MMO Gaming

I’m in the Tabula Rasa beta. I’ve mentioned this before. I could, probably, talk about my experiences under the guise of being a “press” site, but I won’t because I’m not sure that would be fair or even relatively accurate.

That having been said, here is some non-NDA breaking ranting about what other people have posted. I won’t link specifically to various sites but most of my readers will have read these elsewhere and already know about them, so here it is.

Your expectations are completely incorrect about this game. Any pre-conceived notions you have should be thrown out the window. It isn’t that game. This is not Ultima Online in space with freakin’ lasers. This is Tabula Rasa. This is, believe it or not, a chance for NCSoft to make money providing a quality game. I’ve just given you all the information you need to know but in case you missed it, I’ll clarify. It is a game. Is it sinking in yet, are you seeing where I’m going with this? It is a game. And a damn fun one too. If it is a virtual game than it is obviously not a virtual what? I think I’ve made myself clear now. If that is not what you are expecting than you are thinking all wrong.

Once again, this is not Ultima Online, or Everquest. It is also not EVE and doesn’t pretend to be. It is not pre-NGE SWG and it doesn’t claim to be. Tabula Rasa is a new game. It absolutely lives up to it’s name. It is a clean slate, a new look at online gaming. What it isn’t, is paper. If you come to Tabula Rasa thinking you are going to get paper and end up seeing it is still built on slate, than you will have a problem. That problem is yours. The problem doesn’t lie in the game it lies in what you thought the game would be.

I’m not saying the game is perfect or that it still doesn’t need work (it is still in beta after all) but everything I have read is just being silly. The problem is, of course, that it is Lord British’s game (actually, General, if you prefer now.) People thought it would go back to what UO was, but in space, and with shooter-esque combat. NO! It isn’t that at all.

Oh and one more thing, anyone who complains about the fact that it isn’t an FPS and it just pretends to be one but still has those same dice-rolls. Congratulations, you just found out exactly what has been stated hundreds of times by the developers themselves. Now please go turn on an oven and stick your head in it.