Spore

Okay guys, finally got the confirmation email and downloaded Spore. I had 3 problems with it, and I'm very lucky to have been able to figure these out on my own. For other people, I'll talk a little about them and how to solve it:

1.
Problem: Download Manager doesn't recognise full version when demo is on computer.
Explanation: if you have the demo version of the Creature Creator on your pc, the Download Manager will refer to that instead of the full version, not allowing you to download the full version.
Solution: uninstall demo version, re-login on the Download manager if needed.

2.
Problem: some weird error message about address space first time you start up the CC, and complete black-out after EA and Maxis Logo's
Explanation: this is very important to note. Once you have the CC installed on Vista, and run it for the first time it will give you a warning "error" message saying that on come configurations with certain video cards it might not run, and giving you an adress to where to fix that. This message will come only once, the first time you start the game, and there is no way to get it again after that unless you reinstall. It will only refer to this message in the readme file, and not give the address.
So make a screenshot of the error message, and if you get a black-out when starting the game (right after the EA and Maxis logo's, but before the Spore logo), refer to it to fix the problem.
In a bizzarre twist of events, this only happens on Vista, and only on a high-end video card. The better your card, the more probable this will happen. This is because Vista (stupid Microsoft..) gives an address to each program/hard ware/driver/whatever running, and this has a limit of 2 GB total. Better video cards use more address space, not leaving enough for Spore to run.
Solution: here's the link the Warning/Error message refers to: Virtual address space usage in Windows Vista game development.
There's a Vista update on the bottom of the page when you follow the above link which should end the problem. I'm running an e-Geforce 8800 GT (second-best card on the market) so I'm very thankful there's a solution.
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EDIT: By the way, I just noticed the page it refered is in Dutch
Maybe it's just because the microsoft website sees I'm from Holland, or maybe it's because my windows is installed in Dutch and my error message linked me to the Dutch page.
In any case, if you can't understand the language, all you need to know is that there's a link in that page somewhere around the middle of the scrollbar that says "Windows Vista, 32-bits versies", or "Windows Vista, 64-bits versies".
Versies = Versions, so that should be clear I think.

To be sure, here's the pages:
32 bits Vista: Downloadinformatie: KB940105: Update voor Windows Vista
64 bits Vista: Downloadinformatie: KB940105: Update voor Windows Vista voor x64-systemen

You might want to go to the end of the yellow thing where there's a dropdown menu and select "Engels", which will give you the English one. Hope that's clear enough, lol. Didn't really notice the site was Dutch the first time I went there.
Also, this site should help translating if you want to know how your language is called in Dutch.

3.
Problem: Download Manager interferes with Creature Creator, shuts off after EA, Maxis AND Spore logo's. (note: if you don't get the Spore logo, see the second problem, it's probably that one)
Explanation: even more bizarre than the previous problem, the Download Manager may interfere with the game itself, preventing you from playing it. You'll know when this happens when it shuts off after the Spore logo, and gives an error report where, if you click "more information" it says something about DMCmdPortalClient.dll not working properly.
Solution: Cut and paste. Cut the DMCmdPortalClient.dll from the Sporebin directory and paste it somewhere you can find it again in case you ever need it. Just to be on the safe side, close the Download Manager before starting the game. It should run now, and don't worry if it asks for you to register. It won't need the DMCmdPortalClient.dll file to do so, so you should be good to go!

Have fun playing!

EDIT:

I wanted to clear something up:

2nd Problem = EA logo, Maxis Logo, black screen shortly, error message that says Spore needs to be closed, no explanation.

3rd Problem = EA Logo, Maxis Logo AND Spore Logo, CC closes.

So if you don't get to the Spore Logo, I think it's the second problem rather than the third

Thanks for this i will ask a mod to sticky it ^_^

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I have had that same problem with the Download Manager, it kills my trial version before it even starts....

My solution was: uninstall EA Download Manager, but that is a little draconian

Good thread Deserves sticky.
Lol Use that influence Xrunar

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Stickies, well written

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Are you saying with EA Download Manager that I will not be able to play the CC Demo? Or are you saying it only allows me to play the CCD?

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Can you help me? I have the EA Download Manager and the CCD (Creature Creator Demo) installed but when I try to play it-it just shows that white screen for about 5 seconds then closes itself out.

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I don't know. All I know is that this is a problem I encountered, and this is how I solved it
If anyone else runs into the same problem, it's probably the best way to fix it.

Thanks for the sticky people! I'm off to play now

Hmm, I haven't encountered that one.
Maybe it's the same as 3., though. Did you try getting rid of the DMCmdPortalClient.dll file?

Man, Microsoft and EA really need to get better customer service, it's just appalling how rediculously vague they are in helping out

I have the same problem. Start up creature creator, get to the rating screen, then crash to desktop. No error messages, no nothing.

EDIT: This (deleting that .dll file) works and allows the creature creator to start. However, I am unable to log on to my spore ID...

EDIT2: Bingo. Uninstall the EA downloader. Problem solved. When starting up the CC with EA downloader installed, it automatically starts it and renders you unable to get past the ESRB screen in my case.

Uhm. Okay I have a problem :3

Whenever I go into spore and share a creature, it shares within like three seconds, but I can never share another creature within that game. I have to close out of spore, and open it back up again to share another creature... Does this happen to anyone else, or can you fix it?

Are u saying I will have to take the free cc out to get the full cc, ok What will happen to the 30 creatures I have made on the free one??????

I had the same problem. Are you using the demo? I assume so, because that's where I had my problems. I honestly think that's a feature of the demo to not allow you to upload more than one creature per session. Just basically another cheap trick to get you to buy the real one.

Great thread, Ivaron. Haven't gotten a chance to download Spore yet (America), but I'm thanking you in advance if I have a problem and thanking you for being helpful enough to post this.

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I found that you can save your Creatures by:

Goto MyDocuments
then My Spore Creations
then Creatures

Copy the contents somewhere else till you replace them once you have install the full...

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Some things you can never change... But it's still fun to try!!

i got a problem with myne as well. everytime i open it up it gets to the register but as soon as a click the register button it freezes.

and yes i have checked my specs and i beat the requirements my miles.

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I cant get my full CC to get passed the EA logo, i deleted the DMCmdPortalClient.dll file and it still does the same thing and shuts down right after the ea logo

well...as luck would have it...my internet connection has gone tits up...it went tits up 5hrs before release time last night and now i have no way of getting it back for bloody ages.....PLEEEEEEEEEASE tell me that now im downloading it (from my mothers old skool pc at a ligjhtning pace of 25kb/sec, that i can load this puppy without needing to be online when i transfer it via my USB to my decent pc at home?!?!!?
oh god pls work offline........bloody computers...talk about sods law....

GT


ps - does anyone know or can tell me how big the download is.....??? lol

Hmm, didn't get that problem, so wouldn't know what to do :/
Tried shutting off the downloader thingy?
That sounds more like problem number two. Try the link I gave in the Solution there, and download the microsoft fix
That sucks, dude. You should be able to start up the game offline, but you won't be able to register or login I think. My advice would be to install the game on your mother's pc, open it and register there. Copy the Spore map, both where you installed it as well as any maps on the C:/ drive, and also copy the setup file (there should be one in the Download Manager map somewhere).
Try installing the setup file and see if you can register. If not, uninstall the game and just paste the whole game and the C:/ drive maps on you copied earlier on your own computer. Some games won't work like that, but most still do luckily
If it does start up, it still hinges on one thing:
Does the game remember your registration, or will it need to connect to the internet to check your username? Let's hope it's the first (and, granted, that's a long shot..).

Not a clue, haha. It just said 0 mb of 0 mb downloaded all the while ;/

Oh btw, you guys might want to see this. I think it's hilarious

cheers for the help and advice Ivaron...i hope it all works with no problems and theyll be no need for a connection (!?)......bloody computers....
lol

GT

No problem

Btw, can't edit my post? Anyway, I wanted to clear something up:

2nd Problem = EA logo, Maxis Logo, black screen shortly, error message that says Spore needs to be closed, no explanation.

3rd Problem = EA Logo, Maxis Logo AND Spore Logo.

So if you don't get to the Spore Logo, I think it's the second problem rather than the third

No problem

Btw, can't edit my post? Anyway, I wanted to clear something up:

2nd Problem = EA logo, Maxis Logo, black screen shortly, error message that says Spore needs to be closed, no explanation.

3rd Problem = EA Logo, Maxis Logo AND Spore Logo, CC closes.

So if you don't get to the Spore Logo, I think it's the second problem rather than the third