Playing God
Will Wright’s hugely successful game The Sims let players shape the lives of virtual humans; his new game, Spore, lets them control the universe. Spore has five levels, following a species’ evolution from single-celled organisms to technologically advanced space explorers, but players can begin at any level. In the game’s editor mode, players design their own creatures. The creatures’ movements and behaviors are then determined by algorithms that analyze the structure of their bodies. At the lower levels, players help their creatures feed and hunt; at the higher levels, they control the creatures’ social organization and their built environment. Spore comes out September 7.
Courtesy of EA
Product: Spore
Cost: Less than $50
Source: www.spore.com
Company: Electronic Arts
Other products in this section:
Keep Reading
Most Popular
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
What’s next for generative video
OpenAI's Sora has raised the bar for AI moviemaking. Here are four things to bear in mind as we wrap our heads around what's coming.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.