Darkspore (lost inaccessible action role-playing PC game; 2011-2016): Difference between revisions

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|title=<center>Darkspore</center>
|title=<center>Darkspore</center>
|image=250px-Darkspore.jpg
|image=250px-Darkspore.jpg
|imagecaption=Cover art of Darkspore.
|imagecaption=Cover art of ''Darkspore''.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Inaccessible'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}  
}}
[[File:Darkspore-shutdown.png|thumb|320px|Electronic Arts' disclaimer for the Darkspore shutdown.]]
'''''Darkspore''''' was a 2011 Action RPG PC game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was an indirect sequel to 2008's ''Spore'', a creature creation game also developed by Maxis. The game's graphical style was far different from its predecessor, taking on a more realistic and dark style. The game was most infamous for its always-online DRM, requiring an internet connection even if someone wanted to play single-player. This was put on top of already requiring Origin to run the game, which also required an internet connection at all times. On March 1st, 2016, ''Darkspore'''s servers were shut down, making the game entirely unplayable even with a physical copy of the game, as it still needs the servers to be up.


'''Darkspore''' was a PC game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Darkspore is an Action RPG similar in vein to Blizzard's ''Diablo''. It is an indirect sequel to 2008's ''Spore'', a creature creation game also developed by Maxis. Unlike Spore, where it is charming and cute-looking, Darkspore takes a more darker and edgier approach, hence the name. Darkspore was most infamous for the game's always-online DRM. This so-called controversial DRM method was also criticized in the 2013 reboot of ''SimCity'', another game Maxis is most famous for. On March 1, 2016, the servers for Darkspore were shut down. Even if you have a physical copy of Darkspore, it still has always-online DRM. The game requires an Origin account (Origin is Electronic Arts' digital distribution platform), and an obvious internet connection.
==Gameplay==
[[File:Darkspore-shutdown.png|thumb|320px|Electronic Arts' disclaimer for ''Darkspore'''s shutdown.]]
The gameplay of ''Darkspore'' was mostly single-player, but it also featured online co-op and PvP (player vs. player) and was quite similar to Blizzard's ''Diablo'' series. Similar to ''Spore'', it also had a "Hero Editor", which was the equivalent of ''Spore'''s "Creature Creator".


== Gameplay ==
==Shutdown==
The gameplay of Darkspore is mostly single-player. Aside from that, there is also online co-op, and PvP (player vs. player). Following from Spore, Darkspore also has the "Hero Editor", similar to Spore's "Creature Creator". Darkspore's Hero Editor is somewhat different to Spore's Creature Creator. Clint Basinger, host of Lazy Game Reviews on YouTube criticizes the gameplay for purposely having no replay value, unless you make another Origin account.
On March 1st, 2016, Electronic Arts announced that they were shutting down the game's servers. The closure was met with negative feedback, with Mark Richard of TechRaptor stating that the shutdown of ''Darkspore'' was ''"banishing the title from gaming history"''<ref>[https://techraptor.net/content/ea-shuts-down-darkspore-servers TechRaptor article on ''Darkspore'''s shutdown.] Retrieved 02 Jan '17.</ref> and Clint Basinger of Lazy Game Reviews saying in a video review that, while he didn't like the game much, the game being shut down was ''"an assault on history"''. He also criticized the game's convoluted DRM system as well as DRM in general, stating that ''Darkspore'' was a reminder of the cons of DRM platforms such as Origin and Steam.


== Music ==
As previously stated, the game can't be played in any way currently, and unless EA/Maxis make an offline option available, bring back the servers, or another party somehow hacks the game to get past the DRM, it may never be playable again.
The music was composed by Dutch DJ Junkie XL (real name Tom Holkenborg). The music in this game is futuristic ambience with a dark vibe to it, which pretty much fits the dark atmosphere of the game.


{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wTI2wUFG4g|320x240|right|The theme song for Darkspore, composed by Junkie XL.|frame}}
==Recovery Attempt (Darkspore-LS / Resurrection Capsule)==
[[File:DarksporeLSLauncher.png|thumb|right|Darkspore-LS' launcher window.]]
In December 2018, Reddit user VitorMM wrote a topic about his attempts at making ''Darkspore'' work on a private server running on Python. After searching over the code, VitorMM discovered that, when trying to boot, ''Darkspore'' attempts to find the domain where the bootstrap is located, which Electronic Arts closed down back in 2016, thus leading to the connection error message.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/darkspore/comments/9uumgc/wip_creating_a_fake_server_to_play_the_game_in/| VitorMM's Reddit topic about cracking ''Darkspore'''s in-game DRM.] Retrieved 29 Jul '19</ref> Since then, he has been hard at work making ''Darkspore'' playable once again by cracking down its in-game DRM. VitorMM states that his goal is to make all copies of ''Darkspore'', whether they were bought on Steam, Origin, or a disc, to be playable without the need of purchasing the game a second time. With time VitorMM gathered more programmers to help him work on making the game playable, with the project now under the name '''''Darkspore-LS'''''.


== Shutdown ==
As of July 2019, the team behind ''Darkspore-LS'' has managed to make the "Play" button functional and gaining access to the Login screen.<ref>[https://github.com/vitor251093/darkspore-ls#making-the-game-playable-offline-progress| Darkspore-LS' progress on making the game work offline.] Retrieved 29 Jul '19</ref> While the team has already gained access to the Hero Editor, the game's single-player campaign is yet to be playable, either being connected to the Internet or offline. The project has since been renamed '''''Resurrection Capsule'''''.
On March 1, 2016, Electronic Arts announced the shutdown of servers for Darkspore. Mark Richard of TechRaptor states that the shutdown of Darkspore was "banishing the title from gaming history".<ref>[https://techraptor.net/content/ea-shuts-down-darkspore-servers TechRaptor article on Darkspore shutdown.] Last retrieved 02 Jan 2017.</ref> Clint made a Lazy Game Reviews video on Darkspore and expressed his concern on always-online DRM games. Clint describes the shutdown as "an assault on history", and as "a reminder of how short-sided and apathetic towards the history of gaming can be." Clint wasn't the only one concerned with the situation, but Ross Scott of Ross's Game Dungeon as well.


{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto;"
==Gallery==
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
{{Video|perrow  =2
| {{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R78jAdckz8Q&t=32s|320x240|center|Lazy Game Reviews' video on Darkspore.|}}
  |service1    =youtube
| {{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2pdvh4uiaM|320x240|center|Ross's Game Dungeon's Darkspore gameplay video.|}}
  |id1          =R78jAdckz8Q
|}
  |description1 =LGR's video on ''Darkspore''.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =T2pdvh4uiaM
  |description2 =Ross's Game Dungeon's gameplay video.
}}
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =5wTI2wUFG4g
  |description1 =The theme song for ''Darkspore'', composed by Junkie XL.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =iipM-1VnQIw
  |description2 =DarkEdgeTV's video about Darkspore-LS.
}}
==External Links==
*[https://github.com/vitor251093/resurrection-capsule Darkspore-LS' GitHub page.] Retrieved 10 Jan '20


== References ==
==References==
<references />
{{reflist}}


[[Category: Lost video games]]
[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 23:43, 3 July 2023

250px-Darkspore.jpg

Cover art of Darkspore.

Status: Lost

Darkspore was a 2011 Action RPG PC game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was an indirect sequel to 2008's Spore, a creature creation game also developed by Maxis. The game's graphical style was far different from its predecessor, taking on a more realistic and dark style. The game was most infamous for its always-online DRM, requiring an internet connection even if someone wanted to play single-player. This was put on top of already requiring Origin to run the game, which also required an internet connection at all times. On March 1st, 2016, Darkspore's servers were shut down, making the game entirely unplayable even with a physical copy of the game, as it still needs the servers to be up.

Gameplay

Electronic Arts' disclaimer for Darkspore's shutdown.

The gameplay of Darkspore was mostly single-player, but it also featured online co-op and PvP (player vs. player) and was quite similar to Blizzard's Diablo series. Similar to Spore, it also had a "Hero Editor", which was the equivalent of Spore's "Creature Creator".

Shutdown

On March 1st, 2016, Electronic Arts announced that they were shutting down the game's servers. The closure was met with negative feedback, with Mark Richard of TechRaptor stating that the shutdown of Darkspore was "banishing the title from gaming history"[1] and Clint Basinger of Lazy Game Reviews saying in a video review that, while he didn't like the game much, the game being shut down was "an assault on history". He also criticized the game's convoluted DRM system as well as DRM in general, stating that Darkspore was a reminder of the cons of DRM platforms such as Origin and Steam.

As previously stated, the game can't be played in any way currently, and unless EA/Maxis make an offline option available, bring back the servers, or another party somehow hacks the game to get past the DRM, it may never be playable again.

Recovery Attempt (Darkspore-LS / Resurrection Capsule)

Darkspore-LS' launcher window.

In December 2018, Reddit user VitorMM wrote a topic about his attempts at making Darkspore work on a private server running on Python. After searching over the code, VitorMM discovered that, when trying to boot, Darkspore attempts to find the domain where the bootstrap is located, which Electronic Arts closed down back in 2016, thus leading to the connection error message.[2] Since then, he has been hard at work making Darkspore playable once again by cracking down its in-game DRM. VitorMM states that his goal is to make all copies of Darkspore, whether they were bought on Steam, Origin, or a disc, to be playable without the need of purchasing the game a second time. With time VitorMM gathered more programmers to help him work on making the game playable, with the project now under the name Darkspore-LS.

As of July 2019, the team behind Darkspore-LS has managed to make the "Play" button functional and gaining access to the Login screen.[3] While the team has already gained access to the Hero Editor, the game's single-player campaign is yet to be playable, either being connected to the Internet or offline. The project has since been renamed Resurrection Capsule.

Gallery

LGR's video on Darkspore.

Ross's Game Dungeon's gameplay video.

The theme song for Darkspore, composed by Junkie XL.

DarkEdgeTV's video about Darkspore-LS.

External Links

References