# Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming, and it \[was\] Free to Play this week (Edit: No Longer Free) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528 "2015-10-13T06:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/781 "2021-11-17T03:08:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > To be fair, Spore actually got released, and it did what they said it would do. It’s just that, what they said it would do was boring to everyone but the developers. Hey, I loved Spore. I’m still bummed that I haven’t got it to work since Win7. I’d buy it again if they re-released it for Win11. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/782 "2021-11-17T03:48:40Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Hey, I loved Spore. I’m still bummed that I haven’t got it to work since Win7. I’d buy it again if they re-released it for Win11. I have it on Steam and it runs just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/783 "2021-11-17T14:12:58Z")
Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/784 "2021-11-17T14:27:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > Hey, I loved Spore. I’m still bummed that I haven’t got it to work since Win7. I’d buy it again if they re-released it for Win11. > > I have it on Steam and it runs just fine. I know it’s possible, but my machines haven’t been able to run it for years. I have Spore on both Steam and the EA utility. Neither works despite my best efforts and I’m fairly adept at modding games. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/785 "2021-11-17T15:03:38Z")
Huh, weird. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think it holds up very well at all. The creature creation tools are still amusing but the gameplay, now stripped of its novelty by the passage of time, is shallow and not terribly fun. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/786 "2021-11-17T16:12:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > The creature creation tools are still amusing but the gameplay, now stripped of its novelty by the passage of time, is shallow and not terribly fun. That was always the case. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/787 "2021-11-17T16:48:43Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > That was always the case. Yes, but it was **novel**. The ability to gain new parts and tweak your creatures in interesting ways went a long way towards hiding the unfortunate fact the gameplay was just a series of minigames masquerading as full content. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/788 "2021-11-17T16:56:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > the gameplay was just a series of minigames masquerading as full content Yeah, each stage of development was a totally different game. The “swim around eating stuff” game as a fish, then the “run around as an animal” game on land, then the tribal exploration stage, then the civilization building stage, then the space exploration stage. It was 5 different games and so scattered it didn’t do a great job at any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/789 "2021-11-17T17:44:05Z")
Well, all a matter of taste. I liked Spore the same way I like The Sims–something fun to poke around with without needing a lot of thought or skill, but exercising the “let’s pretend” part of my brain. It’s like playing with dolls (or, as boys call them, “action figures”). Actually, very similar to how I play Crusader Kings, as well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/790 "2021-11-17T20:08:10Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Well, all a matter of taste. Absolutely. I hope you find a way to play it again. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/791 "2021-11-18T21:39:18Z")
[More new vehicles!](https://twinfinite.net/2021/11/star-citizen-spartan-redeemer/) Note that I said “vehicles”; one is a terrestrial armored personnel carrier. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/792 "2021-11-19T15:02:34Z")
Wait, but _Spore_ itself was a space game. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/793 "2021-11-19T15:09:40Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Wait, but _Spore_ itself was a space game. Only the end stage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/794 "2021-11-19T15:13:18Z")
I run _Spore_ from GOG on Win10. I remember having to tweak it a little but don’t remember exactly what I did… I did make a [dedicated topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spore-2008/915281) about the game last year. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Only the end stage. The late game, in my experience, is the longest stage to complete. And with the space adventures expansion it easily has the most content. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/795 "2021-11-19T15:16:28Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > The late game, in my experience, is the longest stage to complete. And with the adventures expansion it easily has the most content. Still a life sim rather than a space sim. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/796 "2021-11-19T15:19:35Z")
_Spore_ is one of those games where the endgame might as well be a game in its own right. Not a great one, but still fun - not terrible, IMO. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/797 "2021-11-19T15:27:09Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I run _Spore_ from GOG on Win10. I remember having to tweak it a little but don’t remember exactly what I did… I did make a [dedicated topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spore-2008/915281) about the game last year. Oh, I somehow missed that thread. I’ll read it. I do not have the GOG version, might try that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/798 "2021-11-19T15:33:41Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > _Spore_ is one of those games where the endgame might as well be a game in its own right. Not a great one, but still fun - not terrible, IMO. Tru dat. Last time I started a new game, I didn’t bother with anything prior to space stage. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/799 "2021-11-19T15:41:02Z")
I think SC is having a free fly this weekend. If I can free up the space without deleting any games that are actually enjoyable, I might download it and see what it’s looking like these days. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/800 "2021-11-20T00:38:16Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > _Spore_ is one of those games where the endgame might as well be a game in its own right. Not a great one, but still fun - not terrible, IMO. Hmm… Spore was developed by Maxis… Your name is Max\_S… 🤔 Highly suspicious. 🤨 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=41)