Darkspore


 * For the species of the same name, see Darkspore (Race).

Darkspore is a game scheduled for release in February 2011. It is a sci-fi action RPG with heavy co-op elements that is separate from Spore, but contains some spore-like features, such as a similar but more expansive and advanced creature editor. Darkspore is currently slated for release on both PC and Mac.

Plot
The Crogenitors, a race of unrivaled, advanced beings, roamed the galaxy for eons. Long ago, they created the five genesis types of DNA as well as a powerful type of DNA called E-DNA. A scientist on the planet Verdanth named Sage discovered how unstable the E-DNA was, and before he could warn the Crogenitors, the E-DNA had already spread across his homeworld, creating the first of the Darkspore as he watched helplessly. Sage fled away on a Crogenitor refugee ship. He sought to one day return and free his world, reconstructing his weaponry to manipulate plant life, and became known as Sage: The Life Forester. The Darkspore soon spread and worked their way to the ruins of the planet Nakto, where a Crogenitor named Zelem and his partner Vex, who gained his title as Vex: The Chrono Shifter after an experiment granted him the ability to manipulate space-time, tried to fight back, but failed. The Darkspore had completely taken over the lab where they worked, but before his unexplained disappearance, Zelem built an artificial field of gravity that turned the ruins of his homeworld into a mass of orbiting isles, which is now known as Zelem's Nexus. A millenium after the Darkspore had conquered Zelem's Nexus and set up their base there, a supercomputer stationed aboard a Crogenitor ship was able to purify a strand of E-DNA after many years of calculations and research.

As the same Crogenitor awakening from his 1,000-year hibernation, the supercomputer, called the HELIX, informs you about what has happened to the galaxy. You must now assemble a team of heroes, and genetically enhance them with the power of the purified E-DNA. With this team, you will fight your way across many alien worlds, collecting tens of thousands of unique parts to upgrade your heroes with, while discovering hundreds of new heroes to join your cause. The first step in preventing the Darkspore from conquering the universe is to infiltrate their base on Zelem's Nexus and retrieve the advanced technology from Zelem's lab, which is believed will help pave the way to conquering the Darkspore, and granting the galaxy's freedom.

The official Darkspore website gives a small amount of information regarding the game's storyline.

''For eons the Crogenitors traversed the galaxy, genetically transforming and sculpting living matter to their will. In their unchecked arrogance they created something they could not control - the Darkspore. Now the galaxy is under siege.

''Using the powers of E-DNA, the Darkspore has transformed planetary populations into mutated hordes. Its sole purpose...to dominate life on all planets.''

''You are a fugitive, hidden for a millennium. Your mission...to reconstruct an arsenal of genetic heroes. And lead the battle against the Darkspore.''

The time to strike back is now!

Characters

 * Zrin
 * Vex
 * Sage
 * Goliath
 * Arakna
 * Blitz
 * Jinx
 * Meditron
 * Magnos
 * Zelem
 * Tork
 * Titan
 * Unknown
 * Wraith

Areas

 * Zelem's Nexus
 * Nocturna
 * Cryos
 * Verdanth
 * Infinity

Enemies

 * Darkspore
 * Darkspore Agent
 * Raktha
 * Merak
 * Sapphire Scorpoid
 * Reparatron
 * Warp Spawner
 * Electron Burster
 * Ballistic Quadrakiller
 * Hydro Mantis
 * Polaris
 * The Corrupter

Features
Darkspore features Spore-like elements, such as an advanced version of the renowned Spore Creature Creator for editing heroes in Darkspore. There are also many new elements, such as devastating super-abilities and powered weapons. For example, one hero has an ability called "life leech", which drains the life from enemies, while another has a deadly laser weapon.

The graphics and gameplay of Darkspore appear similar to that of what is seen in other upcoming action RPG games such as "Diablo 3". The game will be based heavily on "looting", meaning that players will have to take up many challenges to aquire new items and heroes. Another prime factor is replayability, as the game features a procedural AI director and a loot-randomization system, encourages players to revisit levels to earn better loot, and also leaves plenty of room for experimentation with heroes, squad arrangements and use of parts.

The player will be given the option to collect and recruit various heroes, of which the player can choose a squad of three of to take into any mission. The player may only control one of the squad one at a time, though is able to swap freely between the three using a unique ability, and may also utilize squad abilities that affect the whole group.

Darkspore features a top-down view, 'click-to-move-and-attack' controls, better-rendered and more realistic graphics than Spore's, and more visceral, intense gameplay. The game also emphasizes on its co-op elements, as players may play through the campaign with online friends, as well as allowing them to take each other's heroes into multiplayer arena battles.

Heroes and Creature Categories
The game features creatures of 5 different DNA types. This means that the creatures that the players can play as are all split into 5 separate types: Bio, Plasma, Quantum, Necro and Cyber. The heroes that the player collects throughout the game are also split up into three different classes: Sentinel, Ravager, and Tempest.

Each hero has its own specialized abilities, affected by its type and class.

DarkSpore.com
The website Darkspore.com is now back after being taken down.

San Diego Comic-Con
6:00-7:00: Video Game Reveal: Maxis Studio— Maxis Studio (The Sims and Spore video games) has just announced their next project, a brand new, Sci-Fi Action-RPG based on the DNA of Spore. Join key leads from the dev team, Thomas Vu, Paul Sottosanti and Lauren McHugh, for the first game reveal to the public! Room 3" Darkspore was officially revealed at this place, time, and date.

Trademarked Applications

 * Internet/Multiplayer: Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; Motion picture film production; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet
 * Collectibles/Trading Cards: Action figures; Board games; Hand held units for playing video games other than those adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor; Modeled plastic toy figurines; Playing cards
 * Gaming Software/Singleplayer: Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; Video game software

Trivia

 * The Darkspore logo is similar to the Warhammer 40,000 'Imperial Aquila' logo.


 * Many of the NPCs found throughout the game, such as enemies, are actually inspired by creatures from Spore that were submitted into online contests and won. Players who inspire creatures in Darkspore will receive exclusive achievements.


 * An ARG called HelpEDNA exists, in which players must solve puzzles given by a mysterious character in the events leading up to the game.

The ARG is finished, but the domain is still running at: http://www.helpedna.com.