Darkspore

Darkspore is a game scheduled for release in February 2011. It is a sci-fi action RPG with a heavy focus on 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!

Heroes
'Heroes' are members of the Crogenitor Insurgency, a team of individuals fighting against the Darkspore under the command of the few remaining Crogenitors. Their unique and powerful abilities, skills, and talents set them apart from others, and single them out as prime candidates for enhancement through E-DNA and incorporation into the prime class of the Crogenitor resistance force.


 * Zrin
 * Vex
 * Sage
 * Goliath
 * Arakna
 * Blitz
 * Jinx
 * Meditron
 * Magnos
 * Tork
 * Titan
 * Andromeda
 * Wraith
 * Maldri
 * SRS-42
 * Krel
 * Viper
 * Orion

(Unknown Darkspore Heroes)

Characters
This category refers to characters that are neither heroes nor common enemies or bosses.

Zelem

The Corrupter

Areas
As heroes increase in level, they will visit more and more planets and areas, of which there are a large variety, to engage in new missions.


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

Common Enemies
There are many enemies in Darkspore aside from bosses. They are often encountered on several planets, more than once. This category forms the bulk of the enemies in the game.


 * Darkspore
 * Darkspore Agent
 * Raktha
 * Sapphire Scorpiod
 * Reparatron
 * Warp Spawner
 * Electron Burster
 * Ballistic Quadrakiller
 * Hydro Mantis
 * Shikoru
 * Caustic Stinger
 * Acid Shell
 * Terrasaur
 * Lightning Stalker
 * Ray Shot
 * Laser Tank
 * Stegavaar

Bosses
Before the end of every campaign mission, a powerful boss enemy must be fought. Each boss has its own name and title.


 * Merak
 * Polaris
 * Nashira

Gameplay and Editor Features
Darkspore features a specialized version of the renowned Spore Creature Creator for editing heroes. Its gameplay is similar that of other action-RPG titles, such as Torchlight and Diablo, with a top-down third-person viewpoint, 'click-to-attack' and 'click-to-move' controls, and special abilities.

Darkspore has well-rendered modern graphics and textures, and visceral, intense gameplay that moves at a relatively calm pace to aid its strategic edge. The player will be able to collect and recruit hundreds of heroes, of which each player can choose a squad deck of three of to take into every mission. The right selection and combination of heroes is vital, as their abilities should compliment each others' combat effectiveness, and their types should be selected so as to counter resistances. The player may only control one of the deck at a time, though is able to swap freely between the three. Switching is useful for protecting heroes that are low on health or energy until they can be healed or re-energized. Every hero has its own 'squad ability', which can be used by any of the heroes in the player's deck.

The game will be based heavily on looting and collecting, and players will have to take up many challenges to aquire new heroes and new items for use in the editors. Another prime factor is replayability, as the game is designed to have quality in being played over and over again. It features a procedural AI Director that controls enemies and a level-based loot randomization system that encourages players to revisit missions to earn better loot, and also leaves plenty of room for experimentation with heroes, squad arrangements and use of parts.

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 others' heroes into multiplayer arena battles.

Beta-testing Sign-up
On /11/03/10/, the Sign-up for the Darkspore newsletter feature on Darkspore.com changed into a Sign up for the Darkspore Beta application. This was first mentioned by Mike Perry at the PAX Expo. There is currently no known release date of the Darkspore Beta.

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.

Deathmatch Arena
Darkspore features an online Player versus Player multiplayer deathmatch component that allows players to pit the customized heroes that they have collected in the campaign against those of others in battle arenas. Like in the campaign, the player will have a deck of three heroes each that the player can swap control of using a universal ability to balance their health, energy and abilities. Deathmatch battles are much more challenging and tactical than that of certain other similar games, as defeating an opponent requires players to use all manner of heroes, abilities and techniques to eliminate all three of the opponent's heroes, which are likely just as powerful as their own three. Online PvP will feature online matchmaking, ranking and leaderboards.

Co-operative Campaign
Darkspore's co-operative multiplayer campaign is the main focus of the game. Up to four players, each with their own squad deck of three customizable heroes, can join in on a campaign game, battling enemies together, forming team tactics, and trading loot.

Darkspore.com
The official Darkspore website, Darkspore.com, is up and running. It contains information about the game, including the heroes, planets, enemies, news announcements, pre-order and beta details, screenshots and videos, and an active forum.



Darkspore: Limited Edition
On /11/03/10/, the main Darkspore website was updated with new, drastically different graphics and layout, a Tumblr feed, and an offer to pre-order a limited edition of Darkspore that immediately unlocks a powerful Quantum character, Maldri, along with 3 exclusive stat-boosting armor parts.

This offer expires on /01/31/11/: http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/html/pbPage.dark-spore?resid=LBhxdwoBAlcAAFflQ4EAAAAb&rests=1288825935781

The art for Maldri and the exclusive parts are found on Darkspore.com's Tumblr feed: http://darkspore.tumblr.com/post/1528512030/pre-order-darkspore

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.

Controversy
Creation

Controversy regarding limitations within the Darkspore hero editor arose when it was announced that the system only allowed for minor editing, which was not entirely accurate. For the full article, see the 'Arguments and Controversy' section of the Darkspore Editor page.

Blood and Gore

Shortly after gameplay videos and screenshots were revealed, players could see the relatively copious amounts of blood and gore that exited in the game. Several Spore fans began to complain that the game contained "too much gore". Ironically, before Darkspore was announced, many Spore players complained about the near-complete lack of blood in the game, on grounds that the gameplay in Spore felt inaccessible to gamers with a taste for more realistic violence. On the Darkspore forum, senior systems designer Paul Sottosanti has stated that the are looking into adding a "switch" feature that will regulate the amount of gore and blood in the game, and even make it completely vanish for players who find it unfavorable.

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.


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


 * An ARG called Help E-DNA exists, in which players must solve puzzles given by a mysterious character in the events leading up to the game. The ARG's plotline is finished, but the domain is still running at: http://www.helpedna.com.