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#1 2008-12-09 6:15 pm
- MacMonkey
- Member
- From: Alpha quadrent
- Registered: 2005-05-08
- Posts: 1650
Hows SPORE turning out?
Hey guys, I haven't really been following this so I was wondering how SPORE is working out for my fellow mac users.
I decided the other day to give it a little try to see if I want to buy it. So far I'm loving the game but my *ahem demo* seemed to have a lot of performance issues. Under the raw un-patched version, I was able to play but a lot of places where my MBP should have been able to handle it, the framerate was going wayyyy under.
So I decided to see what updating would do.
After running the updates I found that it wouldn't launch anymore. It goes to the splash screen, sits there for a while, and returns a [1004](data directory not found).
I've heard about a few mac issues from around the net, but nothing saying that it's unplayable. So is it working ok for you guys? Is my "demo" misleading me?
Windows: Why you'll love a Mac.
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#2 2008-12-09 9:06 pm
- Booksley
- Zombie Genocidest
- From: Toronto, Ontario
- Registered: 2001-02-16
- Posts: 5037
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
You could try purchasing the game, updating it and see if that fixes your issues.
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#3 2008-12-09 9:20 pm
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
*gasp* 
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#4 2008-12-09 10:07 pm
- groid
- Some Kind of Monster
- Moderator
- From: OMG I live in Chicago now!
- Registered: 2001-01-09
- Posts: 2552
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
C install:
I was having fun playing the game in the space stage when i decided to install SP3. Then it started crashing a lot randomly. I uninstalled SP3, updated drives, and updated the game and it still likes to crash at times when zooming in/out of a planet.
I basically have just given up on it now...
The iMac's HD needs to be replaced, so I will put it on there when I get around to doing that....but the GPU isn't as good as my PC. 
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#5 2008-12-09 11:03 pm
- Aqua OS X
- Shark Sandwich
- From: Oakland, CA
- Registered: 2000-06-05
- Posts: 12669
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Well, considering this is a help topic pertaining to, what appears to be, pirated / cracked software, I imagine this thread will be locked soon.
That being said... Spore turns out to be boring.
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#6 2008-12-10 1:09 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Spore was just cited as the year's most "demo'd" game, tis true. Praps the OP will buy legit if he thinks the game's issues are fixable, but neither's a given.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#7 2008-12-10 2:03 am
- MacMonkey
- Member
- From: Alpha quadrent
- Registered: 2005-05-08
- Posts: 1650
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Aqua OS X wrote:
Well, considering this is a help topic pertaining to, what appears to be, pirated / cracked software, I imagine this thread will be locked soon.
That being said... Spore turns out to be boring.
Well technically no. I alluded to using a cracked software and am asking a question about the legit version.
If I find out for sure that I won't have the same issues, then yes I'll buy the game.
If there are similar issues, I wouldn't want to have paid $50 for something that was unusable.
I am kinda iffy about letting them install that SecuROM software on my Mac though.
Windows: Why you'll love a Mac.
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#8 2008-12-10 4:31 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Not a demanding game by current standards. Apple thinks a Mini is sufficient; maybe it is. Sys Reqs
Mac OS X version 10.5.3
Intel Core Duo processor
1GB of RAM (2GB recommended)
128MB video RAM (ATI Radeon X1600, NVidia Geforce 7300, or higher) (Intel Integrated GMA X3100 also acceptable)
4GB hard disk space (and an extra 1GB available for creations)
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#9 2008-12-10 7:39 am
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4334
- Website
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
"Mac: Mac OS X 10.5.3 Leopard, Intel Core Duo, 1024 MB RAM, 4.7 GB of hard drive space, plus additional space for creations NOTE: This game will not run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) Macs (PowerMac), nor Intel Mac Minis or pre-2008 Macbooks. (For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, Intel Integrated Chipset GMA X3100, Dual 2.0 GHz CPUs, or 1.7 GHz Core 2 Duo.)" 
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
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#10 2008-12-10 7:49 am
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Bat wrote:
Not a demanding game by current standards. Apple thinks a Mini is sufficient; maybe it is. Sys Reqs
Mac OS X version 10.5.3
Intel Core Duo processor
1GB of RAM (2GB recommended)
128MB video RAM (ATI Radeon X1600, NVidia Geforce 7300, or higher) (Intel Integrated GMA X3100 also acceptable)
4GB hard disk space (and an extra 1GB available for creations)
The Mini is only a GMA 950 and while a GMA 950 will run it, it wont do so in OS X.
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#11 2008-12-19 5:41 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
ScifiterX wrote:
Bat wrote:
Not a demanding game by current standards. Apple thinks a Mini is sufficient; maybe it is. Sys Reqs
Mac OS X version 10.5.3
Intel Core Duo processor
1GB of RAM (2GB recommended)
128MB video RAM (ATI Radeon X1600, NVidia Geforce 7300, or higher) (Intel Integrated GMA X3100 also acceptable)
4GB hard disk space (and an extra 1GB available for creations)The Mini is only a GMA 950 and while a GMA 950 will run it, it wont do so in OS X.
Naturally, you need to read very fine print to see that. Go from the Apple Spore main page to the linked Gaming Hardware page, see the Mini and a list of suggested games first up. (Hey, it's not our fault if you believed the implied linkage). Most Mini buyers don't know a 950 from a Mack truck.
Not being much on my mind, even I forgot the Mini's details, and games are a personal specialty.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#12 2008-12-19 8:39 am
- Funkey Monkey
- Il Maestro spettacolare
- From: On the podium.
- Registered: 2003-01-27
- Posts: 1467
- Website
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
So, since you asked...
I purchased a copy -- the gameplay is a little too simple. I felt like all the stages were too short and lacked any sort of complexity. Once you know how to play the game, you can get through all the stages (up to space) in about two hours.
And I didn't like the space stage at all. Just a bunch of little uninteresting tasks to perform endlessly.
But... the game is mind numbingly cute! And much of the space stuff is absolutely gorgeous. So from an artistic standpoint, I thought the whole thing was a home run. But once you've gotten through the game, I can't see any reason to play again.
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#13 2008-12-19 8:48 am
- Booksley
- Zombie Genocidest
- From: Toronto, Ontario
- Registered: 2001-02-16
- Posts: 5037
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Spore has the distinction of being on ArsTechnia's list of the most heart-rending gaming disappointments of 2008.
Last edited by Booksley (2008-12-19 8:48 am)
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#14 2008-12-19 4:11 pm
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
With Spore the most pirated game of the year, and The Sims/Sims 2 still surprisingly close, Will Wright is far and away the most-pirated game auteur extant. He must be so proud. 
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#15 2008-12-23 1:25 pm
- positionresearch
- Member
- Registered: 2008-12-23
- Posts: 2
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
I found that the advertisements were a lot of hype, and the gameplay just isn't there. After demoing the game I decided it just wasn't worth it. Their needs to be more required of your creature than simply eat eat eat and don't die. It's a great idea for a game, but I feel it's still very incomplete. It needs to be huge, and it's too compact.
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#16 2008-12-25 6:37 pm
- MacMonkey
- Member
- From: Alpha quadrent
- Registered: 2005-05-08
- Posts: 1650
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Alright, my brother got me a copy for christmas.
Annnnnnnnd........
Windows: Why you'll love a Mac.
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#17 2008-12-26 2:48 am
- Bat
- Flawless Cowboy
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 28541
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Uninstall your 'demo.' If you already have, see if it might have left something behind- anything that interferes with SecuROM and/or its drivers might have that result.
Other than that and still no luck, reinstall as called for.
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
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#18 2008-12-26 1:11 pm
Re: Hows SPORE turning out?
Patching on the Mac takes a long time. Do not kill the patching process if it looks like it's hanging. Otherwise, you'll hose the install and have to start again...
It is an odd thing, but every one who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world.
- Oscar Wilde
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