I came to a realization today, something I did not want to face or admit too.


While i was walking through Wall Mart browsing PC games in the electronics section, i saw Spore... but not the Spore i thought i would see...

What caught my attention a second later stunned me and help me come to the awful realization that so many others have came to already...

Spore was under the Kiddy Game Section in Wall Mart. The kiddy game section where games are for 14 and under, and all the games are learning games where you learn math or science..

The Realization: Spore is for children and for the very casual gamers.


I have stopped playing Spore for about a week now, but this sealed the games fate.

Actually, it is only marketed as one. It's more of a casual game than a kiddie game. Casual games don't require you to think too much, so it's good for kids. And babies. Only little babies play Spore.

marketing fail. From what I've seen, the majority of the people that play this game and continue to play it after a long period of time are within an older demographic.

It's in with all the "regular" games at my local Wal-Mart. Just because one store put it in the wrong place doesn't mean the game is D00M3D!!1 or anything.

Nonomu198 wrote:Actually, it is only marketed as one. It's more of a casual game than a kiddie game. Casual games don't require you to think too much, so it's good for kids. And babies. Only little babies play Spore.

Or those who are not narrow minded and are prepared to simply enjoy things for what they are and possibly look at what is actually within the game. Too many people take the attitude that spore is not what they possibly expected and they therefore "don't like it as it doesn't have X and Y". I know that's a generalization but it seems that many people who have brought spore are complaining after over 100hours of play... that's more gameplay than a lot of games you buy.

Edit: There are a lot of things which could be improved with spore, I think everyone would be prepared to admit it. The main trouble with a lot of people complaining in this forum is that they whine but do not provide logical well thought out, realistic ways to make it better using the current baseline to build upon.

Thats strange...I read these so-called whiners postings and find ideas galore being thrown ot, many no-brainer ideas that really should have been implimented in the first place. Everything from debating the merits or lack of of micro-purchases, to suggestions for future content, and all kinds of back and forth advice to the huge amount of people having problems with the patches. But heaven FORBID anyone says anything CRITICAL or NEGATIVE. If we come across anything that makes us feel that way we should just pop a prozac and invision a glowing ball of warm positive light until the feeling passes, right? Dont forget the mantra lets all say it now:
Dont worry, be happy"

Eekwotsthat wrote:

Nonomu198 wrote:

Or those who are not narrow minded and are prepared to simply enjoy things for what they are and possibly look at what is actually within the game. Too many people take the attitude that spore is not what they possibly expected and they therefore "don't like it as it doesn't have X and Y". I know that's a generalization but it seems that many people who have brought spore are complaining after over 100hours of play... that's more gameplay than a lot of games you buy.

Edit: There are a lot of things which could be improved with spore, I think everyone would be prepared to admit it. The main trouble with a lot of people complaining in this forum is that they whine but do not provide logical well thought out, realistic ways to make it better using the current baseline to build upon.

I'd have to agree with you on most of that... There may be gameplay but it's rather boring and tedious.

Jiman wrote:I came to a realization today, something I did not want to face or admit too.


While i was walking through Wall Mart browsing PC games in the electronics section, i saw Spore... but not the Spore i thought i would see...

What caught my attention a second later stunned me and help me come to the awful realization that so many others have came to already...

Spore was under the Kiddy Game Section in Wall Mart. The kiddy game section where games are for 14 and under, and all the games are learning games where you learn math or science..

The Realization: Spore is for children and for the very casual gamers.


I have stopped playing Spore for about a week now, but this sealed the games fate.

They probably just had so many unsold that they just put them where they had room.

LanceLeClaire wrote:I read these so-called whiners postings and find ideas galore being thrown ot, many no-brainer ideas that really should have been implimented in the first place. Everything from debating the merits or lack of of micro-purchases, to suggestions for future content, and all kinds of back and forth advice to the huge amount of people having problems with the patches.

A lot of ideas are thrown about true. Few actually build upon what is currently existing in a way in which the improvements can be made and inserted. Maxis are not going to simply gut the game and rebuild it from scratch.

Micro payments... Well it has worked for Sims, works for your mobile phone, works with your printer and printer cartridges... Sad fact of modern business trying to get a revenue stream. I don't agree with it either and I doubt if I will continue forking out money for spore expansions unless I really like what they do.

Suggestions for future content often, not always, come with little thinking about the knock-on effects if implemented. Excellent example is the autosave. You are in a persistant galaxy with one save per "planet". Do you really want an autosave or do you want to control it ? The key is to consider possible implications and possibly even present these thoughts as part of any suggestions.

Patches are another matter entirely and should solve problems.

Eekwotsthat wrote:

Nonomu198 wrote:Actually, it is only marketed as one. It's more of a casual game than a kiddie game. Casual games don't require you to think too much, so it's good for kids. And babies. Only little babies play Spore.

Or those who are not narrow minded and are prepared to simply enjoy things for what they are and possibly look at what is actually within the game. Too many people take the attitude that spore is not what they possibly expected and they therefore "don't like it as it doesn't have X and Y". I know that's a generalization but it seems that many people who have brought spore are complaining after over 100hours of play... that's more gameplay than a lot of games you buy.

Edit: There are a lot of things which could be improved with spore, I think everyone would be prepared to admit it. The main trouble with a lot of people complaining in this forum is that they whine but do not provide logical well thought out, realistic ways to make it better using the current baseline to build upon.

I agree. All of those that are currently complaining, we should simply give up and walk away. It is clear that the pro-Spore-as-it-is camp has won. Spore will never be more than it is right now, and we can expect Spore 2 to be more of the same.

Thank you for opening my eyes, Eekwotsthat.

Gritmonger wrote:I agree. All of those that are currently complaining, we should simply give up and walk away.

Definately not. Constructive, well thought criticism can only be good, especially as Maxis are more likely to actually take it on board and possibly implement it.

Jiman wrote:I came to a realization today, something I did not want to face or admit too.


While i was walking through Wall Mart browsing PC games in the electronics section, i saw Spore... but not the Spore i thought i would see...

What caught my attention a second later stunned me and help me come to the awful realization that so many others have came to already...

Spore was under the Kiddy Game Section in Wall Mart. The kiddy game section where games are for 14 and under, and all the games are learning games where you learn math or science..

The Realization: Spore is for children and for the very casual gamers.


I have stopped playing Spore for about a week now, but this sealed the games fate.

LOL, I can't believe you base your opinions on Wal-fart. I mean, srsly? Only poor people shop there more than a few times in their lifetime.

Eekwotsthat wrote:The main trouble with a lot of people complaining in this forum is that they whine but do not provide logical well thought out, realistic ways to make it better using the current baseline to build upon.

C'mon now...

Nonomu198 wrote:Only little babies play Spore.

How much more logically well thought out feedback do you need?
In case you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm.

Gritmonger wrote:

Eekwotsthat wrote:

Nonomu198 wrote:Actually, it is only marketed as one. It's more of a casual game than a kiddie game. Casual games don't require you to think too much, so it's good for kids. And babies. Only little babies play Spore.

Or those who are not narrow minded and are prepared to simply enjoy things for what they are and possibly look at what is actually within the game. Too many people take the attitude that spore is not what they possibly expected and they therefore "don't like it as it doesn't have X and Y". I know that's a generalization but it seems that many people who have brought spore are complaining after over 100hours of play... that's more gameplay than a lot of games you buy.

Edit: There are a lot of things which could be improved with spore, I think everyone would be prepared to admit it. The main trouble with a lot of people complaining in this forum is that they whine but do not provide logical well thought out, realistic ways to make it better using the current baseline to build upon.

I agree. All of those that are currently complaining, we should simply give up and walk away. It is clear that the pro-Spore-as-it-is camp has won. Spore will never be more than it is right now, and we can expect Spore 2 to be more of the same.

Thank you for opening my eyes, Eekwotsthat.

No, no . Do not walk away. Lower your voices cease the repetitive rhetoric, contribute sound ideas.

For example : We all got burned on this release. The answer is not to scream and stamp our feet. The answer is to TELL EA & Maxis what we want..demanding "science" spore achieves nothing.

I for example am looking for deeper gameplay. It does not have to be scientifically accurate. It should however have impact. What I do, the things that I "evolve" should come with consequence. Even if it is in a RPG fashion, rather than a "scientific" fashion.
In other words parts should matter and I should have the option of failing.
I could give a SPORE if it looks "cute". I could care less if it is using scientific algorithms, just so long as it has more depth and the option of failing.

Jiman wrote:I came to a realization today, something I did not want to face or admit too.


While i was walking through Wall Mart browsing PC games in the electronics section, i saw Spore... but not the Spore i thought i would see...

What caught my attention a second later stunned me and help me come to the awful realization that so many others have came to already...

Spore was under the Kiddy Game Section in Wall Mart. The kiddy game section where games are for 14 and under, and all the games are learning games where you learn math or science..

The Realization: Spore is for children and for the very casual gamers.


I have stopped playing Spore for about a week now, but this sealed the games fate.

When I bought it on Sunday release, Best Buy had it on their front table. So a minimum wage Wal-Mart employee who don't care where things go makes you realize Spore is a kids game? Is that what you go by? Wal-Mart in my area has it by all the other games. In fact the 3 Wal-Marts over here have it by the regular games section. You are going to let this seal the games fate for you? ROFLMAO. You can go look at the "how old are you posts" to find out your answer.