| GameBump | http://www.gamebump.com Video gaming news blog. en-us Copyright 2006-2008 Gaming Horizon Maxis releases third Spore patch, includes 24 new limbs Zach Lott http://www.gamebump.com/go/maxis_releases_third_spore_patch_includes_24_new_limbs http://www.gamebump.com/go/maxis_releases_third_spore_patch_includes_24_new_limbs http://www.gamebump.com/go/maxis_releases_third_spore_patch_includes_24_new_limbs#

Over at the official Spore website there's news that the third patch for the game is now available, offering twenty-four new limbs for your creatures. The limbs are intended to be used with the Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, which was released today. Imagine how much freakier your creatures will be now.

There's also a few patch fixes:

  • Fix for esc key not bringing up Options in Galaxy Game Entry
  • Fix for creator backgrounds appearing on small sporepedia cards
  • Update to help keep achievements on the server in sync with achievements in the game

The patch is available for both PC and Mac.


]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:40:31 -0600 Spore System Specifications Released Tim Grube http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_system_specifications_released http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_system_specifications_released http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_system_specifications_released# Electronic Arts today released the system requirements for the upcoming title, Spore. Look for it in stores on September 11.
    WINDOWS XP
    • 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
    • 512 MB RAM
    • A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
    • At least 6 GB of hard drive space

    WINDOWS VISTA
    • 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
    • 768 MB RAM
    • A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
    • At least 6 GB of hard drive space
Hit the jump for more specs.

For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:

  • Intel Integrated Chipset, 945GM or above.
  • 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent.
  • 768 MB RAM

Supported Video Cards
  • ATI Radeon series
    • 9500, 9600, 9800
    • X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
    • X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
    • 2400, 2600, 2900,
    • 3650, 3850
  • NVIDIA GeForce series
    • FX 5900, FX 5950
    • 6200, 6500, 6600, 6800,
    • 7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
    • 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
  • Intel Extreme Graphics
    • GMA 950, GMA X3000, GMA X3100



]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:01:37 -0500 Spore Release Date Announced: 9/07/2008 Aaron Dunlap http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_release_date_announced_907208 http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_release_date_announced_907208 http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_release_date_announced_907208#

After something like a 42-year development cycle and 100 gameplay presentations from Will Wright, Spore finally has a release date.

Via a very brief teaser video posted on the Spore website, EA has announced a confirmed release date of September 7th, 2008 for the PC, Mac, and Nintendo DS.

"The wait is almost over," Chief Designer Will Wright said in a press release. "We're in our final stages of testing and polish with Spore, and the team at Maxis can't wait to see the cosmos of content created by the community later this year."

The seven months until release gives plenty of time for conservative, religious, and parents groups to get up in arms about the "pro-evolution" content of the game.


]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:37:54 -0600 Spore and COD4 Mac-bound. Is Mac Gaming Going To Improve? Aaron Dunlap http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_and_cod4_macbound_is_mac_gaming_going_to_improve http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_and_cod4_macbound_is_mac_gaming_going_to_improve http://www.gamebump.com/go/spore_and_cod4_macbound_is_mac_gaming_going_to_improve#

We in the gaming world typically don't need to pay attention to the Macworld Expo for news, since it's been pretty well-known that gaming on the Mac sucks. One of the "hottest" games on the Mac right now is Age of Empires III, which came out something like 400 years ago.

Macs use Intel chips now, and the market share is expanding day by day. There's no reason for the gaming market to be so bleak on the Mac, and it looks like perhaps things are starting to make a turn.

Today, Activision announced that uber-hit Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will be coming to the Mac via game-porting specialists Aspyr. Yesterday it was revealed via EA that Spore is being developed for the Mac, and is even available on display at Macworld.

I do most of my work on a MacBook Pro but I have to hang onto a Windows box for the sake of the few PC games worth playing that come out every year or so. If the PC and Mac gaming markets were a little more symmetrical, I'd be ecstatic for one, but I think it would be good for gaming and great for Apple.

Go into an Apple store and the only games you'll see on those machines are such fare as Finding Nemo and some new age analog of Reader Rabbit. Aren't Macs supposed to be for the young, hipster, media-savvy crowd? Shoddy ports coming out months late doesn't strike me as very hip or savvy.

This could be a product of Microsoft's buddy-buddy status with the publishers. They've dumped millions on this "Games for Windows" concept, and pushed DirectX on the developers like smack on a pre-teen. It could also be a product of legacy. Games started out on computers, and although this tricked-out "gaming rig" trend is a recent phenom, PCs have always been seen as gaming vehicles.

They're also beginning to be seen as antiquated, and Apple is moving in as the younger alternative. If they'd like one hell of a boost in that direction, a decent library of video games would do that. 
]]> Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:45:52 -0600 Electronic Arts Unveils Next-Gen Lineup The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/electronic_arts_unveils_nextgen_lineup http://www.gamebump.com/go/electronic_arts_unveils_nextgen_lineup http://www.gamebump.com/go/electronic_arts_unveils_nextgen_lineup# “EA is leading the industry with a new generation of games on a new generation of platforms,” said Paul Lee President of EA Studios. “We’re pushing the technology to provide more innovation in our EA branded games and authentic athletic performance in our EA SPORTS games. We’re also leading the resurgence of PC gaming with groundbreaking titles like Battlefield 2142, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Crytek Studio’s Crysis and of course Will Wright’s new game, SPORE.”

“EA is demonstrating a ground-breaking level of quality and innovation at E3 this year,” said Frank Gibeau, EA Executive Vice President and General Manger of North American Publishing. “Games like ARMY OF TWO and NBA LIVE 07 are going to unleash the power of new consoles like PlayStation3 and Xbox 360. Madden NFL 07 makes great use of the new controller on Nintendo’s Wii system.”

“E3 is a showcase for EA’s portfolio of globally recognized entertainment,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager of International Publishing, Gerhard Florin. “Titles like FIFA Soccer, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II and the Battlefield franchise are among the most popular games in the world.”

The games include:

  • Madden NFL 07
  • NCAA Football 07
  • NASCAR 07
  • ARMY OF TWO
  • Battlefield 2142
  • SPORE
  • Crysis
  • Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
  • The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II
  • SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME
  • Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover
Originally written by Tim Grube]]> Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:19:00 -0500