Spore: Experiencing Evolution

"Your universe in a box". That is the catch-phrase of Spore, the 2008 computer game that is capturing millions of fans around world. Spore, a simulation game, is a way of experiencing and understanding the concepts behind evolution. In Spore, players go through five stages that show the evolution of an organism from a single cell to an organism that manages terrorism, inter-galactic trade, and politics. This sounds rather ambitious, and to make things even better, you create your environment, creature, and then play around with your creations. You are presented with a myriad of options to tinker around with, interact with and use other people's creations, and then proceed on with your own storyline. While you catch food, trade and make other species extinct, a time line is automatically built that records all your major actions, and basically tells your story and how you evolved. Here is an overview of the 5 stages.

1. The Cell Stage: This stage basically shows you the ropes of the game. AS a cell, you eat enough to survive, try to kill smaller fish and then stay away from the bigger fish.

2. The Creature Stage: You have moved out of the water, and have developed a torso and limbs. You now can find body parts, mate, and most importantly, interact with other creatures. You either make species extinct or you become allies, in order to expand your brain and evolve. You can also, as your intelligence develops, build packs and other intelligent things

3. The Tribal Stage: Now you do not control a single creature, you control a tribe! You can give instructions to them as to how to manage money, invasions and provisions; to win the race to become the first civilization.

4. The Civilization Stage: Now you have united all the tribes to form a civilization, but you find that other civilizations have been formed. Your job is to unite with all of your species' civilizations to become a galactic empire. Here is your first major decision: your civilization will have to choose its function, and this will affect the 4th and 5th Stages. You can become military, economic, or religious. As the military you sign treaties and declare war to expand your civilization; as a economic you trade with other civilizations and eventually try to buy them; and as a religious society you try to convert other civilizations and try to have them join your philosophy. Eventually, once you have conquered all the civilizations, you have become an empire.

5. The Space Stage: This definitely the coolest stage of the game. As an explorer/merchant/'Pope'/Soldier for your civilization, you fly around the galaxy achieving medals for doing various tasks.

All in all-a brilliant game, probably the best of 2008! A must buy for anyone!