EA not Spore-ing until late '07

Designer Will Wright is aiming for the "second half of next year" to ship his much-anticipated PC evolution-civilization-space-exploration sim.

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Since it first wowed audiences at the 2005 Game Developers Conference, Spore has seen the buzz around it grow. Its expansive gameplay spans the entire history of life on a planet, from primordial prehistory to modern civilization. While it ends with the technological wonder of space travel, it also focuses heavily on biology, letting players create their own race of creatures and watch them evolve.

Like Spore's subject creatures, its release date has undergone several stages of evolution. Initially, the game had no release date, and then it was tagged for a late-2006 launch. But when Electronic Arts, Spore's publisher, released its E3 roster this past May, the date had reverted to "TBD." At the event, GameSpot editors were then told that the game had a broad "2007" release date.

As 2006 progressed, the belief became widespread that Spore might buck the fall release window traditionally favored for major title launches. Online listings on game retailers like GameStop.com EBgames.com had the game shipping in either February or mid-2007, which contributed to the confusion.

However, Spore creator Will Wright today revealed that the game will almost certainly not make it to market before July 2007. "We're saying the second half of next year [2007] for now," said Wright, leaving the possibility of still more changes. For more of Wright's thoughts on Spore, check out GameSpot's extensive interview with the legendary game designer.

57 Comments

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 10:51 am PT

    If only this article were correct Seems even WR cant prefict a release date. But oh well, late 07, late 08 whats a year any way

  • manapsal

    Posted Mar 11, 2007 3:16 pm PT

    i wonder if a 7300 LE can work...

  • racerx737

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 7:25 am PT

    a demo would be nice, but it would take time for them to make it, time away from actually finishing the game, I can wait and just buy the game when it comes out.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Sep 27, 2006 10:47 pm PT

    yeah, a demo would be nice, considering ive been waiting since late 2005. Maybe a small package of, the game with the microbe stage and the running and fighting diablo stage, but you only have 2 hours before it resets to the beggining,(which isnt so bad, you would get to test allot of differant things) and also, on the side, a separate program with just the creature editor. I think that would be fair.

  • MatchLegacy

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 10:40 am PT

    If it can handle BF2 or BW2 at all is a sign that you might not need as much of an upgrade as you might think :-p

  • vmfstorm1

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:43 pm PT

    there is a good thing in this...im gonna need a major upgrade....my computer can barely handle BF2 and Black and White 2

  • manapsal

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 8:19 am PT

    aw dammit...at least i'll have time to get a better graphics card

  • vmfstorm1

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    just wait to see my advanced race of bipedal lizard men with 18 eyes and 8 arms arrive on your planet (it would be cool if you could download other player's creatures into your universe wouldnt it?)

  • Dragoon_Jett

    Posted Aug 17, 2006 2:39 pm PT

    BE HAPPY because less bugs and crap!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • el_polloloco

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 3:53 pm PT

    when this game comes out i will be the most moronic god any world will ever see and make creatures that have butts right on top of their heads (thanx vg cats) just to make me fell better inside and i speak for anyone and everyone with a twisted mind such as mine

  • pathfinder15

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    Im going crazy for this game!!!!!! But im willing to wait (just)

  • bigelf72

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 3:18 pm PT

    at least a small demo to hold me over would surfice.

  • hsmyth

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 12:22 pm PT

    I cant believe they are going to take this long to get this game in the shops.. Whats the hold up?? It looks amazing, totally genious idea!!

  • TheVGM

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 11:24 pm PT

    Well, I guess we could settle for another year I suppose.

  • Tsuk13

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 12:51 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • samus_aran-371

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    i can't wait all this time, thats too long...

  • SmallPower

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 12:18 pm PT

    This news saddens me, even though it's not totally unexpected. I guess there are other things to look forward to. (*cries*)

  • Fallout_red

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:51 am PT

    Thats helps the idea that their going to launch the game for both 360 and PS3 along with the PC one. (With a Wii version afterall)

  • daqua_99

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 12:35 am PT

    It better be worth the wait ...

  • Jeremy252

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 8:54 pm PT

    "THE MORONIC FOOLS I DID NOT SPEND EVERY WAKEING MOMENT TO HEAR THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    Hey, they don't spend every waking moment making the game to hear whiny comments like yours.

    Get over it, the world doesn't revolve around you. People have lives.

  • Ironfixer

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 4:42 pm PT

    Thanks Will! Now the wife and kids are crying, and I just got a migraine. At least you want to have a FINISHED game at ship, which is counter to what we have been getting from PC games of late.

  • Pablo620

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    This is taking to long i have lost all interest. Oh well

  • gamer_10001

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    I want a console version, and judging by the interview earlier it's very probable.

  • SpareJesus

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    Well, guys..

    "It'll be done when it's done!"

  • vaejas

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    Well, I'll definitely have new computers by then. ^_^;

    But I would not be surprised to <unfounded>see the individual segments of the game released as demos as they are completed</unfounded>.

  • cheesytaco69

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    I really don't care. I'd like to play the game... but it's no match for the wait of Halo 3.

  • gamingfreak47

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Well at least its not as bad as the Wait for Twilight princess.

  • alpha_company

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 1:49 pm PT

    Woohoo! Duh

  • roboman34

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    Best things come to those Who wait.....and wait and wait...

    Is this will man trying to 'get blood out of a stone'..???!!!
    I will get the game,but are they pushing the GOD factor to much?
    my creatures going to have 3 legs and 4 arms...maybe a tail....

  • DogOfDeath

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 1:18 pm PT

    this is more than expected for me. We're talking an enourmous amount of custom content, and a singleplayer game that is not only populated, but completly changed and shifted by other players, like a multiplayer game. As a programmer, I understand the complexity of what this game is putting on the workers, despite the fact that 40 of the 80 team members are programmers.

    And we won't see a demo for this game for months (and im not talking 2-3, i mean 6+). I suspect that we'll have a ton of video info and such from Germany next month, and that should help ease the tensions. Public Playable versions will still be quite a ways away.

  • gamerman234

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    THE MORONIC FOOLS I DID NOT SPEND EVERY WAKEING MOMENT TO HEAR THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SWARE IF THEAY DONT RELESE A DEMO IN AUGUST 2006 I WILL SENT ANGRY LETTERS (best i can do) PLEASE RELEASE THE DEMO IN AUGUST DONT DO WHAT EARTH 2160 DID AND RELEASE THE DEMO A WEAK AFTER THE GAME COMES OUT

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    NooooooOOooo! No I say.

  • bretikur

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    To wait...

  • bretikur

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:34 pm PT

    Yeah but it will be difficult

  • SinfulSpikey

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    Words cannot express my sorrow.

  • Nuron_V

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    Hmm...one of Will Wrights main points of GDC 05 was that by havin everything procedurally generated would have them Masses of work and time making content, however if they have to send all that time getting everything to work properly its something of a failed concept. Don't get me wrong i will be getting the game and can't wait for it however for something that was ment to speed up development time...

  • TraiklinX3

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:57 am PT

    Hopefully they don't pull a BS move on everyone and make it one of the "Vista Only" releases.

  • -o-o-o-o-o-o-ox

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:53 am PT

    Keep it in development until it is perfect, I say.

    It's just like Twilight Princess. Don't release it until it is ready.

  • ApisBee

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:46 am PT

    Hi had fun playing SIM-EARTH back in the day. I'm eagerly awaiting Spore, Spore is sounding/looking like a good successor to SE.

  • zub1

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:44 am PT

    Invid, he's saying he's looking at a release date around the second half of 2007.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:31 am PT

    it will be worth the wait

  • Invid

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:28 am PT

    So, does this really mean late '07 or early '08?

  • deathc4

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:27 am PT

    Wonderful, guess no Spore for me. I ship off to grad school Fall 2007. Hope you young kids enjoy it for me.

  • bacomonk

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:24 am PT

    Breaking the EA curse of half-finished games! W00t

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:22 am PT

    you talk about god's creation of the world, which isn't scientific in itself.

  • DeeJayInphinity

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:22 am PT

    Omg, we're not getting half-a-game, YES! Cannot wait.

  • skip-man

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:19 am PT

    can't wait to play this game!!!!

  • Tolkien13

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 11:02 am PT

    God makes evolution you noobs.

    Science, LOL.

  • Alexandre_Palma

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 10:59 am PT

    It's better to be really good as I expect because the competition will be tough...We will have PS3, Wii and XBOX 360 with their young portfolio battling for our attention against the PC games...

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Aug 9, 2006 10:58 am PT

    Man, I want to make carnivores too, guess it'll have to wait.

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