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This is an outrageously needless limitation on our ability to play around in the phase, which is so very painfully short.

The phase is so instantaneous that I don't have any opportunity to evolve my creature into anything near what I'd like. There are so many parts combinations I'd like to try but just literally can't, because I'm deprived of DNA at the end.

So my question is--is there a cheat to turn off this asinine block on DNA in the latter part of Cell? I know I could just cheat to hand myself DNA, but that defeats the purpose of playing the game. I want to get it by playing.

Also, can anyone explain a possible design reason for this limitation? If they wanted to limit the parts you had when starting creature, the complexity limit already does that. And this is also accomplished by just having the Cell parts not give you much bonus in Creature. I'm not even halfway up the complexity meter before I'm [i]forced[/i] to move on to the next phase.

Honestly, this DNA limit is the most arbitrary and punitive way I can think of to kill any shred of a "sandbox" element to this phase. What is the point?
Cell is very fun for a fleeting moment, and then the hand of Wright comes down and rudely smacks you into the Creature phase....
You already have the option of advancing to Creature. [i]Why [b]force[/b] it[/i]??

Ideally, we could also slow down the time it takes to advance to the next size within Cell phase. Give us some control please.

Incidentally, there's a glitch in my Cell phase where my creature keeps switching back and forth from translucent to solid. I'll be in the editor, choose one color--translucent. Then another shade of the same color and the same pattern--solid. Then go back to the first color--solid. Then choose about 7 more colors--finally back to translucent. Not just the editor either. It continues into the game.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29731.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29731.page GMT Hmm, I was getting DNA after the fact. I went around making all the species of creatures extinct even after I was ready to evolve and I racked up some 5,000 or so DNA.

(Not checked on that since patch however, bur pre-patch I can say I did)]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29734.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29734.page GMT Hmm, I was getting DNA after the fact. I went around making all the species of creatures extinct even after I was ready to evolve and I racked up some 5,000 or so DNA.[/quote]

That's the creature phase.

You stop getting DNA in the Cell phase .]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29737.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29737.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29751.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29751.page GMT
From creature -> civ you don't really have that issue so it was left open so that players could continue to develop the creature until they were satisfied.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29758.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29758.page GMT
This a trivial objection to letting us play more in Cell, and should not have affected design decisions.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29809.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29809.page GMT
That's not enough to build a half interesting Cell at the end of the stage.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29811.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29811.page GMT
...........[size=9]Official response????[/size]......]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29961.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29961.page GMT
From creature -> civ you don't really have that issue so it was left open so that players could continue to develop the creature until they were satisfied.[/quote]

Who the hell does exploitations effect but the only person playing?

If I want to ruin my game that should be my decision.

Just like if my kids want to have pizza AND french fries at school they should be able to, the school shouldn't be choosing for me what my kid can eat (That's an actual rule at the local school. You get one or the other. Yet at the same time they cut almost all of their Gym courses)]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29967.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29967.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29973.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29973.page GMT
This is an outrageously needless limitation on our ability to play around in the phase, which is so very painfully short.

The phase is so instantaneous that I don't have any opportunity to evolve my creature into anything near what I'd like. There are so many parts combinations I'd like to try but just literally can't, because I'm deprived of DNA at the end.[/quote]

Gotta agree with this. My cell barley evolves before it gets out. Also, there's no consequence for death in either cell or creature. At least in Tribe and Civ you have to start over. I don't know about Space though...

Maybe some things they can look into fixing in the next patch?]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29984.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29984.page GMT That's the creature phase.

You stop getting DNA in the Cell phase .[/quote]
That went completly over my head oviously LOL - cheers Must have misread it as creature..]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29993.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/29993.page GMT
From creature -> civ you don't really have that issue so it was left open so that players could continue to develop the creature until they were satisfied.[/quote]

Who the hell does exploitations effect but the only person playing?

If I want to ruin my game that should be my decision.

Just like if my kids want to have pizza AND french fries at school they should be able to, the school shouldn't be choosing for me what my kid can eat (That's an actual rule at the local school. You get one or the other. Yet at the same time they cut almost all of their Gym courses)[/quote]

Whoa man, don't blow an artery in your brain there.... I wasn't saying whether it was right/wrong or good/bad. I was only asserting my assumption as to why they implemented a limit on the cell phase. Games are often geared towards a certain balance, to keep balance limits and quotas are used, and that is why I believe it is the way it is.

Otherwise you could just keep going in cell stage, load up the organism with dozens of jets, fins etc, and then sell them off in the creature stage... thus leading to an imbalance in the game.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30011.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30011.page GMT
But what would be the point in extending the cell stage to accumulate endless DNA? There really isn't that many different combination of parts. It just seems like a trivial argument and not worth getting upset at...

Someone help me understand]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30096.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30096.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30234.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30234.page GMT
addDNA

This works in the Creature editor, I haven't tried it in the Cel editor.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30279.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30279.page GMT
but I don't think they'll change what they view as the game's tutorial until an expansion is released. Knowing EA, that means around Christmas.

It is an awesome phase though.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30349.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30349.page GMT
Someone help me understand [/quote]
Hi, my name is SpongB6F1 and I'd like to introduce you to a game called "Spore." It's supposed to be this thing where you have the ability to create your own little creatures and customize them. Doesn't that sound fun! Hahaha you suck and guess what?? You've just been duped, because as soon as you start to get into customizing your cell--[i]it's over[/i] before you can make the sort of cell you might want to. Bet you didn't see that coming!! [/sarcasm]

Ok so the point is that [i]Cell is fun to play, and making your little cell guy is fun.[/i] And then the 5 seconds is over and you're essentially [i]forced[/i] into the next phase. Sure you can swim aimlessly around for a while, if you're some kind of Zen mystic who enjoys meaninglessness, but all that creative potential is snatched away from you.

Cell should clearly be longer if you want it to be, but even given the current setup, its perfectly pointless to not let us upgrade our cells a little bit more if we want to. It's supposed to our personal creative space.

[quote]Otherwise you could just keep going in cell stage, load up the organism with dozens of jets, fins etc, and then sell them off in the creature stage... thus leading to an imbalance in the game. [/quote]
That doesn't make sense. As if the points you get from selling cell parts or the stat bonus in creature phase is an unalterable metaphysical fact. Quite obviously, if they were going to let you upgrade your cell more, and if (which is not likely) it could somehow unbalance the start of your creature phase------[i]the game's designers could just wave their magic wand and make the money from selling parts less, or nothing, or whatever.[/i] Like I said, this is not a real objection to depriving us of any option to play meaningfully in one of the game phases for more than a few minutes.
Where'd my sandbox go?? Can't find it....]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30975.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30975.page GMT
addDNA

This works in the Creature editor, I haven't tried it in the Cel editor.[/quote]
Yes I know, but that's really not a solution is it.

I don't want to just magically give myself DNA. That defeats the purpose of playing the game to earn it. I want to turn off the pointless limitation the prevents me from upgrading my cell anymore through my own achievements.

In other words, I just want to keep playing the SPORE phase. But no. I lose.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30985.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/30985.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31048.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31048.page GMT
That would be a more reasonable end .]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31082.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31082.page GMT
That would be a more reasonable end .[/quote]

Yeah, and another funny thing is cell size: some of those "cells" which consume your "little" "single cell" at the end are freakin' huge - and you are too! Maybe they tried to get as much "cute" as possible into those last carefree moments of aquatic simplicity, eat or be eaten.

One way was to make it too short. Another was to avoid getting unrealistically bigger and still able to freely swim.
But the DNA limit might also serve a hidden purpose (cue dramatic, tension-increasing music):

Here we go: players might have clamored to be multicellular in the water! Dun, dun duun..!
Suddenly sharks would swarm near fisheries in tribal stage, with gills and take in the villagers, and crocodiles: creeepy. How about water-compatible Creatures and Tribes, even underwater Cities and Swimming Saucers in the Inner liquid-filled Space? Water sculpting for Hydormforing....
Point is, each might become an Add-On later on. ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31945.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/31945.page GMT
anyway as has been stated, if you could keep getting dna, you'd start the creature stage with less incentive to do things for dna, and i guess they made it that way to kind of lead you on the story of your species' evolution. it's really not a sandbox game, but a progressive goal oriented game with customizable elements. in fact you're playing through several minigames which effect eachother.

i'm still holding out for the ability to play with only custom creatures, including in the cell stage.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32047.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32047.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32098.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32098.page GMT
As to changing it for everybody I think you are probably in the minority for wanting this to be changed and there are a lot of other things they could implement which would please a lot more people.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32142.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32142.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32165.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32165.page GMT
I think this says enough that there's going to be an update to cell phase, or a phase inbetween cell and creature, eventually. >.> So maybe the DNA limit is in place for a very good reason.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32188.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32188.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32198.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32198.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32202.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32202.page GMT
I don't get why this has to be a balance issue at all. If you can get too many parts by playing longer:
[u]just make the Cell parts give you a small or zero bonus in Creature, so that everyone starts on a level playing field.[/u] They could also just take away the DNA for selling the parts in Creature, if that was an issue.
There really is no problem here. The Cell parts already give you only a small bonus in Creature. Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt you'd even have to change much of anything as far as balance as it is.

And anyway, the next best thing to letting us normally play longer and actually getting DNA is just to [u]give us a cheat[/u] that removes the DNA ban at the end. There's obviously no reason not to do this. It's a cheat. Balance issues don't apply, and we can already just hand ourselves all the DNA we want through cheats. But that, of course, is not actually playing the game.

So, I'd really like to see a cheat for this? Pretty please?]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32234.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32234.page GMT
From creature -> civ you don't really have that issue so it was left open so that players could continue to develop the creature until they were satisfied.[/quote]

Who the hell does exploitations effect but the only person playing?

If I want to ruin my game that should be my decision.[/quote]

That's whatcha got cheat codes for.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32261.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32261.page GMT Otherwise you could just keep going in cell stage, load up the organism with dozens of jets, fins etc, and then sell them off in the creature stage... thus leading to an imbalance in the game.[/quote]

If you want to exploit the game you should be able to. It's not like it's multiplayer.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32317.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32317.page GMT There shouldn't have been a ban in the first place though.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32591.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/32591.page GMT
A underwater expansion would be awesome!! that was one of the games original attractions to me, but it was eventually cut out....way to go Will.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49007.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49007.page GMT
But that's not the point. You can do these things but only in the static, boring aftermath mode, where nothing ever changes, you can't get any more DNA or meet new creatures or increase in size or find new parts, etc. etc.

For all practical purposes the phase is actually forcing the real gameplay into this incredibly brief spurt, however much you can keep swimming around aimlessly afterward.

(Incidentally, they really could have let you increase in size indefinitely, so that you'd keep seeing new creatures--it's not like adding a few dozen more cells to your body each time is going to even bring you up to the macroscopic level, realistically. And even if you didn't actually increase in size, they could just introduce the new creatures directly. Sharing, anyone?)]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49114.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49114.page GMT
Exploited how exactly? The worst that would happen is someone goes into Creature Phase a couple extra Rank 1 skills. Now, if multiple parts stacked, I could see a problem, but that's not the case.

If someone wants to swim around as a cell gathering a few extra points of DNA so they can experiment with various cell designs, I don't see a problem. Once you go to Creature Phase, DNA gain is a LOT faster anyway.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49132.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49132.page GMT Otherwise you could just keep going in cell stage, load up the organism with dozens of jets, fins etc, and then sell them off in the creature stage... thus leading to an imbalance in the game.[/quote]

There would be no imbalance at all; in creature stage, you can get far mroe than enough DNA to max out your creature's complexity limit with hundreds, if not thousands, of DNA to spare. The limit merely MAYBE keeps the opening of the creature phase from being too simple. However, it's a single player game; why not let players invest more time in one portion to make simpler another portion? makes sense. It all comes out in a wash by the end of the creature stage anyways.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49143.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49143.page GMT
[quote=minionjoe]Exploited how exactly? The worst that would happen is someone goes into Creature Phase a couple extra Rank 1 skills. Now, if multiple parts stacked, I could see a problem, but that's not the case.

If someone wants to swim around as a cell gathering a few extra points of DNA so they can experiment with various cell designs, I don't see a problem. Once you go to Creature Phase, DNA gain is a LOT faster anyway.[/quote]

DavidKris:
I think the feared exploit is that if you got enough DNA to put 8 jets on your cell that when you got to creature phase you could immediately sell all those jets and use that DNA to buy better parts (get both the +2 strike and the +2 spit).

I on the other hand, would like to continue earning DNA so I can put on these extra parts -- not because I want to trade them for DNA, but rather that I want to decorate my creature with multiple flagella or have a mane created with cilia and not have to sell them back to purchase legs, arms or feet.

One of the things I like about the creature creator is that you can easily decorate a character with lots of detail or weapon parts, but doing this in game with a evolved creature is a lot less fun. Sure you can continue gathering DNA at the end of creature stage so you can do the decorations, but I preferr to play the stage with a more decorated creature.

What I would like to see is that when additional copies of parts already on the creature be available at a reduced cost (since these extra parts do not change the creature's attributes/abilities).
]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49180.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49180.page GMT [/quote]
Extremely good point. This should definitely be implemented, if they're not going to ever change the stat system.

On a related note, I've always thought that you should get less when selling parts than you paid to buy them, so there's at least [i]some[/i] kind of incentive to keep a coherent evolutionary path. Cheaper prices for parts in the same series would help too. These measures wouldn't at all prevent you from making whatever you wanted, with slightly more DNA gathering, but they'd give a bit more feeling of meaning to the path you take (as compared to the amount of that feeling you get now, which is zero.)

And that point about selling back Cell parts to get a DNA boost is really so trivial. If it was a problem, just put a cap on how much you can get from selling Cell parts. This should not have given them 5 seconds of consideration compared to the issue of whether we're allowed to play the phases we want to play (for more than a few rushed moments.) The same kind of point applies generally to Tribe and Civ as well.

I still haven't found any sandboxes lying around with this game. It's more like a forced march across a sandy desert.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49207.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49207.page GMT
QFT- the other critters in cell stage CHEAT! There's a lot of your "competition" cells that obviously have access to much larger DNA stockpiles than the players can get.

Joker badge for Maxis!


[quote]I think the feared exploit is that if you got enough DNA to put 8 jets on your cell that when you got to creature phase you could immediately sell all those jets and use that DNA to buy better parts (get both the +2 strike and the +2 spit). [/quote]

Easy fix- make t so that when you hit the "evolve to Land" button, your DNA drops to 100 max, and if you have parts on your cell that would put you over the 100-DNA limit, they get automatically removed until you are at 100 total (parts plus banked DNA). Alternately, when you enter the land-creature editor for the first time, strip all parts off the body and start with 100 DNA and a blob.

]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49228.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49228.page GMT Cell is very fun for a fleeting moment, and then the hand of Wright comes down and rudely smacks you into the Creature phase....
You already have the option of advancing to Creature. [i]Why [b]force[/b] it[/i]??

[/quote]


lmfao "before the hand of Wright comes down and rudely smacks you into the creature phase"

that was great i want to remember that line forever

i completely agree this game is rushing you from the start to the space phase i dont know about you but if i were a single cell organisim the last thought on my mind is getting to space as fast as possible! i have tried to ignore the fact that i dont collect dna anymore and continue playing the cell phase but its so hard they dont offer any more real food if your a herbivore at the end and not to mention its always the same cells, we need the cell creator and to be able to trade cells and to have them procedurally mixed into the cell phase to add diversity, as it stands right now if you have played thru the cell phase once as a herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore you have no more use in playing it ever again its the same thing every time same cells same enemies same everything, for a game that boasts that you will never know what you will run into in the game, the cell phase stands to differ! this needs to be changed big time, i have also beaten the cell phase in under 8 minutes without ever evolving once thats how pathetically easy and short it is i swear its so sad that such a fun portion of the game can be lacking in so many ways ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49392.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/49392.page GMT [/quote]
Extremely good point. This should definitely be implemented, if they're not going to ever change the stat system.

On a related note, I've always thought that you should get less when selling parts than you paid to buy them, so there's at least [i]some[/i] kind of incentive to keep a coherent evolutionary path. Cheaper prices for parts in the same series would help too. These measures wouldn't at all prevent you from making whatever you wanted, with slightly more DNA gathering, but they'd give a bit more feeling of meaning to the path you take (as compared to the amount of that feeling you get now, which is zero.)

And that point about selling back Cell parts to get a DNA boost is really so trivial. If it was a problem, just put a cap on how much you can get from selling Cell parts. This should not have given them 5 seconds of consideration compared to the issue of whether we're allowed to play the phases we want to play (for more than a few rushed moments.) The same kind of point applies generally to Tribe and Civ as well.

I still haven't found any sandboxes lying around with this game. It's more like a forced march across a sandy desert.[/quote]

LOL! I should say.

My favorite, own idea is to add a multicellular stage: you would still have the same Cap - but with sharing of cells (good ideas folks) - except then would once again be a tiny thing in the water.

As for sandboxes, I feel halfway between that and what you just said; sort of like a volunteered-for "march across a sandy desert". Still-wild Legions, anyone? (Certainly not Foreign; no-body volunteers for that anymore - "too many" individuals)]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/56633.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/56633.page GMT

I had the same thing in creature phase , but when the patch came i could go on playing in creature , still earning dna , still have the problem with cell phase tho hope to see it fixed too]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/56672.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/3537/56672.page GMT