Spore Galactic Adventures – Methods to Remove the Eco Disasters and Pirate Raids

The game Spore, particularly when combined with the Galactic Adventures expansion, is highly enjoyable. However, there are two aspects in the Space Stage that significantly frustrate me: Eco Disasters and Pirate Raids.

I cannot adequately express my annoyance when I find myself in the middle of terraforming or en route to the Galactic Core, only to have my allies’ colonies randomly subjected to Eco Disasters or Pirate Raids. This occurs even when their colonies are at level 5 and equipped with numerous defensive turrets. The situation worsens when these events seem to transpire every five minutes. Therefore, the purpose of this guide is to eliminate these interruptions, allowing you to concentrate on your activities without disturbance.

Modding Tools

To modify the game files and effectively remove Eco Disasters and Pirate Raids (or at least minimize their occurrence), we will utilize Spore Modding Tools.

You can obtain the tools from this source.

These tools are compatible with both the base game and the Galactic Adventures expansion. The steps involved are identical for both.

Unpacking the Game Files

Navigate to the Spore Modding Tool folder and open SpView. From there, go to Tool → UnpackDBPF|DBBF (V2), and select Spore_Game.package from your game folder. By doing this, a folder with the same name will be created within your game folder.

Repeat the aforementioned action for PatchData.package. If performed correctly, you will have two new folders in your game directory: Spore_Game and PatchData.

Remember to create backups of the original files in case any mistakes occur during the process.

Editing the Files

Navigate to the folder named “Rick’s Spore Tool” and locate the executables within. To ensure convenience, it is recommended to have a separate window open for this process.

Proceed to the Spore_Games folder and locate a specific file named “SP-PROP-00B1B104-02AE0C7E-3E9793B5.prop”. Take this file and drag it onto the executable called PropToXML. As a result, a .xml file will be generated, sharing the same name as the original .prop file.

Using a text editor, open the newly created .xml file and perform a search for the following lines (copy and paste):

"universeSimulatorPirateRaidMinTime"
"universeSimulatorPirateRaidFrequency"
"universeSimulatorPirateRaidAllyFrequency"
"universeSimulatorPirateRaidAllyMinTime"
"universeSimulatorPirateRaidPlunderFrequency"
"universeSimulatorPirateRaidPlunderMinTime"
"universeSimulatorBiosphereCollapseTime"
"universeSimulatorBiosphereCollapseFrequency"
"universeSimulatorMinTimeBetweenDisasters"

Each of these lines will be accompanied by a numerical value. Through testing and verification, it has been determined that higher numbers correspond to a reduced occurrence of Pirate Raids and/or Eco Disasters. To adjust the frequency, simply add several zeros to the existing numerical values.

Once the modifications have been made, save the changes to the .xml file. Subsequently, delete the file named “SP-PROP-00B1B104-02AE0C7E-3E9793B5.prop” from both the Patch_Data and Spore_Games folders. It is important to delete this file from both locations.

Repacking the Game Files

Now, take the edited .xml file and drag it onto the XMLToProp executable found in Rick’s Spore Tool. This action will repack the .xml file into a .propnew file. Simply rename the file extension from .propnew to .prop, and move this file exclusively to the Spore_Game folder. It should not be placed back into the Patch_Data folder.

Return to SpView and navigate to Tools → PackDBPF (V2). This action will trigger the appearance of two windows.

The first window allows you to choose the folder you wish to repack. Click on any random file within the Spore_Game folder, and the entire folder will be repacked into a new file named Spore_Game.package.

The second window prompts you to select a destination for the repacked file. Choose a folder of your preference for this purpose.

Repeat this process for the Patch_Data folder.

Finally, replace the original Spore_Game.package and Patch_Data.package files with the newly packed ones. It is crucial to create backups of the original files beforehand.

Done

Launch the game and load your saved game in the Space Stage. Spend several minutes playing the game and observe if you still encounter random Pirate Raids or Eco Disasters. If you have followed all the steps correctly, it is highly likely that you will not experience these events until several hours of gameplay have passed.

Congratulations! You have successfully made the necessary modifications, allowing you to embark on your adventure without being bothered by the irritating sound and interruptions caused by these events. Enjoy your gameplay uninterrupted!