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By Glen Atwell and Shaun Inguanzo

Gamer Herald - September 2008

Spore set for Australian release on September 5

September 4th 2008 02:38
Console: PC
Article: Hands On
Score (out of 10): No Score
Author: Glen Atwell
Online Multiplayer: Yes
THE hype surrounding the September 5 Australian release of PC-game Spore is reaching fever pitch.

EA is running a blanket online advertising campaign targeting Australia's biggest online news network NEWS.com.au.

spore review released australia
Spore has started popping up on Australia's biggest news website



spore creature review pc
Click through and you'll be taken to the Spore EU website


Gamer Herald has already spent many hours with the full version and will be posting a full review on this unique title in the coming days.
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Spore Postcard Images

September 3rd 2008 13:29
Console: PC
Article: Hands On
Score (out of 10): No Score
Author: Glen Atwell
Online Multiplayer: Yes
I'm totally smitten by Spore. I'm desperate to share some of the content I have created.

animated Spore image
Everybody now... Y M C A !


Spore creature animation
This is my evolved creature. Note the posion pods on the legs, and speedy frog feet!



Spore cell creator PC game
This is how Nelgsta's life began, as a cell, swimming in a tide of DNA


spore creature picture
Nelgsta's life as a cell was soon over, he grew legs and took to the land!


What do you think?

Check out our hands on / review of Spore here
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Spore Review - PC

September 3rd 2008 13:16
Console: PC
Article: Hands On
Score (out of 10): No Score
Author: Glen Atwell
Online Multiplayer: Yes
DESPITE the hype surrounding Spore in the lead up to its release, I really had no idea what to expect.

From what I was read, this game was a universe creating online exploration vehicle, and it sounded downright confusing.

Imagine my relief then, when I installed Spore and discovered a revolutionary game, full of exciting never-before-seen features and thousands of items, things and tidbits to keep your mind endlessly fuelled.

spore review pc
My first Spore postcode, uploaded in seconds

Right now, my Spore window is minimized, and I'm tapping out this hands-on impression while a video of my creature, named 'Nelgsta', is being uploaded to YouTube.

That's right, the game has inbuilt YouTube connectivity, meaning you can share your unique Spore creature with the rest of the world.

Check out Nelgsta getting his freak on:



Nelgsta, a happy-go-lucky herbivore, began his life as a microbe, a mere cell in a tide pool of DNA and genes. To grow and develop, I swam him around, eating fruit and plants to fuel his development as a being.

The more food he ate, the more points I amassed. With enough points in the kitty to 'upgrade', Nelgsta called out for a mate, and a new generation of my creature was born.

On the upgrade screen, I added spikes to protect Nelgsta from front-on predators; I also added extra tails for faster swimming and another eye to increase his visibility.

In no time at all, Nelgsta was king of the gene pool. It was then time to grow some legs, evolve to a land-based creature and start all over again.

The creature stage is much harder, I enrolled on 'normal' difficulty and this is tough. Your creature starts the stage with a pea-size brain and slowly learns and acquires DNA to become smarter.

You'll meet countless new species of creatures, some friendly, some not. Befriend the nice guys and they'll accompany you on missions to extinct the bad guys.

At the same time, you need to keep eating, keep upgrading your creature and learn the keyboard commands.

I suspect right now, the learning curve is at its steepest descent. But I'm having a blast, and that's what counts.

Every screen I click, I discover something new. Photo mode, take a screenshot and send a postcard to a mate, customise your creature with new colours, log on to the Sporepedia and search the online content.

This is an amazing game. The hype was worth it and you'll be talking about this for years to come.

Maxis has progressed in leaps and bounds since The Sims. Spore is truly next-generation.

Buy it now.

I haven't played it enough to offer a score, but my early impressions suggest this game is near-perfect.

Review and more details to come.
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Trauma Centre: Second Opinion - Review

September 2nd 2008 01:09
Console: Wii
Article: Review
Score (out of 10): 7
Author: Shaun Inguanzo
Online Multiplayer: No
trauma centre second opinion screenshot
Trauma Centre makes novel use of the Wii's motion sensitive controls


NURSE! Pass the scalpel! It's an emergency!
[ Click here to read more ]
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