Modifications

A modification (Commonly referred to simply as a "Mod" for short) is a file or any set of files that will alter or mod ify the way Spore works or add or eliminate content. Spore handles mods as a "Package" file, similar to the Sims 2. Many major mods such as BetterSpore, Platinum spore, and Orbit Spore bring in sweeping changes to Spore.

Mod Tools
There is only one released tool for modding Spore currently. This tool is called SporeMaster, and has the ability to create new items and to create new parts for creatures, vehicles and buildings.

SporeMaster
Key Features:


 * Unpacking and packing of .package files, with automatic conversion of .prop files to and from .xml. files.xml is no longer necessary.
 * Packing of .rw4 (RenderWare 4) model and texture files (from OGRE3D XML format and DDS format respectively) with packages, making part creation possible for the first time.
 * XML property files are more user-friendly than in previous mod tools, using names instead of hashes where possible. XML files are order-independent.
 * Full text indexing of .xml and .locale files in the unpacked package, to permit very fast incremental search. Search for keywords separated by spaces or “literal phrases”.
 * Side-by-side comparison of file tree in Spore and the mod under development. One-click execution of WinMerge to see and edit changes in an individual file.
 * Built in syntax highlighting editor.
 * Image and model viewers.
 * Tools for guessing the original names for hashes and for creating friendly aliases for hashes that can’t be guessed (or that were randomly generated by EA).

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Another tool that can be used for XML file editing is Notepad ++.

History
v2.0

Added:


 * Packing of .rw4 (RenderWare 4) model and texture files (from OGRE3D XML format and DDS format respectively) with packages, making part creation possible for the first time.
 * XML files are order-independent.
 * Search for keywords separated by spaces or “literal phrases”.
 * Image and model viewers.

v1.0


 * Unpacking and packing of .package files, with automatic conversion of .prop files to and from .xml. files.xml is no longer necessary.
 * XML property files are more user-friendly than in previous mod tools, using names instead of hashes where possible.
 * Full text indexing of .xml and .locale files in the unpacked package, to permit very fast incremental search.
 * Side-by-side comparison of file tree in Spore and the mod under development. One-click execution of WinMerge to see and edit changes in an individual file.
 * Built in syntax highlighting editor.
 * Tools for guessing the original names for hashes and for creating friendly aliases for hashes that can’t be guessed (or that were randomly generated by EA).

Mod Categories
There are many different type of mods.

Lazy Mods
A Mod or App, often put on Hacking Websites, to make it easier to hack.

Game Overhaul
These mods overhaul the game to create an either better to most, more challenging, or silly experience.


 * An example of this is BetterSpore which completely changes the balance in many stages and will be added to badges and items in up coming versions.

Property Modifiers
These modifications alter the behavior of tools, events, etc. in the current game.


 * Example of this is the Anti-Piss off Planet Buster Mod which modifies the radius of which the Planet Buster will anger local empires.


 * Another example of this is the Improved Interstellar Drive Mod which modifies the range a spaceship can fly in the space stage.


 * The Uber Epic Mod, which makes the player's creature in the Creature stage an Epic, can be considered a Property mod.

Unofficial Fixes
These mods exist as to fix problems within the game that have not been fixed by patches, yet. Like the Improved Interstellar Drive Mod which modifies the range a spaceship can fly in the space stage to fix the grox planets not being reachable. (it was fixed in 1.5 patch already)

Balancing mods
These mods are designed to "balance" the game better by altering certain unbalanced prospects.


 * An example of this is the Freelancing Mod Which increases the money paid by missions to help create a more balanced income for the space stage.


 * Another example of this is BetterSpore which completely changes the balance in many stages.

Devil Mods
These mods work like Cheat/God mods, though they make the game a harder experience, giving players a much more "thorough" and somewhat strange experience of the game. They for the most part create a harder version of Spore.

God/Cheat Mods
The exact opposite of Balancing mods, these mods are designed to make it much easier for the player, at the price of game balance. These are notoriously common and unfortunately have given mods in general a bad reputation as being the sole purpose of mods.


 * Superweapon Mod, which cuts the cool down of the antimatter weapons and Planet Busters, as well as giving them infinite ammo, is a prime example of such a mod.


 * Another example of this is the Carry More Mod Which increases the amount you can carry to make it better to have more planets.

Adders
These are mods that add content and/or features into the game. Such examples might include new vehicle parts, new limbs, new tools, Infantry units, etc. These may be balanced or unbalanced add-ons.


 * An example of this is the Asymmetry Modification which adds the Asymmetry feature Update: The official 1.05 patch adds asymmetry to the creators; holding down the "A" key while clicking a part will sever the symmetry of the pair, allowing each part to be manipulated, or removed independently.


 * Another example is the mod that Void, a very well known and respected modder, is working on which plans to create new textures.

Unlockers
These mods unlock features that were taken out of the game, or cannot be normally played, such as Grox parts.


 * An example of this is the Grox mod, which allows the player to save Grox parts.

Installing Mods
Installing mods for spore is very similar to installing mods for Sims 2.

All mods are contained in files called .package files.

To install these mods, simply put them in your Spore Data folder. In a default install, this should be:

Windows

 * "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\SPORE\Data"

Mac

 * Right-click or control click on the Spore application, and select "Show Package Contents". From there go to "Contents\Resources\transgaming\c_drive\Spore\Data".

Mac with Spore Galactic Adventures

 * Right-click or control click on the Spore Galactic Adventures application, and select "Show Package Contents". From there go to "Contents\Resources\transgaming\c_drive\Spore\Data".

Steam

 * This is for people who downloaded spore using steam.


 * C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\spore\Data

Platinum spore
Platinum spore is a mod made by the modder vexx32. It has a wide range of features and includes many new space stage weapons and technology. Platinum spore also incorporates many of BallLightning's BetterSpore Tools, as well as over a hundred other changes. The Current version is 1.8.1. The site is dedicated to modding of all Spore, it is free to join, but still a small forum.

Major Features

 * In Cell stage Platinum Spore changes the normal cell editor with a 3D editor allowing for advanced modifications such as spine tweaking.
 * In Creature stage it adds and changes many features such as packs of rogues.
 * In Tribal Stage it adds features such as the amount of tribe members you can have and the number of spot available for tool sheds.
 * In Civilization Stage no major modifications are made just the names of the nations are changed.
 * In Space stage many new features and weapons are added such as the ion cannon.

Links

 * Download link
 * Platinum Spore info

Betterspore
BetterSpore is a usermade Expansion modification by BallLightning. Version 1.5.1 was released on March 13th 2009 and version 1.6 was going to be released after Spore Galactic Adventures.

Parts
50 parts which were already in the official game are added to the Creature Creator. 40 cell parts and 10 Grox parts. Originally there were 10 new custom parts coming but they were scrapped due to bugs.

Other Features
It also includes over 20 new space tools, an overhaul of the Creature and Space stages, changes to the Tribal and Civilization stage and a complete GUI (Graphics User Interface) change.

Links

 * Betterspore at Sporedum
 * BetterSpore info
 * Betterspore v1.5 Download
 * Betterspore v1.5.1 Download

OrbitSpore
OrbitSpore is a mod that makes huge changes to the Spore interface, even more so than Platinum Spore. Currently, version 1.1 is the newest version and it is unlikely that 1.2 will be completed as it appears to have been scrapped.

Parts
Orbit spore adds all the parts from all the stages into the creature editor allowing Creature-machine hybrids to be created.

Other Features
OrbitSpore also adds over 200 000 new tools and weapons to the Space Stage.

Links

 * OrbitSpore
 * 1.2 info

Dark Injection
A series of mods created by a user named "Davo" that add parts from Darkspore into the creature creator. The mod requires Darkspore to work, although Darkspore can be downloaded for free from their site, since it requires a key to play. Creatures with the Darkspore parts cannot be shared, but they can be placed in adventures and viewed by others, though they will not appear in the Sporepedia nor will they be pollinated throughout the game.

In the current version, players also can use all outfitter, captain, and even Grox parts. In addition to this, there are even silicon-like limbs that do not appear in game, making the creation of floating creatures much easier.

If the files are not added properly, all Darkspore parts will have their textures corrupted as well as all parts being completely devoid of animations.

The latest version of Dark Injection includes:


 * Plasma, Bio, Quantum, Cyber, and Necro-based limbs.
 * Heads, weapons, and body parts from the ingame characters, and ones that aren't used ingame at all.
 * Crogenitor masks.
 * Invisible limbs.
 * Special abilities such as "Dual Blade Spin" (requires 'DarkAbilities; mod) and "Plasma Blast".
 * Heads that makes sound.
 * Parts unlockable in Creature Stage.


 * Download DarkIjection (v7.0.1): http://davoonline.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=2153


 * Download Darkspore (official & free): http://darkspore.com/download

List of Mod Sites
Mods
 * Sporedum's Ultimate Modding Page - The largest Spore Modding Site on the Internet!
 * SporeModding
 * Sporedums's Spore Hacks
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