However you may feel about Spore's gameplay, the creature creator tools for Electronic Arts' alien evolution sim are indeed very impressive and easy to use. Now EA has announced a way for Spore players to have their creatures made into real miniature sculptures via the Z Corporation.

Players can upload their Spore creations to the Sporesculpture.com web site and pay $49.50 to have their creatures created into 3D miniatures using Z Corporation's 3D printers. Here's some more info on the actual making of the sculptures:

Z Corporation 3D printers use a powder-binder technology, to create parts directly from digital data. First, the 3D printer spreads a thin layer of powder. Second, an ink-jet print head prints a binder in the cross-section of the part being created, mixing color as it does. Next, a build piston drops down, making room for the next layer, and the process is repeated. After printing, the Spore Sculpture is cleaned off, given a quick dip in a resin bath, packaged and shipped.