iGame Radio

 

At PAX I got an opportunity to play a build of Darkspore and talk with Corey Johnson of Maxis. Darkspore is an online multiplayer hack and slash game (EA titles it an RPG, but the RPG elements are equivalent to Diablo or Torchlight) that uses some of the same technology used in the original Spore game, but with a significantly darker twist to it. We talked about the development of the game, game mechanics, and visuals. I was disturbed to find that the official statement right now is that the only platform the game is coming out on is Windows, despite the fact that when the game was originally announced, it was announced for Windows and Mac.

Or, at least, no nasty invasive DRM that makes half your user-base scream at you. According to this article in GamesIndustry.biz, Sims series’ executive producer Rod Humble has stated on the Sims 3 website that no online authentication will be needed…only CD-key copy protection. No limit on the number of computers is mentioned, so one can assume that no limit will exist. Considering EA’s insistence of the need for this type of DRM for Spore to protect against piracy, that’s a bit of a turnaround.

Weeeell. It seems that when a whole bunch of gamers stand up and shout for their rights, they get heard. Fancy that.

 

Short episode this time. Just me, doing a tour through the GameHouse Studios and completes my review of Spore by EA.

 

Corey and I give an overview of the PopCap Games launch event, a review about the Macally Pebble, Pebble Wireless, Turtle, and Accuglide mice, a review of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rainslick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 1, and part 2 of a review of Spore by EA. Also, we rap about the news of the week.