EA looking 'way outside the game space' with Spore
It seems Spore has a shot at the big screen. No, not that 60" LCD monitor that cost you nearly all your limbs, but that one you view in the dark with a bunch of popcorn-munching strangers. According to Reuters, EA is looking to connect upcoming everything-sim Spore with television and film, hoping that the right deal will add momentum to the game's marketing machine and boost sales.
"With Spore, we're looking way outside the game space, such as TV, movies, etc.," said the game's revered designer, Will Wright. "We're basically planting the seeds to spread Spore out to a much wider group of people than would ever play a computer game." The aggressive, multi-medium marketing is thought to be prompted by EA's last round of disappointing financial results, with the publisher chasing down audiences in a bid to regain its top publisher throne. With Will Wright's latest, sights are being set even beyond the huge popularity attained by The Sims.
"Longer term, I think the brand of Spore potentially has a wider net to cast than The Sims did," notes Wright. We also reckon Spore is the easier one to adapt into an entertaining film, what with all the kooky aliens and spaceships.
"With Spore, we're looking way outside the game space, such as TV, movies, etc.," said the game's revered designer, Will Wright. "We're basically planting the seeds to spread Spore out to a much wider group of people than would ever play a computer game." The aggressive, multi-medium marketing is thought to be prompted by EA's last round of disappointing financial results, with the publisher chasing down audiences in a bid to regain its top publisher throne. With Will Wright's latest, sights are being set even beyond the huge popularity attained by The Sims.
"Longer term, I think the brand of Spore potentially has a wider net to cast than The Sims did," notes Wright. We also reckon Spore is the easier one to adapt into an entertaining film, what with all the kooky aliens and spaceships.












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Saria the Cat @ Aug 13th 2008 4:45PM
Wait, what do they mean by "TV and movies?" Like, a Spore TV show and a Spore movie? o_O Well, as long as the game doesn't turn out mediocre due to a division of resources or interests. But this sounds like just plain whoring out to me.
Dale @ Aug 13th 2008 6:55PM
Well, a TV series didn't hurt Viva Piñata any. Not that I know anyone who actually caught the painfully kiddy-focused show.
rv @ Aug 13th 2008 4:45PM
Spore movie? I don't know how that would work. Maybe a story about a developing foreign civ? Still, I don;t thnk that would be too great.
Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Aug 13th 2008 6:08PM
Well, the Spore resources provided such as creature creator etc. could always find some use in documentaries.
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Aug 13th 2008 4:48PM
*Insert bad porno joke here*
Zertoss @ Aug 13th 2008 4:56PM
The last time I was viewing the big screen in the dark with a bunch of popcorn-munching strangers, I was in my neighbor's house watching his 62" HDTV.
Boy did I get caught with my pants down.
shrapnel09 @ Aug 13th 2008 4:52PM
it would be odd turning a no story sandbox game into a movie...... still dont want to spend money on game though, what with too human coming out, perhaps its best to pirate and find ways to cheat the 10-day auto activate fun stuff that our good friends at EA love to do
CyberKnight @ Aug 13th 2008 5:44PM
True, it'll be tough to compete with all the other Hollywood blockbusters and their wonderfully, well-written stories and intricate plots...
Wait, no, it should fit right in. ;)
LaughingTarget @ Aug 13th 2008 4:55PM
Roll back the mouse further into an interdimensional game?
Erluti @ Aug 13th 2008 4:57PM
"We also reckon Spore is the easier one to adapt into an entertaining film, what with all the kooky aliens and spaceships."
The kids will love it.
CyberKnight @ Aug 13th 2008 5:40PM
Unfortunately, it'll be rated 'R' due to a scene featuring a number of penis-monsters and the massive Ginasaurus...
mezzanine @ Aug 13th 2008 4:58PM
Ooh, I hope George Clooney is the main character.
Mr Khan @ Aug 13th 2008 5:00PM
First bring it to all the consoles as you promised: A start with Wii, then move on to PS360, then work out the rest of it
Won't someone please think of the consoles?
LaughingTarget @ Aug 13th 2008 5:07PM
Why? This game is going to rock the charts on the PC where EA doesn't have to shell out additional development costs and the ridonkulous console royalty fee.
Superstar90 @ Aug 13th 2008 7:47PM
It's actually coming out for PC and DS in September... but the DS version won't be the same as the full game.
Jason @ Aug 13th 2008 5:09PM
Did no one see Evolution? Oh, right. Answered my own question, didn't I?
CyberKnight @ Aug 13th 2008 5:42PM
Militant atheist groups are already staging protests to keep it out of theaters...
Hyams @ Aug 13th 2008 5:53PM
You can't really compare a couple of Atheist kooks sending Will Wright retarded emails to the 'New' Atheist movement as a whole.
And besides, Atheists don't do protests. We just write about them in our blogs. (Now if only I had a blog...)
Mr Khan @ Aug 13th 2008 5:55PM
It reminds me of that episode of Dethklok, with the war between militant Atheists and Militant Agnostics
"Say Maybe To God!"
LaughingTarget @ Aug 13th 2008 5:56PM
Ya, getting emotional about the subject would imply that atheists have a belief structure and faith.
Hyams @ Aug 13th 2008 6:00PM
LaughingTarget: You do indeed get what I term 'young atheists', who were pretty much brought up as atheists, or only became atheists as a way to rebel, and they're particular brand of atheism is indeed a sort of faith.
They don't understand any of the complexities of the matter, and don't understand any of the rationality, arguments, and reasoning behind the so called 'new atheist' movement (Dawkins and the like).
You can see these sorts of atheists in their thousands on youtube. They always make me cringe.
SPAGHETTI @ Aug 13th 2008 5:48PM
srsly, fuck this game till it comes out im so fucking sick of hearing bout spore this and spore that but then i realise its comeing out in like 3010 WTH MAN
Ihavepants @ Aug 13th 2008 6:52PM
What would you rather hear about and why?
Noone is telling you to read this story, just skim it and move along.
arrakisman @ Aug 13th 2008 6:43PM
Finally a movie to fill in the huge gap in the 2001 story line.
theturtle363 @ Aug 13th 2008 7:09PM
The only thing I can see working is maybe a children's cartoon
Superstar90 @ Aug 13th 2008 7:48PM
Maybe it will be a Spore mockumentary, where it takes one world and goes over how that player evolved it. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.
Virtuous @ Aug 13th 2008 7:50PM
EA is desperate to earn more money. Their recipe for success has turned in to the recipe to rack up consistent losses. Instead of acquiring more properties EA ought to focus on making higher quality titles with their existing franchises.