The specs required to run the upcoming Creature Creator are now known to all mankind. Rejoice:

• 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
• XP: 512 MB RAM / Vista: 768 MB RAM
• At least 300 MB of hard drive space for installation, plus additional space for created creatures. (600 MB for digital download)
• A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0*

Expect final requirements for the full game to be fairly close to these. A complete fact sheet can be found here.

Spore is set to use an online authentication system, most likely to prevent and hinder illegal distribution of the game. In an open letter to Spore fans Caryl Shaw, online producer, gives us the following information regarding this “feature”:

• We authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.
• We’ll re-authenticate when a player uses online features, downloads new content or a patch for their game.
• The new system means you don’t have to play with the disc in your computer. And if you are like me, always losing discs, this will be a huge benefit.
• You’ll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.
• You can play offline.

Whether this means they will be using Sony’s SecuROM or another specially adapted anti-piracy tool is still somewhat unclear. We have probably not heard the last of this.