Analyst: Spore 'likely' delayed until later in '08; EA guidance incorrect

36 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Jan 29th 2008 6:00PM
Filed under: Mac, PC, Business

Before Electronic Arts lays down its third quarter earnings in a couple days, Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey believes it "likely" that Spore will move from the guidance EA gave of a March/April release to the second half of '08. This also is corroborated by reports earlier this month when Spore was announced for simultaneous release on Mac and PC.

But what's another Spore delay at this point? We were a bit surprised (and skeptical) when Will Wright said Spore was six months from release last October. Maybe Hickey is totally wrong and Wright will pull a six-legged exoskeletoned gelatinopod from his hat?

Tags: delay, ea, janco-partners, mike-hickey, spore

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Limezor: Jan 29th 2008; 6:07PM

surprise surprise.

Cyantre: Jan 29th 2008; 6:07PM

I love the Doctor Who picture, nice job with the caption too. =D

Todd: Jan 30th 2008; 11:14AM

QFT

That pic of Doctor Who is priceless for this article.

XanthouS: Jan 29th 2008; 6:13PM

OMG GUYES

EA RHYMES WITH DELAY

!

StarFoxA: Jan 29th 2008; 6:30PM

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

StrangeBum: Jan 29th 2008; 6:58PM

NEW..AND YES...EXCITING!!!

CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL

blitzkrieg999: Jan 29th 2008; 6:18PM

When I finally get my hands on this game, I will create a creature whose sole existance is to be an avatar for EA, so that I might destroy it as often as possible in retaliation for making me wait so long for what may end up being the greatest game ever made.

You know... if the game lets me...

Korova: Jan 29th 2008; 6:20PM

Asking Will Wright to release a game is like asking Southern whites to stop segregation: it'll happen when everything is good and ready.

At this point, aggressive action and civil disobedience is in order. EA has already stood up to Fox News, maybe Jeff Brown can be our Rosa Parks and tell Will Right to let the gaming go.

squall-san: Jan 29th 2008; 6:21PM

Dr. Who FTW!!!!

BananaBoat: Jan 29th 2008; 6:26PM

He has no idea how to finish this game. It's obvious. He had a decent idea for a game, he got funding, he created the first 3/4 and now he has absolutely no idea what to do.

Atleast that's my take. I'm done waiting for this thing.

waynski1457: Jan 29th 2008; 9:35PM

thats not a bad theory. i can understand that but i like to believe that the genius of will wright wouldn't have that problem. thats just me tho.

rcf1105: Jan 29th 2008; 6:37PM

Added Dr. Who, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

343 Guilty Fart: Jan 29th 2008; 6:53PM

Even the Face of Boe never got to play Spore :(

Pizza Pasta: Jan 29th 2008; 7:13PM

Is he eatin' on a Jelly Baybay?

paragraph: Jan 29th 2008; 7:21PM

Indeed, i know it's likely to get delayed, but i allready have a pre-order on it...

The way i figure it, if GameStop gets only three copies, i'm going to be sure i'll get one..

The game is so good looking... i don't care if it takes another year, i'm getting a copy whenever the hell it comes out...

Ya'Rly

@BananaBoat

I thought the idea of the game was that it never ends, just like SimCity or The Sims... the orignal... you know, the good one..

Really i want this game to not have an ending in the normal sense... kinda like PacMan, you keep going and going, until you can't go no more, and then you feel satisfied.

Kevin: Jan 29th 2008; 7:51PM

I think that them saying that a demo would come out before the game to help build some in game content is the first clue. We can probably expect at least a month or so after the demo creature/building/vehicle editor.

The Doctor: Jan 29th 2008; 7:54PM

If The Doctor hasn't played it, no one will play it.

The universe just became a sadder place. Will, it didn't just become one, because it's discovered by the doctor in the future. But then again, its in the past of his personal timeline- gah. Darn this wibbly wobbly, time wimey stuff!

Hashbrown_Hunter: Jan 29th 2008; 7:54PM

Not surprised, but then again I've grown tired of waiting. After hearing the 'overhyped/underhyped' section in 1UP Yours a week ago, I can say I don't hold any interest in the game anymore.

Sorry Will Wright, but I still think the Sims owned.

rTwelve: Jan 29th 2008; 7:57PM

FUN FACT: At the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, nobody had yet played Spore.

NeverSage: Jan 29th 2008; 8:19PM

"Spore will move from the guidance EA gave of a March/April release to the second half of '08."

That would be 3008

Jeff: Jan 29th 2008; 8:26PM

I always forget to mention spore when people talk shit about PC gaming.

Dr0ooo: Jan 29th 2008; 8:50PM

I am not surprised that a game of this magnitude is still not finished. It seemed like to much of a hurdle to take on from its inception. Too bad, because it sounded like a cool idea.

muppetmeth: Jan 29th 2008; 9:07PM

Maybe this is all a dream. Maybe Spore never existed.

Korova: Jan 30th 2008; 7:07AM

Its a collective delusion. I think we all might be in a huge cult.

Roxinos: Jan 29th 2008; 10:04PM

*makes love to whoever chose the picture and caption of the picture*

(01): Jan 29th 2008; 10:50PM

I'm a little confused on how games like this slip into a development rut...Is it lack of money? Programmers quit? No direction? Anyway, it's got a while before it reaches the level of Duke Nukem Forever

jynxycat: Jan 29th 2008; 10:59PM

HAI GUYZ WEN IS RELEAES FOR X360?

Oreo: Jan 29th 2008; 11:13PM

The picture is great and nothing else is shocking. :)

Blazur: Jan 30th 2008; 12:17AM

New poll...what game will come out first?

- Sport
- StarCraft 2
- Duke Nukem Forever

ThornedVenom: Jan 30th 2008; 12:17AM

With such promises, just keep polishing it.

C4PTAIN AWE5OME: Jan 30th 2008; 12:18AM

I didn't know this was being developed for the PS3.

Whittico: Jan 30th 2008; 2:48AM

Best moment of my day: realizing how awesome the members of Joystiq are after reading so many comments about a Doctor Who picture that are actually funny...i love you guys...and girls...Slitheen, not so much, but Time Lords, yes.

Consolcwby: Jan 30th 2008; 2:57AM

Unlike most people here, I am still anticipating Spore with bated breath. That's why I look like this: O.O

I know one thing: When this game releases, there will have been nothing like it past or present. And with the eminent release of Duke Nukem Forever, I can only hope that Champions comes out next! Damn, I've been waiting for that one since 1991! =D

Tavon: Jan 30th 2008; 7:48AM

OK Doctor Who Spore isn't out by the end of time but what about Duke Nukem Forever

UrSpore: Feb 3rd 2008; 3:52PM

He said that the reason for the lower share price is the delay NOT the delay is due to the lower share price. If anything EA would want to push the game faster. Given that people have played it at things like Macworld ( http://www.urspore.com/index.php/Windows-PC-and-Mac/122-Spore-on-Mac-perhaps-the-reason-for-delay.html ) and EA has hired a publicist for this game already ( http://www.urspore.com/index.php/Video-Blog/Spore-Videos-and-Trailers/MacMost-Spore-for-Mac.html ) just possibly everyone is overreacting?

What do you think?

John Smith: Feb 5th 2008; 4:23PM

w00t Dr. Who FTW!!!

see the reason its taking so long is that they are making to where you can evolve into the world of gallifrey and eventually grow a tardis and travel through time and space. hehe

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