Spawn installation

In personal computer games, a spawn installation is an installed copy of a game that may only be used to play in multiplayer mode, or otherwise limits the amount of single-player content accessible to the user. Additionally, some spawn implementations only allow the user to join games hosted by the installer's cd-key. There are several purposes for a spawn installation, including but not limited to creating added value by allowing the owner of the game to experience the multiplayer mode with friends and demonstrating the game to more potential buyers.

A similar concept (for example, in some "Command & Conquer" games) is the use of multiple game discs. Each disc contains a discrete portion of the game, such as an individual campaign. Sharing a disc with a friend allows both the owner and the friend to experience the full content of each respective disc, but not at the same time. In contrast with spawn installations, the disadvantage to the multiple-disc approach was that the game could only be shared among as many people as there were discs, while spawn installations could be used on any number of systems.

Games with spawn installation

*"Joint Strike Fighter" - Innerloop
*"" - Electronic Arts
*"Diablo" - Blizzard Entertainment
*"StarCraft" - Blizzard Entertainment
*"" - Blizzard Entertainment
*""
*"Earth 2150" - Reality Pump
*"Total Annihilation" - Cavedog Entertainment
*"" - Strategy First