"Spore" will be here early next month. Make sure your creature building skills are fine tuned and you aren't missing anything by watching EA's video tutorials. You may learn a few tricks you missed, like creating an avatar.

• "Spore Creature Creator" Video Tutorials

"Spore" has gone gold and is on its way to the printers as I type this! To go gold means the final version is complete and ready to be duplicated. Excellent news for us sim gamers! EA says "Spore" should be on store shelves by September 7.

• "Spore" Screenshots
• What is "Spore?"
• "Spore" Hands-on Preview - Gamespot

Efluxmedia published an article saying they believed "Spore" could challenge "The Sims" series popularity. The reasoning is that "Spore" will be more interesting to male gamers, while the majority of "The Sims" players are women. I know I am more than capable of loving more than one game. I go through phases where I play lots of one game, then the next play another, and then switch back. I have a few games I always turn towards.

What about you? Which are you more excited about coming out - "Spore" or "The Sims 3?" I am anxiously waiting for both of them. Of course we won't know for sure which will be more popular until we have a chance to play both. I don't see myself having a problem with playing both regularly. Life sims are on the top of my list of favorite types of games.

Poll: Which are you looking forward to playing the most?

• "Spore"
• "The Sims 3"
• Both! Don't make me decide between them!
• View Results

More Resources:

• "Spore" Challenges "The Sims" Popularity
• "The Sims 3"
• "Spore"

Guardian.co.uk reports EA is looking to sell the license TV and movie rights to gain exposure to non-gamers. EA is hoping to broaden their customer base with new marketing tactics. A tv show about "The Sims" was talked about previously among gamers. A "Spore" movie though? I suppose it could entertaining to watch a species start out as a cell and work its way towards ruling the world. I don't see myself tuning into a "Spore" weekly tv show. Time would be better spent playing!

• Electronic Arts aims to license Spore movie rights - Guardian.co.uk