Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Sims surpasses 100 million units sold worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/the-sims-surpasses-100-million-units-sold-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/the-sims-surpasses-100-million-units-sold-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/the-sims-surpasses-100-million-units-sold-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The top-selling video game of all time has just surpassed another milestone, as EA announced that The Sims, which has been released in more than 20 different languages, has now sold 100 million copies the world over since it sprang from the mind of super-developer Will Wright in 2000. The first game's expansion-laden release was followed by The Sims 2 in the fall of 2004, while the recently announced The Sims 3 will drop sometime in 2009, for the first time letting sims venture beyond their front doors and into the neighborhood.

The idea of 100 million of anything is difficult for us to wrap our brains around, so we cornered Rod Humble, the brand's studio head, to pick his noodle on The Sims, particularly with regards to the franchise's expansion-heavy history. So, with pets, night-life, and even magic tricks to pick from, what add-ons do players continue to ask for that's not yet available? Says Humble, "Right now our players are keen to playing an expansion pack that focuses on living in a big city...other ideas I've seen in the community include a rave/party pack and science fiction pack." Little green sims? We can support that.

Look for the complete interview with the EA exec on The Sims franchise, expansions, and where it goes from here later today.

JoystiqThe Sims surpasses 100 million units sold worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsDSelectronic-artselectronicartsmilestonePCPS2PSPsimsthe-simesthesimesWiiwill-wrightwillwrightXboxWed, 16 Apr 2008 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Spend a virtual evening with Will Wright]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/spend-a-virtual-evening-with-will-wright/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/spend-a-virtual-evening-with-will-wright/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/spend-a-virtual-evening-with-will-wright/#commentsFiled under:

Do you love Will Wright? Like, really love Will Wright? Do you love Will Wright so much that you could listen to him talk for a half hour about things that are only tangentially video game related? It's for the special fan like you that we present "An Evening With Will Wright," a talk held at an off-site bar during last month's Game Developers Conference in San Fransisco.

We were there, so here are some simple instructions if you want the full virtual experience: get yourself some mini hot dogs and french fries (the victuals at the event) and some free booze. You'll probably find yourself irritated at the people talking over Will Wright and wanting nothing more than to have fists so large that you could simultaneously punch all of them in the face. Trust us, that's part of the experience too. Part 2 is right after the break.

Continue reading Spend a virtual evening with Will Wright

JoystiqSpend a virtual evening with Will Wright originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc08sporewill-wrightwillwrightTue, 11 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A peek into Will Wright's office]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-peak-into-will-wrights-office/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-peak-into-will-wrights-office/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-peak-into-will-wrights-office/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

While wandering through EA's Maxis office for a recent Spore demo or two (or three), we snapped a few pictures of building art and Will Wright's office. (We've grown unexpectedly fascinated with people's desks.) "It's not a bug, it's a feature" never gets old. And it's a veritable game of spot-the-technology-that-shouldn't-be-here inside Wright's workspace. Well, "shouldn't" for game developers who aren't trying to launch the SimEverything genre. Somehow, we think Wright needs everything in the photo.

Gallery: Will Wright's office



Check out all our extensive coverage of Will Wright's Spore!





JoystiqA peek into Will Wright's office originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-vs-featureDSeaElectronic-Artsemeryvilleit's-not-a-bug-it's-a-featureMacmaxisMobileofficePCsporewill-wrightwill-wright-officewillwrightWed, 13 Feb 2008 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright reckons Wii is the only 'next-gen' system]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/will-wright-reckons-wii-is-the-only-next-gen-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/will-wright-reckons-wii-is-the-only-next-gen-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/will-wright-reckons-wii-is-the-only-next-gen-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


And before you get all uppity and start hurling stacks of duct-taped Gamecubes at the poor man, consider that his opinion isn't based entirely on console innards. In an interview with Guardian Unlimited, Will Wright gives us some insight into what goes on beneath the television in his living room. While the renowned designer confesses a love for Guitar Hero (Wright is a human: confirmed), he notes that the Xbox 360 is left to gather dust while the Wii and PC keep him occupied.

Wright believes the Wii is worthy of the "next-gen" moniker because it's, well, getting another generation to play games. "The only next gen system I've seen is the Wii - the PS3 and the Xbox 360 feel like better versions of the last, but pretty much the same game with incremental improvement," says Wright. "But the Wii feels like a major jump - not that the graphics are more powerful, but that it hits a completely different demographic." We know Peter Molyneux thinks differently, but we'll leave them be until we've recreated them in Spore and set them at each other's throats.

Wright goes on to reiterate that Wii owners will be able to tinker with everything sim Spore, presumably after work on the PC and DS versions has been completed (sometime in the next 6 months, as Wright stated elsewhere). Click the "Read" link to learn more about Wright's stance on education in games, society's blame game and "direct neural connections."

JoystiqWill Wright reckons Wii is the only 'next-gen' system originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSEAElectronic-ArtsPCPS3SporeWiiWill-WrightWillWrightXbox-360Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright says Spore around six months out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/will-wright-says-spore-around-six-months-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/will-wright-says-spore-around-six-months-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/24/will-wright-says-spore-around-six-months-out/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're still not getting our hopes up too high, but we thought that you should know that Will Wright told the BBC's Radio 5 Live that Spore was fully playable, in final testing and was "roughly" six months away from release. Considering that we already knew the game wasn't due until at least April of 2008, this news doesn't come as a huge surprise, signs have been pointing to Spring of 2008 for quite some time.

But who knows what could go wrong between now and then, right? It's a simulation of everything that's ever happened, for crying out loud. Your entire life story is contained within, as well as the life story and memories of everyone you've ever known. Forget about looking forward to playing it, we're just hoping Wright finishes it before it becomes sentient and kills us all.

JoystiqWill Wright says Spore around six months out originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maxisPCsporewillwrightWed, 24 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright honored with BAFTA Fellowship]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/will-wright-honored-with-bafta-fellowship/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/will-wright-honored-with-bafta-fellowship/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/will-wright-honored-with-bafta-fellowship/#commentsFiled under: ,

will wrightThe man behind the iron mask is Will Wright, the first of his kind to be awarded a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship (known colloquially as the 'BAFTA award'). This year's ceremony will be held on October 23rd, marking the first time the Academy has honored a figure from the games industry, despite a refusal to stretch out its acronym. (What's wrong with BAFTVGA?). Wright's fellowship "recognizes the massive impact of video games on popular culture and their huge contribution to the whole art form of the moving image," said the BAFTA mouthpiece.

Will Wright is the 'Sim' genre. The decorated designer is currently on the verge of (we hope) releasing his most ambitious project to date, Spore. Much props to you, Mr. Wright -- now get back to work!

JoystiqWill Wright honored with BAFTA Fellowship originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baftawill-wrightWillWrightMon, 15 Oct 2007 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Wright rocks the Enterprise in Spore video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/wright-rocks-the-enterprise-in-spore-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/wright-rocks-the-enterprise-in-spore-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/15/wright-rocks-the-enterprise-in-spore-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

We don't know if we're alone in this, but Spore videos have ceased to be game previews to us. They're more like transmissions from some sort of alternate dimension where the word "game" has taken on a whole other meaning. It's a world where arguments of a game's superiority are less about polygon counts than how many millions of different species are available at retail. Rather than debate weapon strength, they debate the aesthetic values of entire species.

Unfortunately, it also seems to be a world where development cycles aren't spoken of in terms of months but rather in decades. This new video, which shows Will Wright creating a non-flying bird and zipping around in what appears to be the U.S.S. Enterprise, certainly doesn't help make waiting any easier. Luckily, if human evolution has taught us anything, it's that we're good at waiting.

[Via GameStooge]

JoystiqWright rocks the Enterprise in Spore video originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maxisPCsporewillwrightMon, 15 Oct 2007 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright's Spore to be playable at Leipzig]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/will-wrights-spore-to-be-playable-at-leipzig/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/will-wrights-spore-to-be-playable-at-leipzig/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/will-wrights-spore-to-be-playable-at-leipzig/#commentsFiled under: ,

Though absent at this year's E3 media summit, Spore is still reportedly on track for a 2008 release. According to GameSpot, Will Wright's simulation of Life, the Universe and Everything will be shown behind closed doors at this years Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.

How far along will the game be? Will we get to try all of it or just select portions? We'll find out soon enough; the Leipzig Games Convention takes place August 23 to 26.

[Via Evil Avatar; thanks, Sam]

JoystiqWill Wright's Spore to be playable at Leipzig originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artselectronicartsgc07leipzigPCsporewillwrightTue, 07 Aug 2007 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[EA bigwigs playing Spore, sticking with '08 release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/02/ea-bigwigs-playing-spore-sticking-with-08-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/02/ea-bigwigs-playing-spore-sticking-with-08-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/02/ea-bigwigs-playing-spore-sticking-with-08-release/#commentsFiled under: ,


EA CEO John Riccitiello and EA Games president Frank Gibeau not only are sticking to the fiscal 2009 release date for Spore (meaning April '08 to Mar. '09), but they even rubbed it in that they're actually playing it and "enjoying it a great deal." Well, at least somebody is playing the next Will Wright game.

Guess this means Soren Johnson, lead designer of Civilization IV, who left Firaxis to go work on Spore works really quick. From starting at the company in April to getting it into EA bigwig hands in three months. That's impressive. We really have no idea what's going on with Spore. For the first time in years it wasn't at E3, but we'll continue to hope that sometime in 2008 we'll actually get to play it. And hope, and hope.

JoystiqEA bigwigs playing Spore, sticking with '08 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsPCsporewillwrightThu, 02 Aug 2007 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's most delayed-and-ambitious video: TED Spore demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/todays-most-delayed-and-ambitious-video-ted-spore-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/todays-most-delayed-and-ambitious-video-ted-spore-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/22/todays-most-delayed-and-ambitious-video-ted-spore-demo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Video of Will Wright's TED Spore presentation from March has recently appeared online. Wright expands on prior Spore demos, giving an overview of the game and explaining parts of his design process.

The information-packed 17-minute video keeps us interested in the total life simulation -- from origins to galactic colonization -- but reconfirms how wildly ambitious the project has been. We've been trying to play over/under on the projected ship date window of April, 2008 and March, 2009, but nobody wants "under." But whenever Spore finally arrives, we hope Wright and the other designers can deliver on the unique concept.

[Thanks, Guillaume and Kevin]

Continue reading Today's most delayed-and-ambitious video: TED Spore demo

JoystiqToday's most delayed-and-ambitious video: TED Spore demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtshottestvideolifemaxisPCsimulationsporetedThe-Simswill wrightWillWrightSun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore, uh, still delayed until fiscal year 2009 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/spore-delayed-until-fiscal-year-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/spore-delayed-until-fiscal-year-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/spore-delayed-until-fiscal-year-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The last we heard from Will Wright's ambitious Spore, it was conspicuously absent from Electronic Arts' fiscal year 2008 plans, which put the release sometime past March 2008. The latest issue of Game Informer (via CVG), which seems to have a wealth of exclusive news lately, has also mentioned that the game has been pushed back into fiscal year 2009, which starts April 2009 2008. [update: fixed a 365-day typo]

We aren't sure if the magazine writers are using the same EA fiscal report or if they have different contacts, but the wording implies this is confirmation that the Sim Everything title will be a ways off. We already knew that, but we hate hearing it again.

JoystiqSpore, uh, still delayed until fiscal year 2009 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsPCsporewill wrightWillWrightWed, 20 Jun 2007 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq impressions: SimCity DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/joystiq-impressions-simcity-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/joystiq-impressions-simcity-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/joystiq-impressions-simcity-ds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While SimCity DS was already released for -- having been developed by -- Japanese gamers, the simulation hasn't gotten much coverage for is upcoming American release. At a recent EA event, it was apparent that the title should get the recognition it deserves soon enough, with its June release.

Based approximately on SimCity 3000, SimCity DS seemed about as complicated as the most recent versions of the title. While the graphics represent a throwback to earlier SimCity games, the core gameplay is current. The title looks like it'll be a great match for portable simulation fans because of the touchscreen interface.

Gallery: SimCity DS

Continue reading Joystiq impressions: SimCity DS

JoystiqJoystiq impressions: SimCity DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicDSEAElectronic-ArtsfranchiseMaxisretroSimCitySimCity 300SimCity DSSimcity300SimcityDssimulationWIll WrightWillWrightTue, 15 May 2007 05:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Remember Spore? It's not coming in 2007 anymore, we're afraid]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/remember-spore-its-not-coming-in-2007-anymore-were-afraid/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/remember-spore-its-not-coming-in-2007-anymore-were-afraid/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/remember-spore-its-not-coming-in-2007-anymore-were-afraid/#commentsFiled under:

If the incredibly ambitious title Spore, from the creators of SimCity, SimWhatever, and SimSimulation, is slated for a 2008 release just for the PC now, when will it appear on consoles? After some earnings reports were issued, Electronic Arts went ahead and said that Spore was removed from their fiscal year calendar (it goes until March 31, 2008) and are expecting a release in late '08.

Recently re-appointed CEO John Riccitiello had a few things to say about the project and its progress slash delay. We say slash because putting a slash is just plain foolishness. "Spore is a title we have enormous confidence in. I've had the chance to review the title three times in my short return to the EA, and it looks fantastic. I will also tell you that its release will be right up [to] the bubble in Q4 [of fiscal '08], if not sometime in early fiscal '09, so we don't feel comfortable in forecasting it." But why the delay? QC -- quality control. We want this game to rock, so let's give Will Wright and his team as much time as they need to make this game the best it can be.

JoystiqRemember Spore? It's not coming in 2007 anymore, we're afraid originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic ArtsElectronicArtsSporeWill WrightWillWrightWed, 09 May 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[SXSW: Joystiq live at the Will Wright keynote [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/sxsw-joystiq-live-at-the-will-wright-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/sxsw-joystiq-live-at-the-will-wright-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/sxsw-joystiq-live-at-the-will-wright-keynote/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



We're live in Austin, front and center for the Will Wright keynote speech, where the attendees seem a lot more excited for this one than they did for the Dan Rather speech yesterday. I guess that might change if Dan Rather was actually working on a groundbreaking new game that has almost as much buzz around it as the Apple iPhone.

Will Wright is wandering around visiting with peeps, and he his arm in a sling for some reason. As we find out, we'll let you know. Maybe he's been spending too much time Spore-ing.

1:56pm: They've started playing celestial new-agey Yanni-type music and showing slides of the solar system. Maybe Will Wright has decided to become the new Carl Sagan. Now the music sounds like a twangy version of the Firefly theme song. Browncoats, FTW! The slides keep pulling farther back and showing beelyuns and beelyuns of galaxies and stars.

2:06pm: Will Wright is sitting right in front of us and talking with a Tucker Carlson lookalike, complete with floppy hair and bow-tie. Wright is wearing a sort of muscle-shirt combo with the sling. It's very steampunk and aggro. We snuck a look at his XPS laptop on the stage .... no screensaver.

Gallery: Will Wright SXSW Keynote pix

Continue reading SXSW: Joystiq live at the Will Wright keynote [Update 1]

JoystiqSXSW: Joystiq live at the Will Wright keynote [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MaxisPCSporeSXSWSXSW07Will WrightWillWrightTue, 13 Mar 2007 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What is a magic crayon? If you're envisioning Harold and his purple outlet of creativity, you wouldn't be far off from the intended metaphor. Chaim Gingold, design lead for Spore's editors and cell game, described the magic crayon as a toy that is simple to use and yet gives the user enough power to create something they'll appreciate.

Gingold kicked off his presentation, one of the last after a marathon of lectures and roundtables at this year's Game Developers Conference, by defining a magic crayon through example. Photoshop is not a good magic crayon, for example, because it is very hard for most people to use. Neither is Super Mario Bros., since you are not changing anything in the world. Kid Pix fits the schema for a magic crayon, as does the Mii creator, which is an "absolutely beautiful, wonderful magic crayon," he said.

Continue reading Spore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty

JoystiqSpore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaim gingoldChaimGingoldeaElectronic-Artsgdcgdc 07Gdc07kid pixKidPixmaxisPCphoto shopPhotoShopsim citysporeThe-Simswill wrightWillWrightwrightMon, 12 Mar 2007 22:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Popular Science picks at the brain behind Spore, Will Wright]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/popular-science-picks-at-the-brain-behind-spore-will-wright/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/popular-science-picks-at-the-brain-behind-spore-will-wright/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/12/popular-science-picks-at-the-brain-behind-spore-will-wright/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a massive eight page interview, game industry legend Will Wright talks about everything from the sociology of online gaming, his aspirations growing up and perhaps most importantly, his upcoming title, Spore.

While the whole interview demands a read from those interested in anything Wright related, combing through it reveals a few tidbits regarding the looming project.

Wright is still aiming for a Fall, 2007 release and while he doesn't go into the specifics of other consoles (Spore is, after all, a PC title), he does mention how the game is agnostic enough to go from the PC, to the Wii and even a cell phone. While it's nothing terribly new to us, he does go more in-depth as to the argument for each platform.

The majority of the article revolves around Spore and the incredibly complex nature of its design. So grab a drink, relax and wrap your head around one of this year's biggest titles.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqPopular Science picks at the brain behind Spore, Will Wright originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PCpopular sciencePopularSciencesporeWiiwill wrightWillWrightMon, 12 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wright lets dev team talk Spore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/wright-lets-dev-team-talk-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/wright-lets-dev-team-talk-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/wright-lets-dev-team-talk-spore/#commentsFiled under: ,


Given the conference's acronym, it only seems fit that Will Wright's ambitious Spore have a presentation at this year's Design, Innovate, Create and Entertain (D.I.C.E.) Summit. However, in an atypical move for the Sims mastermind, Wright asked four members of his development team to do most of the talking.

Ocean Quigley, Chaim Gingold, Jenna Chalmers and Alex Hutchinson discussed their roles in the development cycle and explained the hardship of trying to make the game not only work, but work efficiently and with as simple amount of input possible from the player:
  • Quigley focused on the challenges of letting players create their own species and objects while avoiding any potential problems associated with said freedom.
  • Gingold discussed making object editors simple and powerful, expressing his mantra that "if [the game testers] don't notice that it sucks, then it must be good."
  • Chalmers' presentation outlined all their ideas for the space travel missions, and how she hopes the final game will be able to create new, entertaining missions on the fly. Though she noted that many ideas will not make it to publication, one mission that gave us a chuckle was having to drop a T. Rex onto an unsuspecting planet.
  • Hutchinson's speech covered his role as the overall gameplay designer, and lauds Spore for its ability to splice genres.
Wright's example of "an interstellar war between the Care Bears and the Klingons" keeps us intrigued on the title, so long in development already. However, even though Wright has a great track record with delivering on promised goods, we can't help but worry Spore won't live up to the enormous hype that follows it around. We'll find out later this year when Spore spawns on the PC and, eventually, every platform known to the human race.

See Also:
 Joystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams

JoystiqWright lets dev team talk Spore originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d.i.c.e.dicemaxisPCsporewill wrightWillWrightwrightFri, 09 Feb 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Eno to generate Spore soundtrack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/16/eno-to-generate-spore-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/16/eno-to-generate-spore-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/16/eno-to-generate-spore-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , ,

That's Brian Eno, mind you, not Japanese musician and bonkers Enemy Zero designer, Kenji Eno. For those still scratching their noggins for reasons other than unexpected flea infestation, Brian Eno is recognized for his unusual, sometimes "unclassifiable" ambient music. The artist, professor and thinker (it says here on his website) has confirmed his invovement with upcoming everything sim, Spore.

In a very interesting WMMNA article detailing one of Eno's recent lectures, it is noted that Will Wright and co. "wanted sound that is just as procedural as the game itself," preferring to avoid any looping tunes that change with each level. Eno is already working on a program called "The Shuffer," which will use sampled bits and pieces to craft Spore's soundtrack, without ever creating "the same composition twice within a lifetime."

Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, Kenji Eno actually does get the job -- too bad the other Spore is a survival-horror game set in an underwater laboratory.

[Via Eurogamer]

JoystiqEno to generate Spore soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brian EnoBrianEnoKenji EnoKenjiEnoPCSporeWill WrightWillWrightTue, 16 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright, Stephen Colbert, and N'Gai Croal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/will-wright-stephen-colbert-and-ngai-croal/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/will-wright-stephen-colbert-and-ngai-croal/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/will-wright-stephen-colbert-and-ngai-croal/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Legendary game designer Will Wright visited The Colbert Report last night. Surrounded by a nativity scene and lacking his standard comfort mustache, Wright and Stephen Colbert philosophized on why anyone would want to, as Colbert put it, "go into another world to live a life that is just as mundane."

About four minutes into the interview, the discussion transitions into Spore, which Wright describes as a "spreadsheet for God." This brings up a debate on Evolution versus Intelligent Design, which should not come as a surprise for anyone familiar with the show. Wright notes that it is a hybrid between the two theories, though "the designers aren't necessarily that intelligent." The evolution aspect, Wright explains, comes with the online world where your creations are pitted against everyone else's -- it's like "competing gods on the playing field of the world," they conclude.

Watch near the end where Wright almost gets Colbert to break character by "confessing" he is almost fluent in Sim-lish, the language of The Sims.

Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, who described the designer as polymathic (that means he's edumucated), followed Wright to the set to get some behind-the-scenes perspective of the interview and reveals some insight into Wright's gaming habits, like that he doesn't like MMOs because of the "rote treadmill" of leveling characters.

Spore, according to Wright, is on track for a release the second half of 2007 and is currently in Pre-Alpha Five phase, which means five months until alpha phase, which means there are some lucky EA employees playing the full version of Spore right now. The full Colbert Report interview is embedded after the break.

Continue reading Will Wright, Stephen Colbert, and N'Gai Croal

JoystiqWill Wright, Stephen Colbert, and N'Gai Croal originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colbert reportColbertReporteaelectronic artsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsnews weekNewsWeekn\'gai croalN\'gaiCroalPCsporestephen colbertStephenColbertThe-Simswill wrightWillWrightTue, 05 Dec 2006 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[SimCity, as it was never meant to be]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/simcity-as-it-was-never-meant-to-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/simcity-as-it-was-never-meant-to-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/simcity-as-it-was-never-meant-to-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SimCity mobileIt's doubtful that when Will Wright birthed SimCity he imagined the game one day playable in the palm of the hand, using a cell phone keypad. Nevertheless, EA Mobile Games has made it happen.

For $1.99, SimCity will surely attract some impulse buys, but perhaps its legacy -- as the starting block for the Sim phenomenon -- is best kept with fond memories; or at least, a better suited platform. As with Geometry Wars, we just can't imagine that mobile SimCity is any good.

JoystiqSimCity, as it was never meant to be originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic ArtsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsmobileSimCityWill WrightWillWrightWed, 29 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[The New Yorker on Will Wright (in 10,000 words or less)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/the-new-yorker-on-will-wright-in-10-000-words-or-less/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/the-new-yorker-on-will-wright-in-10-000-words-or-less/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/02/the-new-yorker-on-will-wright-in-10-000-words-or-less/#commentsFiled under: ,

Will Wright is the ultimate spokesperson for gaming. The same way Bill Gates made being a nerd not only acceptable, but desirable, Wright embodies everything that can be great about video games. Writers find in him a sort of mad scientist, with an impish grin and a clever streak running through him a mile long (he's done the calculations to determine how many stars have received radio broadcasts of The Dukes of Hazzard). He's the "god of God games," an innovator, a risk-taker, a rainmaker. He's a "genius," with the backstory and the charisma to make it palatable to the masses. And that's who his story is being told to.

Rarely do we see the sort of long thoughtful hagiography in the enthusiast press that we often find about Wright in the mainstream press. A recent New York Times Magazine piece revered him as "the most famous and most critically acclaimed designer in the young medium's history." This week's The New Yorker dedicates an incredible 10,000 words to the "game master," covering everything from the history of Electronic Arts to panspermia to his affinity for dueling robots (seriously) to the negative impressions of video games that Wright himself, as a personality, does so much to disassemble. How much can you really criticize a game whose primary influence is the convergence of Drake's equation and The Powers of Ten?

And that's why every time Wright is put on a pedestal -- as a creator, as an artist, and as a genius -- it advances the acceptance and appreciation of video games far more rapidly than the industry's ballooning profits ever have.

[Thanks, Andrew]

JoystiqThe New Yorker on Will Wright (in 10,000 words or less) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MaxisNew YorkerNewYorkerPCSporeWill WrightWillWrightThu, 02 Nov 2006 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright makes "Digital 50" Top 5, beats out Google & YouTube founders]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/will-wright-makes-digital-50-top-5-beats-out-google-and-youtube/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/will-wright-makes-digital-50-top-5-beats-out-google-and-youtube/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/23/will-wright-makes-digital-50-top-5-beats-out-google-and-youtube/#commentsFiled under:

Will WrightThe Producers' Guild of America has recognized the achievements of Will Wright (The Sims), Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez & Lumines), naming the three luminaries to the Guild's current list of 50 most innovative producers in the field of Digital Entertainment. Wright even landed in the number 5 position, besting big-name contributors like Google's Larry Page and Sergei Brin (#9), and YouTube's Chad Hurley and Chris Chen (#23). Kojima and Mizuguchi made the list at numbers 38 and 50 respectively.

Brain Age's Dr. Ryuta Kawashima also made the list, popping up -- surprisingly -- at number 16. Anyways, a round of applause for the 'three gaming gods' and the talking head. Congrats, gentlemen.

Who should the PGA elect next year?

JoystiqWill Wright makes "Digital 50" Top 5, beats out Google & YouTube founders originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoogleHideo KojimaHideoKojimaLarry PageLarryPageProfessor Ryuta KawashimaProfessorRyutaKawashimaSergei BrinSergeiBrinTetsuya MizuguchiTetsuyaMizuguchiWill WrightWillWrightMon, 23 Oct 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sunday NY Times says Spore is special]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/sunday-ny-times-says-spore-is-special/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/sunday-ny-times-says-spore-is-special/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/sunday-ny-times-says-spore-is-special/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Steven Johnson, Colbert Report guest and author of Everything Bad is Good for You, wrote a thoughtful piece on Will Wright's Spore in yesterday's widely read New York Times Magazine entitled, "The Long Zoom." Like any writeup of Wright's simeverything, Johnson's includes equal parts hagiography, history, and hype, imbuing Wright's unreleased masterpiece with transcendental potential.

Johnson's title refers to Spore's ability to zoom from the microscopic level all the way out to the galactic level, recalling the Eames' influential Powers of Ten (video embedded above). Wright's collaborative presentation with musician Brian Eno on "generative art," arranged by the long-term thinkers at the Long Now Foundation, also suggested a more cerebral sophistication than we're used to seeing, and reading about, in video games.

If you think the hype for Gears of War may be hard to live up to, consider Spore, a game that is beginning to more resemble a panacea for all the gaming industry's myriad ills than a clever expansion of the Sim- series.

[A faux pas, and a personal pet peeve: Charles and Ray Eames were not, in fact, "brothers" as Johnson writes, but an enormously successful husband-and-wife design team, responsible for everything from the aforementioned Powers of Ten film, to their famous molded plywood Eames Lounge Chair.]

See also: Spore figurines!

JoystiqSunday NY Times says Spore is special originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EamesNew York TimesNewYorkTimesPCPowers of TenPowersOfTenSporeSteven JohnsonStevenJohnsonWill WrightWillWrightMon, 09 Oct 2006 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii-DS link-play confirmed for Spore, plus new Wii info in latest NGamer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-ds-link-play-confirmed-for-spore-plus-new-wii-info-in-lates/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-ds-link-play-confirmed-for-spore-plus-new-wii-info-in-lates/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-ds-link-play-confirmed-for-spore-plus-new-wii-info-in-lates/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NGamerGoNintendo.com spreads word that NGamer, a new UK publication, has confirmed Spore for Wii -- of course, Will Wright essentially did the same back in May. According to an article in the new issue, Spore for Wii is scheduled for release in Spring 2007 and will feature some level of data sharing functionality with the DS version, "so you can deform your species on the fly."

NGamer also reports that the Wii sensor bar is now "50% smaller ... a little bigger than a couple of pencils glued together" and tosses in a few tidbits about the Wiimote, including its 30-60 hour battery life (with AAs) and ability to store a small amount of data, roughly 6KB, internally. One sour detail reveals that Virtual Console's DRM will prevent gamers from playing their downloaded titles on a friend's Wii.

JoystiqWii-DS link-play confirmed for Spore, plus new Wii info in latest NGamer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSEAElectronic ArtsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsSporeWiiWill WrightWillWrightThu, 07 Sep 2006 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[VG Cats' Spore creatures brought to life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/vg-cats-spore-creatures-brought-to-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/vg-cats-spore-creatures-brought-to-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/vg-cats-spore-creatures-brought-to-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Will Wright, Inc. have a giant man-crush on VG Cats. It all started after the webcomic made a strip about the worst-case scenarios of Spore's creature-making system, entitled "Wright to Life." The folks at Maxis caught wind of the comic and revised the comic, replacing every hand-drawn creature with accurate depictions made in-game.

If that was not awesome enough, Maxis this week sent VG Cats author Scott Ramsoomair Spore figurines identical to his creations. You can view pictures (compliments of Scott's mom) here. How's that for customer service?

See Also:
Our one of a kind Spore figurine
Valve lets fan tour studio, play Portal

[Thanks, Sam and Kyle!]

JoystiqVG Cats' Spore creatures brought to life originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MacmaxisPCsporeweb comicWebComicwill wrightWillWrightThu, 07 Sep 2006 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright in Sim City DS? [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/will-wright-in-sim-city-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/will-wright-in-sim-city-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/will-wright-in-sim-city-ds/#commentsFiled under:


Either this is a caricature of the infamous Will Wright, or it really is him helping players out in Sim City DS. We would love to have a Mr. Right Will Wright pop up in a game to give helpful advice.

We really would like to see more famous game industry people appear in games. Couldn't you just see Miyamoto doing the Tingle dance with Tingle?

[Via Go Nintendo]

[Update: Fixed typo, enlarged graphic.]

JoystiqWill Wright in Sim City DS? [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Nintendo DSNintendoDsSim CitySimCityWill WrightWillWrightTue, 05 Sep 2006 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[More on Wii's Spore potential]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/more-on-wiis-spore-potential/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/more-on-wiis-spore-potential/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/more-on-wiis-spore-potential/#commentsFiled under:

We already know that Spore is a possibility for the Wii, but in an interview with IGN, SimPapa Will Wright had a little more to say about the upcoming console as it relates to the evolutionary sim he's developing. Wright told IGN they were "messing around with the Wii dev kit." Considering that the PC release of Spore isn't scheduled until next year, mucking about with the dev kit for the Wii seems like a very good sign that the Nintendo console will get a little evolutionary love.

Wright also stressed the importance of designing games for each platform, which Wii love! Down with bland ports, up with games that make sense.

[Thanks, vidGuy!]

JoystiqMore on Wii's Spore potential originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electronic ArtsElectronicArtssimulationWill WrightWillWrightWed, 09 Aug 2006 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[DS is "interesting" for Spore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ds-is-interesting-for-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ds-is-interesting-for-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ds-is-interesting-for-spore/#commentsFiled under:

IGN has an interview with SimPapa Will Wright about his plans for Spore, the universe-creation sim scheduled for PC next year. While Wright says that right now, they're focused on creating Spore for the PC, he would like to see it become a full-fledged power franchise, and he points right at the DS as a possibility.

Wright, who recently pointed to the lack of a mouse for consoles as a problem for simulation games, said, "the DS is also very interesting to us, as its control scheme could be very manageable for the game." While the stylus is no mouse, it can certainly provide similar functionality and perhaps even more precision in some cases.

Sadly, Wright's comments on Spore beyond the PC make any possible plans sound very long range ....

[Thanks, vidGuy!]

JoystiqDS is "interesting" for Spore originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electronic ArtsElectronicArtssimulationSporeWill WrightWillWrightWed, 09 Aug 2006 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3, too, can lose player's souls to Spore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ps3-too-can-lose-players-souls-to-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ps3-too-can-lose-players-souls-to-spore/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/09/ps3-too-can-lose-players-souls-to-spore/#commentsFiled under: ,

Spore, the hotly anticipated title from Sims creator Will Wright, has been announced to arrive on every system possible (speaking in terms of next-gen, of course). Some things will be tweaked -- sized down for handhelds, altered methods of controlling the pointer for consoles (unless you want a mouse add-on), et cetera. What's the catch? This is crazy, that's a lot of Spore. There's got to be a catch.

Yeah. Out of context interpretation. There was no denial in these rumors as EA is indeed looking into console versions, but they did not say that all consoles are indeed getting some Spore action. You can check out the supposed interview that the quotes were taken out of context at SPOnG. Our good friends at IGN followed through with a call to an EA representative who partially debunked the interview. But it would be good news, right? Having Spore on all systems may spawn a sense of friendship between competing consoles. Or incite actual planetary wars, which is also way cool.

JoystiqPS3, too, can lose player's souls to Spore originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Playstation 3Playstation3PS3SporeWill WrightWillWrightWed, 09 Aug 2006 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore to hit the Wii?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/spore-to-hit-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/spore-to-hit-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/04/spore-to-hit-the-wii/#commentsFiled under:

While a lot of people are actively wondering where EA's sprawling Spore won't turn up, we can tell you where it is likely to appear: on the Wii!

Color us unsurprised that Will Wright wants to turn Spore into a franchise powerhouse; we all know what happened with The Sims. With the evolutionary sim, however, Wright intends to focus on the differences of each platform, and he's pointing specifcally to the Wii. Or should that be with the Wii ... mote?

In comments this week, Wright let two very telling details drop. First, he lauded the Wii in its creative potential, mentioning specifically the controller (of course). He went on the decry the lack of a mouse for consoles, pointing out that this was something of a limiting factor when dealing with games for both the PC and consoles. The Wiimote, however, can point and click with the best of them. We're betting that we'll be getting ready to guide our own species next year on the Wii.

JoystiqSpore to hit the Wii? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic ArtsElectronicArtssimulationWill WrightWillWrightFri, 04 Aug 2006 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright releases Spores onto the 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/will-wright-releases-spores-onto-the-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/will-wright-releases-spores-onto-the-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/will-wright-releases-spores-onto-the-360/#commentsFiled under: ,


Supposedly speaking to SPOnG, Will Wright revealed the possibility of a console release of the game that people just won't shut up about, Spore. More specifically, he indicated the possibility of a 360 release (and Wii and PS3, blah, blah).

"We're looking at all the platforms for Spore, because we're thinking about Spore as a franchise, not as a PC game. We're going to do the PC game first, but really, what we're trying to launch is an entire franchise that will be all across platforms."

It wouldn't be a huge stretch to believe that EA wants to spread one of the most hyped games in recent memory as far as possible. Perhaps we'll be ordering our own custom critters from Xbox Live Marketplace?

JoystiqWill Wright releases Spores onto the 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtssporewill wrightWillWrightThu, 03 Aug 2006 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Wright is a pr0n star, blogs lowly game designer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/will-wright-is-a-porn-queen-blogs-lowly-game-designer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/will-wright-is-a-porn-queen-blogs-lowly-game-designer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/will-wright-is-a-porn-queen-blogs-lowly-game-designer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jenna WrightDerek Daniels, a low-ranking designer on the God of War team, recently broke the industry down like this:

"In the videogame design world you have Miyamoto, Kojima, Will Wright, David Jaffe, and a handful of others that have risen to the top that have a little more control of their future. Then you have the other faceless designers that no one knows working on games doing some downright nasty things that I'm sure their mothers do not want to hear."

Sounds like the porn industry, right? Well, that's Daniels' point at least. He reckons that videogame design is a young man's gamble, with a lifespan about as long as a girl doing porn. And when you finally burn out and leave the game behind, you're left with "a skillset that cannot be applied to anything else in life."

[Thanks, Art]

JoystiqWill Wright is a pr0n star, blogs lowly game designer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>David JaffeDavidJaffeGod of WarGodOfWarJenna JamesonJennaJamesonKojimaMiyamotoWill WrightWillWrightTue, 01 Aug 2006 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[European Game Convention gets geared up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/27/european-game-convention-gets-geared-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/27/european-game-convention-gets-geared-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/27/european-game-convention-gets-geared-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wedged in between E3 and the Tokyo Game Show is the less known, but still demanding respect, European Game Convention. Even though it's not the largest event in the gaming industry, it ranks as the top European event. Here's a sample of how a typical EuroGaCon goes (sure, EGC would be easier but far less nerdy). The day begins with a sold out concert of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra playing your favorite videogame tunes (Final Fantasy, Shinobi, Castlevania). You can then peruse the game booths or check out the sprawling art gallery or watch some mini-movies created with game engines.

The main speaker will be Will Wright, creator of the Sims games, not to mention the upcoming Spore title. He'll spread some of his ideas about the future of the industry and hopefully a demo of Spore! No solid guest list has been confirmed yet, but there will be approximately 367 names throughout the event. Maybe a couple of PS3 games will pop up that slipped past our radar. While this is nice, PS3's best moment may certainly come at Japan's Tokyo Game Show. JaToGaShow? Let's keep it to TGS.

JoystiqEuropean Game Convention gets geared up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>European Game ConventionEuropeanGameConventionGame ConventionGameConventionPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3Will WrightWillWrightThu, 27 Jul 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MI6 teaser: World of ColbertCraft?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/23/mi6-teaser-world-of-colbertcraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/23/mi6-teaser-world-of-colbertcraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/23/mi6-teaser-world-of-colbertcraft/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stephen Colbert (the 't' is silent) has made a minor contribution to the MI6 conference, taking place June 27th and 28th in San Francisco, Ca. In the teaser, Colbert announces the release of World of ColbertCraft. The game promises to be more popular that his last title, Stephen Colbert's Escape from Skateboard Mountain. However, as Colbert explains, "for cost reasons, [WoCC] also takes place on Skateboard Mountain."

Colbert adds that "on the Nintendo Wii, you can use the controller to wag my finger." All the clips seem to have been spliced together quickly; 1UP asserts that the full video will be up on Monday.

The MI6 conference is a game marketing event. It has no relation, unfortunately, to the United Kingdom secret service agency formerly known as MI6.

See Also:
Jon Stewart blasts Congress' ignorance towards video games

JoystiqMI6 teaser: World of ColbertCraft? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colbert reportColbertReportmarketingpromotionwill wrightWillWrightworld of warcraftWorldOfWarcraftFri, 23 Jun 2006 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wright rocks out with the mainstream media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Will Wright has had a very busy month thanks to his upcoming game, Spore. Everyone that saw the gameplay video from GDC '05 knew that the real highlight of this May's E3 would be Wright's presentation. Although his presentation at E3 didn't reveal too much that we didn't already know about Spore, the slightly more mainstream appeal of E3 has resulted in some well deserved coverage from the mainstream media. The positive endorsement by Robin "Sniper" Williams can't have hurt either.

The two most notable examples of MSM picking up this story are featured in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) and the BBC. The Beeb covered Spore and Wright from an angle of user generated content, comparing it to current and past titles that have popularized the concept (e.g. Second Life, The Sims and the popularity of mods like Counter-Strike). The quirky video interview with Wright that runs alongside the article also gives a good idea of how much Wright values user generated content (i.e. a lot).

The WSJ picked up the story from a more general "profile of Wright" viewpoint, although it was displayed very prominently. If you picked up last Saturday's edition of the paper it's possibly the first article you would have seen, it being on the front page and all. One of the world's most recognizable and respected business publications profiling a game developer on the front page: they've finally wised up!

Read - BBC video interview with Wright
Read - Wall Street Journal Spore article

JoystiqWright rocks out with the mainstream media originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 May 2006 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BBCInterviewMainstream MediaMainstreamMediaMSMSporeWall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWill WrightWillWrightWSJWed, 31 May 2006 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[MTV hosts game designers roundtable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/mtv-hosts-game-designers-roundtable/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/mtv-hosts-game-designers-roundtable/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/mtv-hosts-game-designers-roundtable/#commentsFiled under: ,



MTV News' Stephen Totilo somehow managed the Herculean task of getting four major game designers -- Harvey Smith (aka Witchboy; Deus Ex), Will Wright (The Sims), David Jaffe (God of War), and Cliff Bleszinski (aka CliffyB; Gears of War) -- to sit down and talk to each other ... during the week of E3.

The roundtable took place at Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight amidst the backdrop of their currently running I AM 8-BIT art show. Though it begins with more input from host Gideon Yago, it quickly evolves into a conversation between the four designers, running the gaming gamut from design to violence in games to the art question, all with a healthy sprinkling of (the outspoken) David Jaffe's trademark pottymouth.

While MTV only ran an edited version, MTV's online-only Overdrive channel is hosting the whole shebang. It's unfortunate that MTV decided this didn't deserve to be aired on television even though they've managed to make room for another half-dozen airings of the Gears of War promotional special. But seriously, if MTV's doing this, what does G4 do nowadays?

[Warning: Ever attuned to the pulse of the younger generation, MTV had the foresight to recognize that nobody under the age of 34 uses Mac OS and, accordingly, they've made their Overdrive site only compatible with Internet Explorer running on Windows.]

JoystiqMTV hosts game designers roundtable originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 May 2006 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cliff BleszinskiCliffBleszinskiCliffyBDavid JaffeDavidJaffeHarvey SmithHarveySmithMTVMTV NewsMtvNewsOverdriveWill WrightWillWrightMon, 22 May 2006 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore confirmed for Wii, sorta [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/16/spore-confirmed-for-wii-sorta/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/16/spore-confirmed-for-wii-sorta/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/16/spore-confirmed-for-wii-sorta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SporeSpeaking with GameSpy during E3, Will Wright confirmed that Spore will be available "on all platforms," including cell phones - and presumably Wii. While Wright did not specifically name-drop "Wii," we must assume that "all platforms" includes Wii. In addition, Wright, by his own admission, is a bit of a Nintendo fanboy: "I'm rooting for Nintendo," he told GameSpy. Despite this statement, Wright was critical of the Wiimote, observing "the way the Wii controller works depends a lot on how close you are to your TV."

Interestingly enough, Wright currently favors the DS as his platform of choice. Any chance Spore will end up on Nintendo's handheld? [Update: Spore has been confirmed for the DS. Thanks, Sense.]

Spore is tentatively set to debut on the PC early next year (April/March 2007).

[Thanks, Vik]

JoystiqSpore confirmed for Wii, sorta [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 May 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSE3E32006EAElectronic-ArtsPCSporeWiiWill WrightWillWrightTue, 16 May 2006 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[OMG SPORE R0X0Rz!!!1!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/14/omg-spore-r0x0rz-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/14/omg-spore-r0x0rz-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/14/omg-spore-r0x0rz-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


While I was busy banging out uber sweet videos, a lot of people were standing in lines at E3. Two main groups camped out for hours just to get a glimpse of the future of gaming: in one, the line stretched the length of the entire hall, brimming with gamers eager to get their hands on the Wii; meanwhile, at EA's booth, eager gamers had a chance to see Spore played by the designer himself, Will Wright.

While you may have seen our demo video earlier -- which it turns out is virtually the same demo shown on the show floor -- I didn't get a chance to post my perspective until now. It may sound hyperbolic to say that Spore will change gaming forever and surpass Wright's other franchise, The Sims, to become biggest selling PC game of all time, but once you look at the video for yourself and get to actually, y'know, play the game, you may feel the same way.

Continue reading OMG SPORE R0X0Rz!!!1!

JoystiqOMG SPORE R0X0Rz!!!1! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 May 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3e32006eaElectronic-ArtsmaxisPCrobin williamsRobinWilliamssporewill wrightWillWrightSun, 14 May 2006 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams [update 3]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Last night, Randall Bennett and I had the good fortune to attend a special Wired event featuring Will Wright showing off his next masterpiece, Spore, with a wonderful guest appearance by Robin Williams. We managed to get footage of the entire event and we even scored interviews with both Wright and Williams. Thanks to everyone over at Wired for inviting us!

In the interest of getting this to you as soon as possible, we've uploaded the full 40 minute, 420MB file, which you can access via this link: [link]. Please right-click and save the file locally before viewing. It's 480x360 3ivx wrapped in Quicktime and should play nicely on your video-capable iPod, should you own one.

If you feel like waiting a bit and think that 420MBs is ginormous, then give us about an hour and we'll update this post with some separate chapter-sized versions of the video. Enjoy!

Get the video
[Huge] Get the full enchilada
[Cutdown1] Get the first 10 minutes (Will Wright introducing character creation)
[Cutdown2] Get the next 10.
[Cutdown3] Get the following 10.
[Cutdown4] Get the final 10.

Update: Someone was kind enough to make a torrent: [link].

JoystiqJoystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams [update 3] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 May 2006 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3E32006EAElectronic-ArtsMAxisPCRobin WilliamsRobinWilliamsSporeWill WrightWillWrightWiredThu, 11 May 2006 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC: The evolution of Will Wright's keynote title]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/25/gdc-the-evolution-of-will-wrights-keynote-title/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/25/gdc-the-evolution-of-will-wrights-keynote-title/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/25/gdc-the-evolution-of-will-wrights-keynote-title/#commentsFiled under: , ,


I'm finally able to begin to process the contents of Will Wright's keynote speech from Thursday, titled "What's Next in Game Design?" Well, it was called "What's Next in Game Design?" before being changed and then changed again. Like the rest of Wright's speech, the naming process was a twisty maze of ideas. More thoughts on his keynote later; for now enjoy how it began...

Continue reading GDC: The evolution of Will Wright's keynote title

JoystiqGDC: The evolution of Will Wright's keynote title originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Mar 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCMaxisPCSporeWill WrightWillWrightSat, 25 Mar 2006 16:30:00 EST