Big Download Blog put together a list of the top 10 most disappointing PC games of 2000 thru 2009. Two Maxis games made it onto the list: The Sims Online (at #5) and Spore (at #1):
Despite a promising start and a vast audience, the game was a total bust. Why? Because there was nothing to do. As it turned out, the magic from the single player experience didn’t translate very well into an MMO experience and few people wanted to pay for access to a glorified chat room. EA relaunched The Sims Online as a free-to-play experience called EA Land, but that didn’t work out either. The game was finally shut down for good in 2008.
The game finally released in 2008, and as promised, featured impressive technology that let gamers run wild with creativity. Unfortunately, although it was a cute toy, Spore wasn’t much of a game. The concept went in too many directions at once in its attempt to satisfy both casual and veteran gamers, so it ended up appealing to neither. Not only did the game stifle creativity by forcing players to stick with certain body parts in order to progress, there was no point in giving peace a chance. Of the five game modes, all but the last (which let players freely roam space) were far too shallow to be fun. Even though it sold well, there was a great deal of controversy regarding its Digital Rights Management policy, which only allowed the game to be installed on a limited number of computers, practically inviting people to use the pirated version and avoid the hassle. The Spore Galactic Adventures expansion released in the summer of 2009, which refocuses the gameplay and generally makes it more enjoyable. However, it can’t be overlooked that the original game fell well short of its high expectations.
Disappointing…like the fact of this lady trying to ride a mechanical bull…