Spore Creature Creator Download Problems [UPDATE]
Electronic Arts and its vaunted Download Manager are experiencing major problems. While most of the world is enjoying the full version of the Spore Creature Creator, those who preordered or purchased with the EA Store are getting, to put it plainly, royally screwed.
The EA forum is started to heat up with annoyed users who paid EA for the software but are unable to get any sort of response from EA, save lame autoreply emails. This is not new, as people had problems with Crysis as well.
Anyone else having problems with the EA Store and the Spore Creature Creator? Let’s not even bring up the idiotic Extended Download Service - even for software that hasn’t been downloaded yet.
UPDATE: Many of the issues have been resolved now. See the comments section.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Yes! This is insanely gay. After downloading the trial version of Spore Creature Creator, I bought the full version on the EA Store and downloaded it. When the download finished, it was STILL the TRIAL VERSION! WTF?!
[If you got the trial version through the EA Download Manager, uninstall the trial and wait a few for the Manager to reset. EA fixed that issue not long ago. - Jonah Falcon]
June 19th, 2008 at 2:30 am
I have not had any problems with EA or the Download Manager.
Of course you are only going to buy the extended service if you are not paying attention to what you are purchasing which is of course the responsibility of the buyer. Just EA’s way of making an extra buck.
What is happening is people ALREADY have the trial version installed on their computer, so when you click play on the download manager it automatically plays the trial version.
Here is the fix that I found on EA’s website.
Very simple and quite logical.
QUESTION
I installed the pay version of the SPORE Creature Creator and when I click to start, it starts the trial version, what can I do?
Answer
If you have the trial version of the SPORE Creature Creator, and you have purchased the full version of the Creature Creator, you must uninstall the trial version. To do this:
1. Click on the Start button.
2. Click Programs, or All Programs.
3. Click on Electronic Arts.
4. Click on SPORE Creature Creator or SPORE Creature Creator Trial Edition.
5. Click on Uninstall SPORE Creature Creator Trial Edition.
6. Install the pay version of the Creature Creator.
Step 6 is done in your Manager.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:54 am
That’s nice, Melissa, but I know all that. One of my contacts at Electronic Arts is dealing with my problem and I’m not alone.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I had the same issues this morning, I had to uninstall the trial version, then install the full version. Then I’d try to run the program and it kept crashing. Finally I decided to exit the EA Download manager (from the system tray) and tried again, and it worked fine.
I’m running Vista, if that makes a difference.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Maybe. I run Vista too. Finally have the download going (had to visit FindMyOrder.com. My contact said that there was a lot of busywork going on the last 24 hours dealing with this.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The problem that I am having and still many others is that we cannot get the download manager to open up. I have tried re-downloading and installing it twice and still the same problem!
June 19th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
*I run on XP and have the full version. Despite a lot of people saying to uninstall EA Downloader because of the conflicts…doesn’t that uninstall SCC too? (Been trying to minimize fast enough to exit EA Downloader before SCC crashes…it’s to fast)
June 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
The EA Download Manager is like Steam. You can’t remove it and still play the software downloaded with it.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
i feel ripped off right now.
I payed for the full spore CC and it doesnt work. it’l load up to the EA logo then it just closes itself!
June 19th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
ok i just got the spore creater demo and im so pissed of because the one i got from direct2drive only has three quarters of the parts instead of all tell me is this a upgrade to the trial vision or did i get ripped of or is the spore creater creator actally like that
June 19th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
“i feel ripped off right now.
I payed for the full spore CC and it doesnt work. it’l load up to the EA logo then it just closes itself!”
this is exactly the issue i have run into and for the best of my efforts i cannot find anything on the EA’s website explaining how to fix this. The program shows up in my download manager and i’m able to launch it from there but it gets a split second into the maxis logo then *poof* it’s gone! What a ridiculous rip off, There are people who cracked the creature creator and they’re playing it now instead of me, someone who paid for it.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I downloaded the Full Version from EA Store UK because they haven’t released it for Aussies yet. It went through fine, EA doesn’t care where you live, as long as they get there money. I downloaded the full version overnight and when I got back it was done and ready to play. I play it and got the Trial Version setup too. I decide to delete the Trial but now EA won’t give back my download, it’s disappeared! Please Help!
June 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Yeah, I bought the CD from the store, and I cannot access all my creatures. They are all in the right folder, and my sporepedia says the correct number of my creations on its tabs on the left hand side.
But it says displaying 10 less creatures than it says are present…
WTF?
June 20th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I bought the down loadable version earlier today only to be disappointed by the crash that kept occurring during startup.However, after a few hours of searching for other who possessed the same problem I found a solution that has thus far worked. Uninstalling the EA Download Manager has cleared everything up and given me access to my glorious ten dollar purchase. I would very much suggest that others at least try this before attempting something outlandish. I only wonder why this wasn’t caught pre-release.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:15 am
The whole Spore Creature Creator launch is a mess. While I did not preorder, I did purchase the full version and have been unable to open the program after installation. No error code no nothing. Game freezes the whole computer. I know I am not alone. Looks like someone should have done a bit more testing.
AND before anyone says it I have already uninstalled the EA Download Manager. That did not solve my problem.
June 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
My copy won’t even bloody start. My system meets all the pre-reqs, but when I attempt to load the program it never actually does anything. It’s present in the task manager at about 40MB memory usage, but it remains stuck at this and is impossible to terminate via end-process. If I try and restart it, it just complains that an instance is already running.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I’m having some of these problems too. I tried to get the free version, but it always stoped on me halfway. So, I decided to just get the full version. I downloaded the EA Download Manager and started to download the game. Once it finnaly downloaded it, I started the game, registered, and went to create a creature, but once I got into the create a creature screen, it froze my entire computer. I’ve tried cleaning my computer, and I’ve also uninstalled the EA Download Manager, but it still does this. Can anyone help me with this?
June 21st, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I bought the full version from a store.
it doesnt freeze at the logo but like it freezes alot when creating, but then all i do is ctl atl delete, then cancel and it works. but it does it alot….
the thing i am having trouble with is saving, right when i save it freezes up. i cleaned my computer, deleted everything off it(songs, and other games) and deleted the EADM still nothing works.
and also not all my creatures show up on the sporepedia, its in the folder but not the game…
June 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Ya jard im having the same problem man, when i installed the game a couple errors poped up saying the disk was unreadable or something, but i just clicked retry and it went right by then when i started the gameit goes to EA games then to maxes then all of a sudden poof its gone
June 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I feel ripped-off
I installed the full game and I cant even find it on my computer.And on the read me it said it could run on Vista, I have vista!
June 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
exact the same problems as ryan told us
21 06 2008
I’ll have to wait till they fix it.
I even don’t complain any more\.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
ok everytime i try to download the free trail version of spore it says that i have a video card spec problem and that i cant even try to play the game… does anyone know what i can do to fix this?
June 24th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I payed for the full version online. I tried to install it, but it said I needed to uninstall the trial. I looked everywhere for an uninstall but I couldn’t find it. I even used to steps listed in the main post, but there was only the friggin’ download manager. What can I do?
June 24th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Okay well atleast you guys got that far. When I purchased mine it doesnt even show up to the point where i can download it. There’s no link or anything!!!! I hope they fix all these problems soon.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:42 am
AHHH this is ridiculous. I try to buy the full version tonight because my money barely transferred form my bank account to paypal. but low and behold! I go to the spore site to DL it and now the full version purchase page has either a bug or is crashed! The page won’t load. I get as far as “digital download option, then language…” then it won’t load after that. a “never ending loading bar” pops up
THIS IS BULL. I have been waiting to buy this since last wednesday!! I hope they fixit by the time i wake up tomorrow.
I REALLY WANT TO GIVE EM MY MONEY lol.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
1st off, I played the demo and figured i would buy the full version. My problem is this. There is no option for me to Download the game. On my invoice page showing i paid for the game, the link is simply missing. I was charged for the download, i have the statement on my cards website. Very frustrating…
June 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Same Problem Jynx.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I have the Down load Manager and I bought the full version of spore. But what I didn’t get is a link to download it. I feel rippied off and EA has been very unhelpful
June 25th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I purchased the download 2 days ago. It never appeared in download manager. All my request to EA have gone unanswered. I have opened a complaint with PayPal.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Same problem tim.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I got the full version. Downloaded it from EA Download manager and at first the game worked fine. I created a few creatures but never saved them then i tried to save one. It froze completely. I had to turn off the computer and when I got back on, i cant even start the game. I click on the icon and nothing happens. I uninstalled and reinstalled nothing happened. So i tried to redownload it, but now I cant even log into EA download manager. It says my passwords invalid or something. WTF!!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
My kids downloaded the trial of Creature Creator - it was a super-cool program, but a RAM hog. Kids talked me into the full version. I expected to get a Code, copy, and paste to register, like EVERY OTHER software trial I have ever used. Instead, I had to download their Download Manager. Then, my computer simply froze. Restarting did not help - my computer, even its clock, would cease up for 20 minutes at a time, failing to become functional. So I did a restart in SAFE mode (thankfully I had my office computer to get directions - simply hit F8 after starting). Restored to a week ago and all of their garbage was gone, and my computer worked again. I am trying to get my $9.95 back, but heck there is NO ONE TO CONTACT! No phone, no email, just a support form, and I could not even find my game in their drop down menu.
Can we say CLASS ACTION is in order?!?! Or perhaps, a note to the FTC? That will be my next move, and I will let them know (if there is anybody even reading my support tickets) what I intend to do.
Mike
June 28th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Sadly, you can add mine name to the list of users experiencing problems with this game. It’s the same sad story that everyone else has experienced. Tried the Trial. Loved it. Bought the download online. Un-installed the trial version. Got the Download Manager. Downloaded and installed the full version. Loaded it up and it crashes right after the EA logo. If there is a CLASS ACTION…..where do I sign?
June 28th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
This is sooo STUPID and annoying!!
I bought the full version today from the EA Store and downloaded the EA download manager aswell, but the Spore Creature Creator file appears in the Download Manager but I cant click the start button…..Any help going about? or is this YET another EA FUCK UP?
June 28th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
ok…count me in for people with problems with SPORE! After I played, like many of you, the trial version, I decided to buy it…I needed to download the DM, so I did…When the install was completed, I could ectually play it! I was like…Whoee! But after a few creatures, i got a blue screen with white letters…I even couldnt read the damn text because it was to fast gone…But I recon it is a warning thing from Windows…right? Ok, so, when my computer was restarted after a few minutes, I tried to play it again…and again…and again…lucky for me, with the same problem I just wrote down…SO…I searched the net, found some answers, like uninstall the DM…So I did…and WTF? NOTING! My story continues at the beginning…Am I the only one with this issue? I doubt it…What do you guys recon? Pleaaaaase help, ’cause 7 euro’s (or 9 dollars) is not much, but I’m emotionally a wrack now…well…sort of…
June 28th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
;_; i downloaded spore from the website (the free version) and i cant find it~!!!!! helphelphelp i dont think its a glitch or anything, just…where is it???? im not a computer person T^T it downloaded, but where do i click to play?? wheres it in the computer???
June 29th, 2008 at 1:33 am
If you have Vista, check the Games folder.
June 29th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I bought the CC on Monday, and couldn’t download it. The e-mailed instructions don’t work, and the download manager doesn’t list the program at all. I have complained four times, with no results. Tonight, I went to the EA games site again, and now find that they’ve removed the CC from the dropdown list of programs you can complain about or ask for help with. I filed the complaint again, asking for a refund, but had to use a different game reference to make the request. I will never use them again. They seem not only to be set up to worsen their deplorable customer service record, but also to take money for a product they aren’t prepared to deliver.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I am having the problem many of these recent people have been talking about. I paid for the Creature Creator on their site exactly one week ago and still haven’t been able to download it. I paid with paypal and everything was “confirmed” right away and my actual account was deducted a day later.
I submitted support requests with one of them saying not to worry that it will go through (this was the day after so I just said ok maybe I have to wait). The day after when my account was actually deducted and I couldn’t get it, yes I was getting pist.
I submitted another support request telling them that it was deducted from my account and that I had gotten a confirmation mail but had still been unable to download it and sent a bunch of info like info from my confirmation mail saying how to download it now.
They replied with:
We request you to check the status of your transaction with your bank/financial institution as there might be some problem with your transaction due to which your order status is still under process.
I had sent some mean replies because I’m pretty angry about it now, this is just what I had gotten done telling them, that my account was actually deducted and it’s still not letting me download it.
So now here I am a week later searching the web to see if anyone else is having this problem….
June 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I have the same problem as “Steve”.
My download won’t show up. And all they told me at EA’s support was to wait, or try to reinstall EADM. I am sooo mad right now!! I want to play the full version TODAY!
June 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Yeah, I’m trying to run CC which I paid for, and it freezes up my entire computer forcing me to restart when it shows the EA logo - wtbloodyf?
June 29th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I think we can conclude with. EA has done it again . But i hope they are working on the problems. But what im going to try is go to EA games and see if they know anything.
June 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Well, I have this problem with the SCC Trial. It says that I need d3dx9_27.ll.
Ok, to be frank, I have NO idea what this means…. so can anyone help me out?
June 29th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Er, you need to update your Windows to have at least DX9.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I am having the same problem. I purchased the full retail version and I was able to install it but it never appeared on my computer. I can’t find the program anywhere on my computer. I’ve tried everything I can think of. Could it be a complication with Vista?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I purchased the full retail version. Yea, it freezes at the logo! However, it has opened about three times and worked fine then. Talk about inconsistency! Exit out, and the freeze is back. I’ve tried uninstalling, reinstalling, cleaning the computer, etc., etc. Is this ever going to be corrected?
June 30th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hi, I’m having a problem with EA as so many of you. My problem is that I bought the full SCC after playing the demo. I got the link and it shows up in the download manager, but the download will not start. I’ve tried everything abd I do mean everything. I’m not happy about the lack of service EA shows it’s customers and if this isn’t fixed soon I will have to boycott everything EA related.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
That problem has already been solved, Gummi. Uninstall the demo completely. Wait a few minutes, and the full version will appear to download.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
i didint even get to downloaded it i didint work
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
im having trouble with the install its self, i enter the key code and it just quits!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Count me in on the troubles.
I tried the trial version, then decided to get the full creature download…
Downloaded their download manager… now it keeps asking me to install flash… which I’ve done and updated.
Uninstalled / Reinstalled / Rebooted the whole lot. Been running through forums trying to get fixes. Contacted their support as well, still waiting on a reply.
WAY too annoying.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
So this game is completely bogus. Since I’ve bought this game I’ve only been able to play it twice because every time i go to open it there is no option for me to start it. The first time I played it, it opened when i started my computer in the morning and it worked fine. The second time was three days later and was when i finally figured out where the start icon was in the game explorer file on my vista. But that was two days ago and now the icon isn’t even in the game explorer file any more. It only cost ten dollars but still. Even older games that cost ten dollars at least work or give an option to load the stupid game. This is my first EA game and definatly my last.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
It is NOT “completely bogus”. For one, I’m enjoying it a LOT - as are hundreds of thousands of people who are contributing to the Sporepedia.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Spore got me too.. i get a EA logo and then it shuts down.
*sigh*
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Same, can’t play the game. I want a refund.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Also have a problem with EADM.
The “Start” download button is gray, cant download it >.>
Bought the game a WEEK ago, mailed them all I could and what I got were the automated responses which are a copy/paste from their tech support FAQ, even though I’ve told them I tried everything there.
Makes you wonder if they even bother reading what you write.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I just read though most of these and, surprisingly, I found no one with the same problem as me:
I bought the full version of the CC online for download and everything went fine up until the installation. When I click install it opens the installer and I can even go through the first couple screens, right up to the user license agreement. So, I click agree, but when I click next, a DOS window flashes and the installer closes. No error message or anything…it just disappears. I’ve e-mailed EA twice now. The first e-mail asked for tech support and, after a week with NO RESPONSE, I sent a second which asked for tech support or a refund for my $10.82. It has been TWO WEEKS since then and I have yet to get any kind of answer. I’m still really excited about Spore, and I really want to like EA, but they have put me through hell for this game and THEY DON’T EVEN TRY TO HELP.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Ok so I bought the Spore Creatur Creator and installed the thing at least 7 times and uninstalled the same amount. i don’t get it. It’s thre it just won’t play. What’s the deal?!?!?!!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
HEY! Here’s the fix. It’s an EA Download Manager problem. Now I get right into the game and no more EA logo dropouts!
http://www.spore.com/comm/faq
July 5th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Well I played the Trial version, Great game I just wish I had the full version. So I went ahead into buying it, I live in the U.S., and when I try to go through the shopping process, I eventually get to a part thaT SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, “WE ARE UNALBLE TO PROCESS YOUR ORDER” something like that (not the exact same words, but same subject), Therefore I cannot buy the game, EVER!!!!! I tried 7 times, nothing, different credit card, NOTHING!!!! Screw EA!!!!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Hey fern, i had the same problem, BUT when i checked my order history it still shows i’ve bought the game, yet still i can’t load the game through EADM (my first game (last also) bought through EAstore so the list is just empty)
July 7th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I was up above on June 29th. They still haven’t resolved my issue. My bank account was deducted 2 weeks ago today. The order has been sitting at just “Order Submitted” the whole time.
Does anyone else have problems loading up the “My Questions” section? In order to get to the problem I submitted to support I have to click on a link in my email and I’ve tried it on a couple computers with different browsers.
I did finally get a reply on the 4th of July saying that due to the nature of the problem it was taking a while to get fixed. I just hope it gets resolved soon, because I’d like to be creating some creatures
In the future I will be staying away from the EAStore at all costs.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I’ve had the same problems that many people have mentioned. I tried using the trial version, which would open long enough for me to see the EA logo then mysteriously disappear. I got that to work after disabling my internet connection (odd I know) and then I bought the full version online, thinking the same thing would work for that. I was half right. I’ve used EA download manager in the past (for sims games) and never had a problem, but this time its totally screwy. What sometimes works for me (yup, inexplicably it works one time and not the next) is disabling my internet connection and then starting up the game. Sometimes the EA download manager tells me it can’t connect because there’s no internet access.. and sometimes Spore runs. I’ve been able to successfully run Spore by turning off the EA download manager — again, this only works sometimes. The thing about both these tactics is they make you unable to use the upload and share features of Spore. I don’t have anything to tell peeps about the freezing thing. I’ve had that happen as well.. but not all the time. All in all trying to play Spore is like trying to win at roulette. Hopefully my suggestions help.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Offir Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Also have a problem with EADM.
The “Start” download button is gray, cant download it
…
Same problem here. bought Northern Strike from EA, but the start button is gray. I can’t begin to download.
What’s up with that EA? I paid you money for this update!
July 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I bought the creature creator and
it doesn’t work. It just goes to the ea logo for like 3 seconds then it dissapears.
i tried to videotape this with hypercam 2 so i could email it to EA,and whenever i hit the record button, spore starts working! Only for like 5 minutes though.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:32 am
OK IM HAVING A HUGE PROBLEM!!IN FACT THE TRIAL WONT EVEN WORK!!I DOWNLOADED THE WHOLE TRIAL AND EA DOWNLOAD MANAGER AND THE TRIAL WONT EVEN RUN!!I CLICK ON IT AND IT GETS TO A PART WERE IT SHOWS THE SPORE SCREEN AND A LITTLE INSTALL SHIELD WIZARD LOADING SCREEN POPS UP,THEN IT CLOSES AND SAYS”ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO COMPLETELY UNINSTALL SPORE CC”WHAT THE HEL?!?!I LOADED IT TO RUN AND IT DOES THE OPPOSITE!!IT WANTS TO UNINSTALL IT!!SOMEONE PLEASE HELP AND TELL ME IF YOUR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TELL ME HOW TO FIX IT!!
PLEASE,HELP
July 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I downloaded the free trial and the EA download manager and then tried it and it asked me if i was sure i wanted to delete it. I’m running Vista so I thought that that was the problem, but today I just figured out that it had saved the actual game in the games folder so now I can play the trial and can’t wait until the release date.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
when I downloaded the free trial and then tried it, it asked me if I was sure i wanted to delete it. so i tried deleting and re-installing it a couple of times, now i just figured out that it was saved in my games folder.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
On July 4th Paradox gave a valuable link that gave the explanation to the problem: http://www.spore.com/comm/faq
According to the EA the issue is with the DMCmdPortalClient.dll
I did all that and the same problem persists! It DID NOT help. I found that as soon as I load Spore my SPU usage goes to 100%. If I Ctrl Alt Del it drops to 90% and lets Spore go on to the next step for a few seconds and then jumps back to 100%. Anyone else noticed that?
July 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Everytime i try to register it doesn’t work, it says that my email (muffinman 1) is invalid and so is the passwords i put in, & then when i check my e-mail, a registration thin is there trying to valid it, i valid it and when i try to log in, in the game and the site, it says its invalid! HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!
Plus not to mention i don’t know how to download the creatures, some 1 please help me!
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
it bought the game at target and when i have the updater installed, it turns off after “maxis” logo, i have do delete the auto updater, its not a big deal but they should fix it.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:31 am
My game freezes upon saving a creature with more than 10 or so parts. How hard can it be to fix? I can test drive creatures that are mega-complex but I can’t save them. Reduced to making tiny simple bland creatures. Can someone post a bleedin fix or something. All I see are more problems. I’m on Vista, and got SCC from EADLM (DAMN YOU)
July 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
i solved my problem (on my own, i might add) totally by accident. i never would have thought THIS is what’s causing the problem. You have to run EADM as Administrator, otherwise you cannot download the patch for the button is gray.
This is retarded!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I have a vista, and whenever I try to download Spore CC trial version, everything works, except when I finish the download, nothing happens, and it seems as if the download never happened. There is no file; I searched my whole computer for it, and it’s not there. But then, if I try to install it again, but it asks me if I want to delete it. Everyone is saying that their’s is downloaded in the games folder, but mine isn’t there. Please help!
July 27th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Try uninstalling the EA downloader. My game kept crashing like other posters said and as soon as I uninstalled teh downloader it no longer crashed.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
my brother bought the game and we are having troubles starting it. it keeps asking for the direct x but when we install it, it still doesn’t work! HELP!!
July 30th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
So yeah, bought the real version after i downloaded the trial version, which didn’t even show up on my computer, not even a trace of it. Anyway, I installed the store-bought version and it installed. And, just like the trial version, it does nothing. Sure, I put in the CD and the computer acts like it is doing something, then it just sotps and nothing happens. I tried locating any files even related to Spore Creature Creater, but nothing shows up at all, which means I can’t even uninstall the damn thing. How does that even happen?!?!?
July 31st, 2008 at 10:07 am
Dude… i got that kinda of problem that my spore wont even start it says sumthing files is not there where they should be… :/ (free version of SporeCC)
July 31st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
i downloaded the spore cc free trial but what do i open it with?
July 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
For those who have no trace of the game after installing, right-click on your start button. Click Explore. Find Program Files(xNumber) then Electronic Arts. Then click on Sporebin. Inside of that should be an application called SporeCreatureCreator. It took a minute or two for it to start on my computer, but eventually it did.
I’m not computer savvy enough to know why it wasn’t showing up any other way but I uninstalled (via CCleaner) and reinstalled several times before I found it. All I know is I bought the cd and it took a decent while to get it running. Also, I don’t know if it matters, but I have 64 bit Vista, and a computer that exceeds the minimum specs by quite a bit.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Omg! I got It in the paper btw it was $2 anyway, i get all excited and I install it starts up and what do you know, an error occours with the stupid game I tried it a million times but it doesn’t work can some one please help me!
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 am
I got in the paper the Herald Sun for $2 aswell and it say all this crap about an Instant of the game is already running what do I do?
I have installed it uninstalled it and I had the trial and I uninstalled that too 
August 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
thanks kyle. i too am running vista and after installing and uninstalling the demo a few times i was about to give up ’til i saw your post about checking the “games” folder. duh! my kids and i appreciate your help!
August 12th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
OMG I played $10 for the spore creator on EA website and downloaded it after waiting 2hours and i run the game and as soon as i click on the icon it says “application has failed to start because of d3dx9_27.dll was not found”
i have reinstalled twice and still says that…. can sumbody please help or did i just get screwed by EA again?
August 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
This one is easy - you need to upgrade to DX10.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I put my disk in it. Then it freezes on the black screen. (NOT the black background.)
August 26th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Sadly, this installation crashes. I have the SCC disk purchased a month ago from a store, and the installer crashes on WinXP with a dialog that has some EA details but nothing else. I suppose that this might be due to a lack of testing the installer.
This is WinXp, no EA download manager installed, service pack two.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:59 am
OKay, I just downloaded the full version of spore creature creator but when ea download manager loads up all i get is “unknown http error” in the middle of the box, help?
August 31st, 2008 at 11:22 am
Bought CC for my son yesterday, RUBBISH, t just crashes, shame everyone else is having same problem, thought it was one-off.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
i have the problem that i have to hit alt ctrl delete (becuse of frezes every time i click something) than hit cancle and it goes back to normal,but not for long… if someone get a slusion tell me btw on vista and free trial.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I DLed the trial version, just paid for the full version of SCC, used EaDM, DLed it, uninstalled the trial, and when I went to install the Full Version and it keeps asking me for a cd key…it didnt give me one so Idk what to put???
September 4th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Should be on your invoice. You can easily have it emailed to you.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Guess what guys, there’s no light at the end of the rainbow… Aparantly the download problems have been fixed. Seems so, I brought Spore, downloaded EA’s STUPID blooming download manager. The game downloads, installs just fine and hey it even starts without crashing \o/
Then you hit problem number two which seems to be reported a hell of a lot… None of the online features that require you to log on work… because the regestration key that was sent with your Spore download is incorrect… WTF EA! Are you guys THAT inept!!! Spore could have been great but your **** customer support and p*ss poor copyright management and distribution has tainted what good work you did!
September 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Mellisa, i have the problem abaut the question… i have downloaded the Spore Creator Creation, and i bought the real Spore, but somehow i deleted the folder containing the Spore creator creation, and in the folder i think was the Uninstal.exe, i deleted all files named Spore Creator Creation in Search, but that doesnt help, Spore Instal, still shows me to Uninstal the Spore Creator Creation, Is there a different way to Uninstal Spore Creator Creation, so i can play the Spore i bought? :’(
September 7th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
i just bought spore and when i put the cd in nothing happens it doesnt say its reading nothing pops up whats wrong(T_T)
September 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
i found this neo it worked for me
Follow these directions.
All of them!
They help me out of the same mees you have yourself in.
Question
How do I manually uninstall The SPORE Creature Creator?
Answer
If you need to uninstall the game, please use the provided Uninstall shortcut:
Click on the Start button.
Select All Programs.
Next select Electronic Arts.
Select the game in which you wish to uninstall.
Click on the Uninstall file for your game.
If this does not work then please try removing the software using the Add/Remove Programs feature.
Click on the Start button.
Select Control Panel, or select Settings then Control Panel.
Double click on Add or Remove Programs.
Select your title and click Remove.
This will remove the game from your system.
If you are still unable to remove the game from your system, you can manually uninstall the game by removing the files and registry keys associated with it. Be sure to follow these steps exactly as they appear to prevent accidental file/program deletion on your system.
Backing up the save files:
Click on the Start button (Windows button for Vista).
Choose the My Documents folder (Documents for Vista).
Right-Click the My Spore Creations folder, then choose Copy.
Right-click on the desktop, then choose Paste.
Go back to the My Documents folder and right-click the My Spore Creations, then choose delete.
Note: To restore your SPORE Creature Creator progress, simply move this folder back into the My Documents folder.
Delete the game folders (in the default location):
Click the Start button on the Windows Taskbar.
Click My Computer.
Double-click the Local Disk (by default, it should be C
Double-click the Program Files folder.
Double-click the Electronic Arts folder.
Right-click on the SPORE folder and choose Delete.
The Spore Creature Creator settings also needs to be deleted in the Documents and Settings folder. Here are the steps:
Click the Start button on the Windows Taskbar.
Click My Computer.
Double-click the Local Disk (by default, it should be C
Double click the Documents and Settings folder.
Double click the folder with your Username.
Double click the Application Data folder.
If you do not see Application Data simply do the following
Click on Tools from the menu at the top of the screen.
Choose Folder Options from the drop down menu.
Choose the View tab.
Click on the Show hidden files and folders radio button under Advanced settings.
Click on Apply and then OK.
The Application Data folder should now be visible.
Right click the SPORE Creature Creator folder and select Delete.
Next, delete the game registry keys:
Click on the Start button.
Click on Run.
Type regedit in the text field.
Click File and then choose Export.
Name the file reg_backup and make sure the Export Range is set to All.
Click Save you will now be returned to the Registry Editor window.
Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Click the plus sign next to Software.
Click the plus sign next to Electronic Arts.
Right-click on the key named SPORE Creature Creator and choose Delete.
Right-click on the key named SPORE(TM) Creature Creator and choose Delete.
Click on the minus sign next to Electronic Arts, if there is one present.
Click the plus sign next to Microsoft.
Click the plus sign next to Windows.
Click the plus sign next to CurrentVersion.
Click the plus sign next to Uninstall.
Right-click on one of the following keys and choose Delete.
{ECEE0279-785F-4CB3-9F28-E69813234BF8} - SPORE Creature Creator Trial version
{8CC42289-E228-4A35-B8A9-015242283BB2} - SPORE Creature Creator Full version
Close the Windows Registry Editor.
Delete the uninstall files:
Click the Start button on the Windows Taskbar.
Click My Computer.
Double-click the Local Disk (by default, it should be C
Double-click the Program Files folder.
Click Tools on the Menu Bar and select Folder Options.
Note: For Windows Vista, if no Menu Bar is shown, click Organize; highlight Layout and click Menu Bar.
Click the View tab.
In the Advanced settings box, under the Files and Folders menu and under the Hidden files and folders menu, click the button next to Show hidden files and folders.
Double-click the Install Shield Installation Information folder.
Right-click on one of the following folders and select Delete.
{ECEE0279-785F-4CB3-9F28-E69813234BF8} - SPORE Creature Creator Trial version
{8CC42289-E228-4A35-B8A9-015242283BB2} - SPORE Creature Creator Full version
On your desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin and choose Empty Recycle Bin. SPORE Creature Creator should now be uninstalled from your computer
Taken from the EA Spore Help section.
here- http://easpore.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easpore.cfg/php/enduser/home.php?p_sid=p6fGGVcj
September 9th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
i bought the game online. it said it will work on macs.
well when i click to download the game it brings up this page that cannot be displayed. used safari and firefox.
i also downloaded the ea installer it says u need. well thats only for windows. my mac wont play it.
so anyone know whats up? it said on there page it works on macs also. and i got it of of ea’s site.
thanks
September 9th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
There is a separate downloads for the Mac version, I believe.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
After seeing the commercials and playing around with the free Spore Creature Creator demo I decided to buy the full version of the game. So I hopped in my car, went to my local Best Buy and plunked down my 50 bucks.
I came home and installed it. But first it required I delete the demo. Okay, fine. Not a big deal After about 20 minutes it was ready to play. I went to start it and got the following message:
“The Game can not start
The game needs access to the internet in order to verify ownership of this game. Please insure that your computer is online and try again”
What the Hell?! I looked at the box and sure enough in print so tiny the Federal Trade Commision should outlaw it’s use, it said internet connection required to activate.
I installed it to a computer that is NOT connected to the internet. And that is on purpose. I use it mostly for work and after losing several hundred dollars of work to a nasty virus a few years back, I’ve never had my work computer connected. And yes I use anti-virus software on it anyway, but it’s not worth going through that head ache again. I’m writing this on a cheap laptop that is too underpowered to play any games.
But getting back to EA’s activation scheme. First of all, ownership was VERIFIED when Best Buy accepted my debit card, printed out a reciept and handed me the game! This is nonsense. Actually doubly so since finding out that people can’t get activation even though they are online. (EA servers keep going down) So they’re screwed too. How pissed would you be then? The $50 dollar game is on your computer ready to go, but EA won’t let you play it.
In all the years this program was in development it never occured to the genuises at EA that not every customer would play online or even be connected to the internet?
How did that happen? Was it something like this…
First Guy: “So we’re about ready to wrap this up and ship it. Great job by the way, this is going to sell a zillion copies. How do we set up product activation? Just the usual key that goes with each disk?”
Second Guy: “No, too easy. How about that, PLUS you have to go online and do it again. That is if the servers are even on line that day.” (Smirk)
First Guy: “Uh, but what about the thousands of customers who don’t plan on going online with this, and/or can’t because they aren’t connected to the internet? Isn’t that going to kind of screw them over?
Second Guy: “Who cares. Once we have their money there’s nothing they can do. Look, I checked with legal and we’ll put on a microscopicly tiny disclaimer. Then they won’t have a leg to stand on.”
First Guy: “I don’t know about that. I think it’s going to piss a lot of people off”.
Second Guy: “Like I said, Who cares? Now lets get lunch”.
Great job Electronic Arts. I’ll never buy another PC game from you again. You’ve just lost hundreds of dollars in future revenue. Not much from one guy, but multiply that by the thousands of people you just screwed over.
I understand you need to protect your copyrighted work. But by making a nightmare out of loading and playing a game I LEGALLY PAID FOR you will lose business. And deserve to.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
My problem is is that everytime I try to download it on my mac my computer shuts off. its happened about 6 times now and everytime it happens, I see how many GB have been taken off and I have like 12 taken off! but the game is NOWHERE in my computer. I’ve uninstalled the trial version, I’ve done everything. SO very unhappy.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
After looking at about the first 50 comments, I decided no one here seems to be having the same problem as me.
I bought the CD at a real store, and intalled no problem. Click it to play and a window pops up saying…
“The game needs access to the internet in order to verify ownership of this game. Please ensure your conected to online”(or simular)
Incase you were wondering I have internet connection….or I wouldn’t be ‘online right now on this site sending this comment’…. EA site has nothing helpful have contacted them they said they needed a screen shot!?!?! of error…why I dont’ know, I meet all min requirement with no problems, drivers are all updated….no idea of how to by pass…even tried stopping virus/firewall/internet security just to play a $10 game!!
ANY IDEAS!!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I bought spore for windows…I have a vista. I installed it and then downloaded the newest ea download manager. Now I do not know how to start the spore game or create a account for ea download manager
HELP!!!!
September 16th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I downloaded spore, and I got the Sims Life Stories.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I bought the dowbnloadble version through ea, downloaded the damn ea download manager, have a link and all that, but it wont connect and download, anyone know how to help?
September 20th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I bought Spore today. I am running Vista on a top of the line Sony desktop less than six months old. When I attempt to install the game, it keep loading over and over the EA help files. It is as though it is in a “loop”. Restarting, ending all background programs does no good. Any ideas?
PO’d in Texas
September 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I ceep trying to install the disk version of Spore and it will not play the game. The book says that i should be able to find the launcher in ALL PROGRAMS but i am unable to. I have vista and i installed dirextX and still nothing. PLEASE HELP!!!!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 am
The System Requirements are WAY too strict to even be a game I met all requirements except for the “specific” video card that you MUST have. I think they should have made it possible for any computer that’s at least XP-Vista compatible and should work with ANY ATI software and Video Card.
I have the ATI Radeon 9200 so make a new one i’m not gonna spend about a hundred bucks for one cheap game. Espesically for the horrible publicity it has. Yeah it looks fun, but just how many people get to play only a few. Crappy Rich People think we MUST go out and buy anything and ever thing just because they couldn’t just use Direct X and leave it at that no you have to have a SPECIFIC video card that’s really expensive for such a cheap game you find on the store rack. Even Crisis plays fine on my system, but not this load of crap! MAKE IT COMPATIBLE FOR ANY ATI VIDEO CARD RIP OFF ARTIST!
September 29th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Well i have a different problem then most people i don’t have the patients to read all of it but i recently downloaded the game from EA and when i click on the spore application nothing happens and i’ve clicked on it for awhile and waited and hour nothing happened and repeated the process again and nothing happened. Very depressing and so far a waste of 50 bucks.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Unknown HTTP Error
- I had this message while trying to use the EA Download Manager (thanks for the total absence of help on the support site, BTW EA…) I solved it by 1) right-clicking and running the EADM as an administrator and 2) setting IE as my default browser (previously it was Firefox).
Worked for me. Though I don’t know which was the solution or whether both steps are needed.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
My problem is with the Downloadable version of Spore. After several 8 hour downloads and several installation errors, I’ve come to the conclusion that their Download Manager stinks! It is always coming up with the Audio 2 setup .cab not being what was expected. The advice it gives is to say that the download may be corrupted. I’ve actually managed to play this game for about 10 minutes at a clip, but then it crashes. I will never DOWNLOAD a game from EA again, and will probably never purchase a game from EA as well.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
okay my problem is after you create your creature areant you sopposed to be able to go into a big world or summtin cuz all i can do is just create multiple creatures without doing anything with them???? did i do something wrong?