Spore Spawning on Handhelds? From: http://ds.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=3407 A recent job listing has indicated that Electronic Arts is planning on developing the anticipated PC title, Spore for unspecified handhelds. A recent job posting on GameDev.net has appeared to indicate that Electronic Arts is currently is planning to bring Spore, the next game from Sims creator Will Wright, to handheld gaming platforms. Developed for Personal Computers by Maxis, Spore is largely a simulation based title, as gamers virtually mold and guide single-cell organisms across numerous generations and forms of evolution. The game continues like such until the life form has evolved into an intelligent being. From here the game shifts focus, with gamers now responsible for establishing and maintaining a society. The PC title from Wright has previously been praised for its innovative design and particular for its open-ended structure. The game is set to provide users with a completely new structure by which users can design and mold a multitude of creatures. The aforementioned job listing is as such: Located in beautiful Emeryville, CA, the Spore team is looking for an experienced designer that will be responsible for designing, creating and maintaining game systems and content for SPORE Handheld titles. Responsibilities: - Deliver AAA quality and unique play experiences on multiple Handheld platforms - Drive vision and design for both internal and external design teams for launch of Handheld titles for SPORE - Build and code prototypes of gameplay during pre-production Requirements: - 5+ years in handheld game development - 2+ shipped titles - Previous experience as a design lead. - Prototyping experience using flash, Java, C Sharp or C++ - Understanding of issues facing various types of game play, artistic and technical considerations, and the ability to forecast the ramifications of decisions made during the concept/pre-production phase. - Ability to work in a team environment with maturity and leadership, and foster a relationship that involves the entire team in the overall design. - Must be able to work under tight schedules and reliably hit milestones - Must have strong communication and listening skills - Must have strong writing and documentation skills - Must have a passion for creating and playing handheld games - Must have experience with creating either an RPG or Simulation based game - Must have solid interface and visual design skills Preferred Requirements: - CS degree or equivalent The job listing did not however provide confirmation regarding the platform of the proposed title, however it does indeed appear that EA would develop iterations of Spore for both the Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable platforms. Regardless, we'll keep you updated on any future developments as we contact Electronic Arts for further clarification.
I don't know if having that kind of game on a handheld is a good idea... Maybe it's just me but take The Sims for example. I feel it's quite inferior compaired to the PC versions, and Spore could more than likely end up in the same boat.
