutes, and convert it so you can rotate it when you click on one of two arrows? and if you just click the creature, it sends you to the sporepedia page?

I have an idea for you, Maxis.

How about spending time in the help section responding to people having problems and fixing bugs instead of work on this stuff?

OneBlackbird wrote:

They probably are working on a patch. Maxis is not run by a single employee, Tuttoth. Applications like these are very helpful for people making fan sites or who want to customize or improve on the Sporepedia experience.

It's not helpful to people that can't even play the game because of crashes.