What do I need to know to get started on Sporeum?
Not a whole lot.  Reading the site rules and the pinned threads in each forums is a good way to get started.

Where can I find out more about what Spore is?
Right here on Sporeum of course!  You can find all sorts of stuff on Spore here, but if you want the general gist of the game in a nutshell, you should either check out the Spore FAQ thread, or the Overview of Spore thread.

Why does the chat say I have to evolve to enter?
Sporeum Live Chat is exclusively for the use of familiar and established members of the Sporeum Colony.  Please keep in mind that access to the chat is a privilege that must be earned.  You will need to spend some more time at Sporeum.com before you are able to access this chat.  You can find out more about why that is in the Evolution of Chat thread.

What is that odd thing up in the banner that has my screenname and other stuff in it?
That is your Evolution Tracker.  Here on Sporeum, we have a unique system called Evolution Levels, which tracks your progress as you interact with the Sporeum Colony.  These "Evo Levels" are a critical part of your experience on Sporeum.

So what are the "Evo Levels" and how do they affect my membership here on Sporeum?
Evo Levels are a measurement of how much you've "evolved" while a member here at Sporeum.  The more involved you are, the more evolved you become.  When you make a contribution to the site, reach certain milestones, interact with other members, and various other factors, your Evo Level will increase.  You're Evo Level does have some importance on how the site interacts with you.  The chat is a prime example.  Most of your interaction with the site should help to increase your Evo Level.  However, if you tend to be a troll, your Evo Level can actually drop.  If it drops down to the level of Primeval Ooze, then the system will permanently eject you from the colony.  The rule of thumb to follow here is to be nice.

How come parts of the site don't work?
Because Spore still hasn't hit the shelves, parts of the site don't need to be up yet.  Rest assured that when the game arrives, so will the rest of the site.

What is a Splog?
A Splog is a user-created Sporeum weblog, where you will be able to post your personal experience with Spore, the game, and tell the entire tale of your species’ evolution.

What kind of things will we be able to download from Sporeum?
There's no real way to tell what you'll be able to download until Spore comes out and we start modding it to pieces.

What is the Sporepedia?
The Sporepedia is our Spore knowledge base.  Currently, there isn't anything in it, but as time marches on and we get closer to the arrival of Spore, there will be stuff being added.  Odds are that you'll be able to find a wide assortment of various tutorials shortly after Spore comes out, so be sure to do some reading there when the game arrives.