Slashdot Mirror
Maxis Launches Spore API Contest
Today EA Maxis announced the beginning of a development contest for their new Spore API. They're calling on players to submit useful and interesting apps and widgets, and they've provided samples to show the kinds of ideas they're looking for. The samples include an update list for creations by game buddies, a creature dueling app, a creature tournament app, and a variety of viewers.
First, take off all the DRM, and we'll talk.
Meet new people, and kill them.
Will Wright thinks he's a great game designer. He is, but he's also very arrogant. Arrogant in that "George Lucas I shit gold" way. I think he never stopped to think about why The Sims was fun. I think he never stopped to think about why "Spore" wouldn't be a stellar success. Now, they're desperate to save it, without realizing that the fundamental design was flawed in a oh-so-not-re-playable way. It's a one time through shits and giggles 80% rating game. Go back to the drawing boards and make a new game. Don't forget to self examine to figure out why you failed/succeeded at your goals!
tl;dr Just because your last game sold a gazillion, cheap production, high return addons, does not mean your next game will as well!
Get us more than one fleet of spaceships, then we'll talk.
because people in EU have better copyright protection where you can't steal their application under the ruse of a "contest".
Every country has their own special sets of law. Saw this when the shop I worked at branched out from the US to EMEA. Every country we sold into, or even better - opened an office - had a unique set of laws. Learned some hard lessons by not using 'native' lawyers. When we did they were not cheap. This was just a contest, right?
+++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU