We just mentioned the book Smartbomb. Another Spore fansite, SnootySpore, has posted part of the chapter about Will Wright. At the time of writing the game is still nicknamed SimEverything, and Wright and his team were working in Walnut Creek, where Maxis once started (they have since moved to Emeryville).

The excerpt reveals that Will has been working on the game since 1998 already, and that will is inspired by physicist and astrobiologist Enrico Fermi. He describes the concept for the game a follows: "What's a simple simulation that would describe all of life as we know it?" The article also quotes Wright about the procedural technologies, which will create the graphics in the game without the help of artists: "To me, it becomes almost a religion. What is the simplest set of rules I can imagine that would allow me to possibly simulate the complexities of an emerging universe." For more details, including a bit on Wright's vision on the gaming industry, read the excerpt.