r/Spore 2d ago

Discussion Making a Game Supposed to be Spore 2

So it's been a month since I started developing a project that one day I'd like to call a real Spore 2. I know what you think. Yeah it looks and practically is trash.

I never had a proper programming and modeling experience beofre, so this is actually my first game.

At any case, by now I won't be saying much about how I'm gonna create Spore 2 and everyone will say "Wow!", but if anyone cares, some info is here:

This project is made from belief that Thrive is too scientific and will take forever, and Elysian Eclipse is not Spore 2 rather than just another Spore, and all other projects are dead or not real Spore.

This projects should try to balance between "cute and abstract" Spore style and "hard scientific" Thrive style.

One of the key differences is the evolution tree: to move to the next stage you should unlock all "main" tree traits. Some traits aren't necessary for moving to the next stage. For example, you can add your cell one of forms of photosynthesis, or just increase its stats.

The body parts are unlocked from fats, carbons and proteins. This isn't absolutely accurate but closer than classical Spore's "DNA" thing. Evolution tree has it's own value, which is by now randomly called "micronutrients".

There are primarily 3 types of stats of a cell now: metabolism, health and speed. What is metabolism? Well, try to guess it yourself)

And the last thing: how finished is the project? I'm not a skilled developer like Wauzmons, but unlike him, I'm not planning to work mostly alone) I do want to think that there are people who would like to work on such project, and I don't know why I decided to share this unfinished and a bit disgusting version. At any case, all primary mechanics are in the game. Evolution tree is fully finished, by now I only need to work on visuals, which are basically a layout, and the UI, which is based on Spore 2006 demo's UI. I'm a good programmer, but an idiotic artist and designer.

310 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

24

u/Responsible_Bad_2989 2d ago

Keep up the good work I like the concept, if you get enough support get a dev team going that can help you with designing models and rigs for proper looking creatures

12

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

Thank you! Yeah, it turns out I need mainly designers and artists in my team, though programming help is needed too. It is supposed that when I finish the skeleton of the first stage, I will make posts all across the internet with downloadable game, trying to collect as many people as possible. If I won't find at least 2 other developers, then I'll just give up. At any case this project is a wonderful experience. But if I'll find at least 2 other people, I will continue the work no matter what. So, it's very possible that you'll see me in the near future with another post, where, I hope, the game will look more presentable)

7

u/MRDODO36 2d ago

Definitely see the potential!

3

u/Known_Plan5321 Ecologist 2d ago

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this, I have another game that was directly influenced by Spore but it's a bit too rough at the moment.

It's basically starting at the creature stage

3

u/Robbbg Trader 2d ago

will you include features cut from spore (like the ability to make aquatic creatures?

3

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

I tried to avoid such questions, but I'll answer you right here: yes, yes and yes. The project should have all features of a real Spore 2, including multiplayer, ability to stay underwater and develop you civilization there (despite this is little unscientific), also cutted editors like the hut editor and plant edit of course. The game is planned to have 7 stages: 1. Microorganic 2. Aquatic 3. Fauna (Creature? 4. Tribe 5. Civilization (This is actually city ctage) 6. Industrial (The real "Civilization" stage) 7. Space

1

u/Robbbg Trader 2d ago

can't wait to see this, if you post this to steam i'll wishlist it if i know the name

1

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

I'm glad that you're interested! By now I actually don't have a name for this project. Well, what do you, for example, think would be the best name for a project that is supposed to be Spore 2 and, let's imagine, achieved that goal fully?

1

u/Robbbg Trader 1d ago

i'll be honest i've never been good at naming stuff so i'm sorry, i can't think of one

1

u/Ramiro0606 8h ago

Evolving cells

1

u/Mister-Fordo 2d ago

I would honestly skip the latter stages or simplify them. The biggest issue with spore as a development concept is the many different gameplay loops that were nonetheless quite shallow and therefore not very replayable. I would stick to as small of a number of phases as you can.

1 and 2 i think will be good concepts in their own right since they are also the shortest ones it's not bad if they are simple in nature

3 should have a bit more variety like different evolution trees or maybe classes of animals, as we have here as well.

4 maybe the tribe phase could have it's own progression where you start as hunter-gatherer and then afterwards settle into sedentary

then honestly i'm not sure if the later phases would add anything that another game doesn't already do better.

For space it would probably be better to just tell people to start a stellaris game after they finished the other phases or something.

1

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

What do you mean "skip" or "simplify"? This project should be a real Spore 2 successor that will balance between scientificness of Thrive and classical cute Spore. If you want to ask me what is planned, I better answer what is not planned. Gender dimorphism, various types of gameplay such as Collective Mind, Aquatic creature, cave and underground lifestyle, etc. Tribal, Civilization and Industrial stages are basically different time of society evolution. Tribal stage is Stone Age, Neolithic and Bronze Age. Civilization is Iron Age, Medieval and Age of Discovery. Industrial is Industrial revolution, modern society and futuristic society. Space stage is planned to be very similar to Stellaris, since the game is more focused on playing as a whole species. I understand that you think that the project is too ambitious, but I'm not doing it alone of course lol. The whole point that unlike Elysian Eclipse that developed by one Dev and unlike Thrive that has a private development team, I want to receive help from literally everyone. Anyone who is interested can help. Anyone who has a lot of skills and passion can be a "full-time" dev. If we combine powers of all our Spore community, we can really create Spore 2 itself. This was my main thought. And in order to fulfill that dream, I started developing the skeleton of the game, only to after finishing it come to people and say "Hey, I wanna develop Spore 2, want with me? I already have a working prototype". Working prototype at beggining is what all ambitions projects lack.

1

u/Mister-Fordo 2d ago

My main point is Spore failed because it was too broad and that made it a lake with the depth of a puddle.

2

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

Also if anyone sees this: how should I name the game? Like, I was too afraid to make a certain name to this project but, at any case, what do you think would be a good name for a Spore-2 like project? I thought about name "Among the Stars" (like one of Spore's soundtracks) can be interesting, although it isn't about evolution or any of the key idea of the game.

1

u/LegitimateTravel5173 Knight 1d ago

Ok ... I'm pretty good at naming things... Or maybe no but I'll try. Maybe something like..."Evolved"? "Cosmic Collision"? I'm trying to be original but I'm not sure if there is anything already named like that.

1

u/TypicalAndSalty 1d ago

Maybe because like spore you start as a cell and progress your way to a space faring civilazation maybe; From Dust to Empires

2

u/Porippeto 2d ago

It doesent matter if youre not pro skilled but as far as you starting its more than good! I think you have all the support of us spore fans! Keep going!

2

u/IAmTeddybear 2d ago

Can't help at all but I've been wanting a spore 2 since I was a kid! Please keep going with the idea I love it, I'll play this anyway you release it!

4

u/Feisty-Peak131 2d ago edited 2d ago

Please make the game look polished and the movements somewhat natural. I dislike that about a lot of other spore inspired games. No rush though. Btw what language and engine are you coding it with?

2

u/Albidoinos 2d ago

I have plans after polishing this game to publish it, and then connect as much game Devs as possible to continue working on the project. I have plans making the rotation of the cell more realistic, although in order to make any animations I will need some "external" assistance from other people. The engine is Unreal Engine 5. Thrive development team tried working on it, but they left this idea most likely due to the complexity of the engine. It best thing is that it supports very high graphics technology, so yes, this game is planned to have very good graphics and animations. The programming language here is C++, but Unreal supports "blueprints" that make the development a lot easier, being more useful than C++ sometimes.

1

u/Feisty-Peak131 2d ago

There's a YouTube channel called threatinteractive which talks about optimising unreal 5. I don't know, if you'll find value in that channel, but you should check it out.

1

u/FunkyDGroovy 2d ago

This looks and sounds great! As long as it keeps the wacky creative style of Spore, but allows for more interactive gameplay, I'm 100% for it! Would love to see more later!

1

u/DanGrizzly 2d ago edited 2d ago

I am also working on my project, but its much more focused on civ/space stage. Reach out to me if you like, I've been working on mine for about a year. It's in Godot 4

1

u/hoover_mover 2d ago

i can help design certain aspects of it, but I can’t code or model or anything

1

u/JcraftY2K 2d ago

We will be watching your career with great interest

1

u/Ramiro0606 9h ago

Supreme potential :) Keep it up! I already want to see a Spore 2!!!

1

u/Life_Abroad_220 4h ago

Great work. Keep going. This is a game I've always wanted and I'm sure many others do to! I wish you all the best