Brace for ImpactBrace for Impact

What the geeks are drooling over this week

Craig Matsumoto, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

September 2, 2008

1 Min Read
Light Reading logo in a gray background | Light Reading

2:40 PM -- It's finally here. No, I don't mean the announcement of the new Alcatel-Lucent CEO.

Spore arrives Sept. 7. It's arguably the most anticipated computer game in history, because it's the brainchild of Sims creator Will Wright and has had a multiyear buildup of hype. And, of course, because it's a year late.

It helps that Spore sounds as addictive as nicotine-laced doughnuts: You start with microscopic life forms that eventually evolve into an interstellar civilization, if you play long enough. (And you will. Oh yes, you willll...)

It's big enough news to be covered today by The Wall Street Journal (because Electronic Arts means big business) and The New York Times (for the evolutionary biology angle).

We've written here and there about the intersection of the gaming world with telecom. (See GameRail's Gone and GDC 2007 in Pictures.) Spore isn't really a massively multiplayer game -- you can share creations with others but you don't play with/against other humans simultaneously, as I understand it -- nor is it initially being released for consoles like Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. It is, however, being drafted in a cellphone version. Yet another way to make providers regret their unlimited data usage plans.

It's possible Spore won't have much of a telecom impact. But apparently the game's free Creature Creator has been downloaded 3 million times and will come bundled with some HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) computers starting later this year. Spore seems worth watching.

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading

About the Author

Craig Matsumoto

Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

Yes, THAT Craig Matsumoto – who used to be at Light Reading from 2002 until 2013 and then went away and did other stuff and now HE'S BACK! As Editor-in-Chief. Go Craig!!

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