EA boss confident Spore to debut 'before the holidays'

by Christopher Grant { Jan 31st 2008 at 7:25PM }

Speaking during an EA conference call, EA CEO John Riccitiello (who's a poet, though he may not know it) told an audience of hungrily-eying analysts that their long-time-coming sim-everything, Spore, wouldn't be making a fiscal 08 release (which we already knew, of course). So the question is, will it make a calendar year 2008 release, or be pushed back to 2009 (but still within EA's 2009 fiscal year)? Riccitiello wasn't about to give us a specific date (a blogger can hope, no?) but Gamasutra pegged him as "confident" and quoted him saying it would be released "before the holidays." We're hoping he means the "holidays" that happen in, say ... December and not, say ... April Fool's Day.

Tags: BreakingNews, EA, Maxis, Spore

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Moofree @ Jan 31st 2008 7:29PM

More like spore debuted by Christmas 20XX.

BananaBoat @ Jan 31st 2008 11:06PM

Unless he means damned valentines day or easter, he had better have a good explanation. Grrrr.

Korova @ Jan 31st 2008 7:36PM

Two pieces of Spore news in one week! I have a bad feeling about this.

itouchmyself @ Jan 31st 2008 7:38PM

Does anyone even care about this game? It looks rather boring.

Ryuukuro @ Jan 31st 2008 9:05PM

The ultimate lesson in all of this: Do not announce your game until it is DONE. I am sure Spore will be the bee's knees and all but I am sick of waiting. Three damn years, y'all.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 1st 2008 5:44AM

yea these developers should really wait a little longer in the dev process before they announce these games. that way they can avoid all the delays and disappointment they seem so keen on dishing out. i could see maybe around a year before completion but damn how long has this game been announced now?

but at the same time, i guess have to start the hype train early. either way, i have lost interest in waiting, somebody just let me know when it gets here.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jan 31st 2008 7:43PM

Too be honest, I'm okay with the delays. I mean, fuck, I've been waiting for years to and I am extremely bummed about the water stage being cut, but this is a huge game. A huge game that will be sure to have a lot of bugs.

A bug can pretty rape and murder this game, so I am hoping they go for a prolonged testing time rather than making the customer be the beta tester (see recent Sims 2 installments).

Moofree @ Jan 31st 2008 8:21PM

Yeah normally the problem with EA is them rushing release schedules.
It's nice to see them actually put the time into making a game 'right'.

Well at least I hope that's what they're doing...

Blazur @ Jan 31st 2008 9:20PM

Bummer, I wasn't aware the water stage had been cut.

Autopsy15 @ Jan 31st 2008 11:31PM

They took away the part when you become a fishy?! NOOO!!! My sea-monkey army will never come to fruition!

LaughingTarget @ Feb 1st 2008 5:33AM

Imagine it, Madden 2010 releases in 2013.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 1st 2008 5:48AM

Madden 2010 released in 2013 would probably be a pretty solid game. hell id buy it, just give me a roster update. they could make create-a-players for the players drafted during that time. itd be better than the mess they have been putting out in recent years. exclusivity has something to do with too though since monopolies are never any good.

Darren @ Jan 31st 2008 8:00PM

i am confident...

that spore will not be released before the end of latteral time....

RoboChamp @ Jan 31st 2008 8:16PM

Yeah. Uh-huh.

jopojelly @ Jan 31st 2008 8:43PM

Ehh, Jewish Holidays?

octoberasian @ Feb 1st 2008 12:29AM

As long as the game comes with little to no problems, then I'll be happy. But, like many of you, I've been waiting too goddamn long for this game. T_T

StrangeBum @ Jan 31st 2008 8:53PM

Riiight.

And when Spore actually appears on shelves, it will also be the second coming of Jesus. Fernando will own a PS3 and love it. And joystiq will finally rule the world.

SGT Grumbles @ Jan 31st 2008 8:54PM

You can delay Spore another few months. That's fine. Just don't start hyping us up again only to see another delay.

Brello @ Jan 31st 2008 9:03PM

The spore I once thought was cool has changed so much. Who knows what it'll be by the time it's released.

Blazur @ Jan 31st 2008 9:19PM

Damn, I'm disappointed to hear that. If spore is realeased end of year '08 along with SC2, it'll be tough to decide where my attention should lie. Was really hoping this game would come out during the Spring so I could dedicate some time to it.

Autopsy15 @ Jan 31st 2008 11:36PM

Uhh! I have to wait even longer to make my abominations to God? Hurry up, EA. I got moose-eagles to mock as they try to figure out how to poop.

David @ Feb 1st 2008 1:29AM

I've actually forgotten about this game what with all the new games coming out. Holy crap am I pumped for this game now.

Stefan Hayden @ Feb 1st 2008 10:22AM

amazon still has Spore listed as a May 1st release date.

SquishyFishy @ Feb 1st 2008 11:23AM

The wait has been too long now. Let's just hope that this won't be
another "Black & White".
I also don't like the "cartoony" feel they gave it, and strongly
prefer the graphics from the GDC '05 video (with the little swimmy
platypus that later evolve into the Willosaurus). They can at least
make the creature editor available for download - if the game is
"near completion", then surely the editor is as well.