Clearing a few things up
Total Spore was created as a side project of mine about one and a half years ago. The growth of this site has been phenomenal, and I’ve struggled to keep up with it. Fortunately for me, we’ve been developing an awesome community of Spore fans that have kept this site flying along.
Total Spore is a community where I will not allow people to insult others. I don’t believe there is any benefit in trashing other sites or specific people. Unfortunately there are a few Spore communities that feel otherwise. Over the past two days I’ve gotten hate mail, squads of people trying to destroy our forums, and insults against my personal character. All over a few extra visitors.
Questions & Answers
I’m here to answer the questions as they are laid down. Total Spore is and will continue to be a positive community that serves simply to talk about Spore: because that’s all we really care about.
OMFG You lied, stole, and killed my grandma to get on digg
No, I didn’t. I posted the exact information as it was available to me.
But Amazon.com isn’t Official!!!!$!$@!!@@$
Official is a bit of a hazy word. To me, it was official. It was the first time we’ve even come close to having a reliable release date. Previous dates on pre-orders were dates like “March, 2007″ — hardly anything specific like “March 3, 2008.” This is the first time to date that EA has released a date to it’s suppliers (to my knowledge).
Furthermore, Amazon.com is a reliable source of pre-ordering items. Stores like GameStop will take pre-orders without knowing the price or release date. For example, Gamestop has been known to take pre-orders for games for consoles that didn’t exist yet. Hell, they’ve even taken pre-orders for Duke Nukem Forever! A date released by Gamestop cannot be compared to a date released by Amazon.
Maybe your definition of “official” is different than mine. I don’t really care to be honest. Official just means it’s from a sanctioned source. That’s the date I’m using for now. Is it a final date? No. Official does not mean final.
Still, you totally lied
The post that I put up had the information, where the information came from, and even a link to the source. There was no misinformation whatsoever. You’re free to disagree with the information, that’s your right. But there were no lies.
You totally paid people to digg the story
I didn’t even submit the story (my username on digg is kneath). Hell, the listing crashed the server (totally my fault) because I had temporarily disabled some caching. Would I do that if I was expecting to get to the front page? Digg is a democratic community that choses the stories to promote themselves. They chose to promote this story.
Conclusion
Total Spore is not a huge evil corporation attempting to extort it’s users. I have purposefully put almost no ads on this site. I have enough to pay the server bills, but that’s about it. I will never claim that all of the information on this site is 100% factual: any other sites out there that do the same are just lying. I post information that I believe is relevant, and I always include sources. So you’re free to see how I reached my conclusion.
Total Spore also embraces the other Spore communities on the web. I think it’s great there’s so many fan sites for a game that’s not even out yet. A lot of them even have thriving communities attached. However, we do not tolerate any bashing of other sites on our forums. We remove anyone from our forums who continually insults other people. This is the reason a number of users were removed yesterday: no other reason.
As an aside, I’ve been working on some thing for Total Spore that I think are going to be really fun. Stick around for the next few months, hopefully you’ll see something new! Let’s get back to talking about Spore, eh?
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Countdown to Spore
Spore is one of the most epic games to ever hit the market. At GDC '05 we saw our first glimpse of Spore and have been eagerly waiting in anticipation since. The current estimated actual release date is September 7, 2008.
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September 14th, 2007
BUt how do you know its not you in the wrong. Thiers always 2 sides to a story and just becasue your on one side dosn’t it the right side. You can’t just ban people becuase you disagree with them. Realy. That fasicsm.
September 14th, 2007
Harrold, I have no idea what you just tried to say.
September 14th, 2007
An “official” release date is one that is released by official sources; like the game’s creators. I don’t know if you’re an American, but there was a mining disaster in Sago, West Virginia a while back. News came out from a source on-site saying that “9 out of 10 miners are alive” and ALL the news channels ran with it. “Mining Miracle” and “Sago Mine Miracle” and crap like that. Well it turned out that actually 9 out of the 10 trapped miners were DEAD, not alive.
Yes, this is a much more extreme case dealing with life and death, but irresponsible news reporting is irresponsible news reporting….and it pisses people off.
“I will never claim that all of the information on this site is 100% factual: any other sites out there that do the same are just lying.”
So basically you just told everyone right there that your news can’t be trusted. Why report news to people if you know it isn’t factual?
Maybe next time when a new “official” (cough cough) release date is put on a pre-order from a company trying to secure customers without there actually being official news straight from the creators of the game, you should go with a headline that says something like “Another Release Date Announced from a Vendor–Still No Official News from EA or Wil Wright”. That at least would be true and not get people in an uproar.
September 14th, 2007
Kyle, I applaud your forthrightness and honesty about the digg article, as well as your intentions on spreading the word on the [i]official date[/i], as posted on Amazon.com (who I worked for until recently). I can’t completely agree with your interpretation of the use of Amazon.com’s release date on Spore, but as you say, a specific date [i]is[/i] better than a vague month/year, so I’m with you there.
Harrold, if you RTFA that Kyle so worded above, you’d see that he was only removing members who were “bashing … other sites on our forums,” and he “will not allow people to insult others [in the forum].” I don’t know how you’re interpreting this, but removing a blatantly negative, name-calling, vulgar, and altogether slanderous poster (Read: Flaming Troll) is completely different than banning someone who’s trying to contribute a well-thought-out opposing opinion.
As an aside, Harrold, Kyle banned one of our own ’senior’ members because of his caustic remarks towards another spore-related site, so he’s being fair towards all of us.
As the (current) top-poster in Totalspore, I think I have an idea on how this community is shaping up, and I think I know when someone’s helping or hindering our community; those from other spore sites coming here to ridicule us using defamatory remarks and vulgar attacks only deserve the bans they got - it’s already stipulated in the Rules on how ALL POSTERS are to act in here (and hopefully any other forum out there).
On the other hand, it’s been alleged that other spore sites are [i]censoring posts[/i] trying to be “fair” towards Totalspore.com, to the point of even deleting posts to keep people from reading “the other side of the story.” I’ve already poured through a dozen or so threads in Totalspore and see no such censorship - the posts arguing against Kyle’s digg article are still there. So you tell me which sites are being fair to both sides of the story.
Final point:
When I first joined Totalspore.com about 6 months ago, I didn’t know if it was really any better than the dozen or so other spore-related sites that dot the Internet e-scape, but after this incident, I see now that my decision was a good one, and I’m glad that my efforts in helping Kyle make a positive, informed, intellectually honest, and enjoyable online Spore-related community have not been in vain, nor anything I now regret, but am now more proud of than ever.
So, I plan to continue on using Totalspore.com as my [i][b]sole website[/b][/i] for my spore-related interests.
Thanks, Kyle.
September 14th, 2007
dude thta relese date is right, GAMESTOP says so since april
September 14th, 2007
“However, we do not tolerate any bashing of other sites on our forums. We remove anyone from our forums who continually insults other people. This is the reason a number of users were removed yesterday: no other reason.”
U hert mie fealings :-(
I don’t like being banned from this site. All I did was say that they banned me for mentioning totalspore, and that I don’t like them because of that
Back on topic - You shouldn’t have been bashed for telling the truth
September 14th, 2007
Harrold, to be honest, I logged on xspore today and inquired about why people where insulting totalspore and i got threatened three times in a single minute with a ban just for simply mentioning the totalspore name…although it was by non-moderaters (i believe) there were still threats no matter who they were from.
I would personally like to be able to link the sites together in order to make a greater community, a web if you will, being able to at least get along. As i posted earlier, at least lets leave each other at peace….for the grass only seems greener on the other side.
September 14th, 2007
First off let’s all do our research before we go and draw conclusions, I think that this is what Kyle was trying to get across in his posts. Secondly, I’d like to comment on some of the people who go out and just open their mouths before even considering the facts on the table, people who go about moping over others who are given the authority over them and simpky don’t respect that even though they allowed this authority in the past. A forum is in no way an example of fascism, it cannot be compared to any civic present in the real world because it is so volatile, if it were fascism it would be very different ((Yes Harrold you spelled fascism wrong)). So if you freaking don’t know what your talking about then shut up, because right now I feel like beating the shit out of some of you…
September 14th, 2007
Wow, looks like you had to deal with some crazy people. Thanks for the post. I didn’t for one second think anything bad about it. You clearly stated that it was from Amazon etc. What else do people want? Obviously this date, which is months away isn’t set in stone, but at least it’s something.
I think people are just a little excited about this game and it’s making them not think so clearly. Don’t worry about this incident though, this is your blog, you don’t have to deal with or accept people that aren’t civil.
September 14th, 2007
Thank you Kyle. even though i don’t think a lot of people from other sites will find your point and take you seriously. xspore will probably dedicate an article to your “clearing-up-statement”. lol
I don’t like making such a straight out remark, but it seems as if on the other site that you don’t have the freedom to speak freely [against the man]. If you read Tainted_Wolf’s comment then you know what I mean. (’ ‘ ‘ ‘(o ,..,0)/’ ‘ ‘ ‘)
September 14th, 2007
Very well put Kyle. I didn’t realize that what happened was really so bad (I’m referring to the alleged bashing of other sites), but I think you did us all a service by making it known what the rules are about that around here.
September 14th, 2007
Kyle i’ve always respected you. You putting this article up just made me respect you even more.
Keep up the good work! You got plenty of people that support you.
September 14th, 2007
kyle i still support you because this is the most accurate site for spore information that i have found on the web. updates are very close to the point that the information comes out on the web and for this i thank you.
September 15th, 2007
Don’t worry dude, that other forum’s just jealous that this made it to digg
I know i would be!
September 15th, 2007
People should not argue on the basis of a release date. They should rather focus on how hard our team is working on both the ds and pc versions.
September 15th, 2007
lol is this creator for real?
September 15th, 2007
in my opinion ANY release date for this game is worth posting. instead of saying bad stuff about you, xspore should be posting this date as well.
September 15th, 2007
Just wondering, does anyone know if sopre will require an internet connection? seeing as the game is based on other people’s creations and all.
September 16th, 2007
No, the Game’s DVD will feature many different species and their attributes based on a generator similar to the Planet Generator. Also any connection will suffice due to compression technologies.
September 16th, 2007
Cool, maxis posted on TS
September 16th, 2007
who can be bothered to read all the posts down to this one?
and who cares no “facts” on this website is offical un less it is backed up by evidence and some people disagree with kyles evidence. i myself dont care if you sold your granma to pre order 1 have fun waiting for its release … .saddo
September 16th, 2007
Hey Maxis (if that is your real name lol), do you know if the DS version will allow me to interect with content made by people with the PC version? Will the Sporepedia cover both versions?
And what are the phases which the DS version is said to focus on? I’m fine if several phases are longer than the other phases, but I would be upset if say, the creature and tribal phase were complete and maybe even better than the creature and tribal phases of the PC version, but the space phase, civilization phase and cell phase were waterd-down, “portable” shadows of what they originally were…
September 16th, 2007
All this hate is exactly how wars start. One group hats another group for some stupid reason, and if they had any weapons or axially knew who they were mad at, they’d rip each other apart.
Some people are just so stubborn, they don’t even listen to what you try to tell them (sigh)
September 18th, 2007
i disagree with ALL OF YOU!
September 18th, 2007
Go man! Stand up 4 wat u believe in. U r totally in the right. No-one understands that wat u posted was just speculation and your own views. People dont have to believe in wat u say, but they shouldnt get all agro about it!
September 19th, 2007
“Official is a bit of a hazy word.”
No it’s not. Official doesn’t mean, “It’s still speculation .. but I really trust these guys.” It means the information came from an OFFICIAL source. I think some of the responce to all this has been a little childish, but you have to understand why some people are slagging you for it. You’ve said something was official, when it was little more than another rumour.
You really ought to appologize for confusing people, rather than trying to make people believe that official doesn’t really mean official.
September 19th, 2007
@YYC: So “official” means OFFICIAL?
I’m sorry man, but I can’t stop laughing. Thanks so much for that :D
September 20th, 2007
I was contrasting your “hazy” definition with the fact that the word is easily and plainly understood by the vast majority of people. If you’d prefer, we could consult a dictionary:
of·fi·cial [uh-fish-uhl]
–noun
1. a person appointed or elected to an office or charged with certain duties.
–adjective
2. of or pertaining to an office or position of duty, trust, or authority: official powers.
3. authorized or issued authoritatively: an official report.
4. holding office.
5. appointed or authorized to act in a designated capacity: an official representative.
6. (of an activity or event) intended for the notice of the public and performed or held on behalf of officials or of an organization; formal: the official opening of a store.
7. Pharmacology. noting drugs or drug preparations that are recognized by and that conform to the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Formulary.
[Origin: 1300–50; ME < LL officiālis of duty, equiv. to L offici(um) office + -ālis -al1]
September 21st, 2007
This entire discussion is pointless. There has always been more than one fansite per game; The Sims for example, and they have always found a way to co-exist peacefully. Please leave your warring habits for the Tribal Stage.
September 22nd, 2007
@YCC: If you’d prefer, we could consult a dictionary:
State your sources or its not OFFICIAL dimwit!
September 23rd, 2007
So…Maxis won’t respond to my question….Guess I won’t get Spore then =)
Shame, you could have been 40 bucks richer…
JK, of course…Or am I?
September 23rd, 2007
spyderpoop,
you do know anyone can be maxis right?
September 24th, 2007
I am not ‘maxis’ or affiliated with such a company. I’m simply a humble observer who is an enormous fan of the game and of the powers of ten phenomena.
September 24th, 2007
you’re all going totally nuts over nothing.. it’s a game. chill. it’s time will come one way or another. it’s not like it’s going the way of the “SC Ghost”.
September 24th, 2007
“…They should rather focus on how hard our team is working on both the ds and pc versions…”
Creator, you got some ’splaining to do XD
And I agree with Anonymous…You’ll get Spore when you get Spore. Maybe it’s because I’m a bum who sleeps all day and is completely out of the loop when it comes to consumer knowledge such as release dates and whatnot, but I think everyone (well, not everyone) is ripping Kyle’s throat out for no good reason…
September 25th, 2007
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/24967.html
since kyle is takein so long 2 update, jk kyle, but its pritty cook cheak this out
September 26th, 2007
Man, people really are ignorant. Stop whining, seriously. I only visit this site from time to time but I’m disgusted at how people treat those trying to develop a community for this kind of thing. Give the guy a break, he posted a release date from a source, that may not be the game’s creator, but is a major online vendor. If you really have nothing better to do than argue whether Amazon’s date is official or not, that’s sad.
Keep it up Kyle.
September 27th, 2007
xspore rules yeah!
September 29th, 2007
new games…
…
September 30th, 2007
OMG EA IS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER DELAY, THERE SAYING MABE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR!!!
FUCK U IN THE EYE EA!!
October 4th, 2007
kyle when r u gudda update?
October 4th, 2007
I would like for it to come out but if it IS necessary to have a delay to fix problems (!make it better!)or what ever i will air and not go crazy like 4/5 of you
October 4th, 2007
oh the air = wait
sry
October 7th, 2007
wow xSpore’s way in front of total…I guess it’s because they have the finest news-people. oh well
October 7th, 2007
i have been visiting this site for over a year …..
ya wasn’t it sposto come out early next year
October 11th, 2007
Wow, people harped on this site for saying Amazon released an official shipping date estiment? That’s lame. Don’t you listen to those boogers, you didn’t do anything wronge site editor people.
October 13th, 2007
you can also preorder spore on http://www.buyspore.com for the same release date as amazon.com
October 15th, 2007
well even though thats 2 big sites saying the same thing im still not convinced on March 08. any site can say THIS is the OFFICIAL date but you would need to hear it from a producer of the game not just people you’ve never met.
October 17th, 2007
So do we know when spore is coming out or not? I really dont understand what this post was really trying to tell us. really
October 17th, 2007
sorry im new with this spore game I found out about it last month and didnt notice what a big deal it was so can any one back me up with the basics please.
October 23rd, 2007
UPDATE U LAZY FUCK
October 23rd, 2007
srry children who read that
October 23rd, 2007
tommy: take your pills today… EA hasn’t said jack. Unless you mean other sites that say that they might have thought EA could have said that they were thinking about maybe talking about delaying… wait, I’m not even going to go there.
Would you like me to update that some guy from EA said something about the release maybe being sometime next year? Because that’s about as specific as it’s been thus far ;)
October 24th, 2007
Never doubted you Kyle. Ever.
October 27th, 2007
I can’t wait 4 months! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
throws self out window
Damn! my house’s a bungalow
November 12th, 2007
No dude theres been intervews, new vids and everything you have been missing
December 15th, 2007
This discussion has gone on for, 3 months? wtf…
January 29th, 2008
Harrold,
Actually, “fascism” means a corporate run state.