So I downloaded and tried to install the trial for the Spore Creature Creator, you can find the download links for the USA here. I have been hearing so much about this game, and have watched some of my favorite people on YouTube.com play around with it, like sxephil (Philip DeFranco). Now, here are my system specs:
- Intel 3.0ghz Core2
- 4 gigs of RAM
- Nvidia 8800gt
- 750i FTW mobo
So I downloaded the app, and it went to install in the X86 folder, like MOST games do on my system, and I got this error
And of course, I went to Google to search for it, and found…nothing. Then I went to the support forum for Spore…which I could not find…then I hit up a couple of other Spore forums and sites, and found NOTHING about this error. So what did I do about it? Well, at first I was confused as I have an updated system, not ONE download from Microsoft was missing in Windows Update. So, I was like “fine, whatever, I will try downloading and installing Direct-X 9.0c” which, honestly I thought I did not have to do, assuming that DX10 was fully backwards compatible with 9, and that Microsoft would of installed it into my system by default. Not the case, I went and downloaded this version here (which BTW if you are using Firefox, the plugin will NOT load without a restart) so after going through my meaningless Windows Genuine Validation process, I downloaded the installer package, this tool goes through and checks my PC, and VIOLA, after it completes, I am able to install Spore. It was busy downloading and installing DirectX 9 optional compements.
Now, after installing the trial I was all like “WTF” because there was NO desktop icon, and NO Start menu linkage for it. What gives? I had to go into the file path found at C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\SPORE\Sporebin and make a link to the desktop out of SporeCreatureCreator.exe. So not only did the damn thing not go smoothly for me, after getting it installed, I STILL had to do work. And yes I did test this on a Vista X86 machine, and it had the same problem. Well, after all this hassle, maybe I will have time to actually PLAY with the creature creator now.
Excellent directions. DirectX 10 in my Vista Home Premium did not seem to have the Web applications that are installed via the DirectX 9.0c version (as updated June 2008 on the micorsoft download link in the article above). After downloading the ver 9.0c, I rechecked my Pc for the DirectX version and found it was still directX 10. The Vista search box would not locate the newly installed SporeCretureCreator.exe file. I had to locate it manually as described in the article above. Make sure you read the SCC Readme.txt file (option to select this is on the last instalation screen) for video card conflicts/issues!!
Interesting article you have here, I too am experiencing this inconvenient mess, although I don’t think I am ready to move away from my DX10
, hopefully the new Spore that will arrive to us soon willl be DX10 compatible, nevertheless delightful article you have hear! 
I do not believe this downgrades you to DX 9 fully, it just loads some extra library components that you are missing. Not exactly sure though!
Two things:
After installing this on a Windows XP machine with the same error message, I believe that the release of Spore Creature Creator is trying to use the latest build of DirectX which isn’t always available on the windows update page. Microsoft tends to update the DirectX runtime every few months for developers that include game specific fixes and other minor hot-fixes. They aren’t necessary (usually), which is why Windows update doesn’t have you download a new version every so often.
I had to download the Direct X 9.0c (August 2008 release) that you provided. So, it isn’t a Direct X 10 issue. It’s because Maxis didn’t use the original Direct X 9.0 release. I bet this causes a lot of confusion when the official game is released.
Russel is correct, this doesn’t downgrade your Direct X 10 in any way. In fact, Vista has both Direct X 9 and 10 libraries. It’s just that the DX 9 library was out of date just like my Windows XP install.
Secondly, there is a reason why you didn’t have a start menu link. You’re using Vista. Microsoft is moving away from the “All Programs” menu. Every game that you install that has the new Microsoft Game Index score on it will instead place the game’s startup icon in the Games tab in your Start Menu ball.
To be honest, I think that the “All Programs” section of the start menu will be hidden in future releases of Windows that will require you to enable it in the Start Menu properties.
Wow! I am going threw exactly the same thing Russell is describing. Too bad I found this article after floundering around for a bit and coming up with the same fix as Russell. That is odd that it doesn’t make a Short-cut on the desktop.
Thanks for the useful post. It would be better if the installer came with some USEFUL information explaining the DirectX issue just like you have!
Thanks for all the awesome comments everyone! You really make my day when other people can benefit from my problems!
We have a worse problem, after installing/registering Spore and rebooting the machine is now in infinite loops and will NOT boot XP, not in safe mode, safe mode past config, normal – nothing. The boot sector is shot and initial drive testing shows partitions and nothing else. Yes the machine had met all the user specs and yes it had 5 times more space than needed for the software. Hope that makes you feel better, hadn’t backed up in ages either.
@Migraine Oh wow, I have never heard of that happening. Did you try running a repaid from the Windows XP disk?
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