Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Richard Garriott blasts NCsoft with $24 million lawsuit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/richard-garriott-blasts-ncsoft-with-24-million-lawsuit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/richard-garriott-blasts-ncsoft-with-24-million-lawsuit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/richard-garriott-blasts-ncsoft-with-24-million-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When Tabula Rasa shut down in January, we thought we'd heard the last of NCsoft and Richard Garriott in the same sentence. Oh, how wrong we were. Yesterday, Kotaku broke the news that Garriott was suing his old pals at NCsoft to the tune of $24 million for fraud, and generally being a bunch of fetid arsebiscuits. Details were decidedly skimpy, however - why would Garriott go after the company so long after his departure? What had gone rotten in the state of Denmark?

This morning, GamePolitics added their .02 to the mix and upped the ante with the legal documents involved - and boy, are they illuminating. According to Richard's side of the story, it goes like this: Richard & co form Destination Games, and are bought out by NCsoft in exchange for some very hefty stock options. After Tabula Rasa launches, Richard gets tapped for a space flight he signed up for some years prior. After talking to NCsoft higher-ups, he is approved for, and goes on, extended leave to take his space flight. During this time, he continues doing PR for Tabula Rasa, including Operation Immortality. Flight (and PR stunt) successful, Richard touches down to Earth, goes into quarantine in Russia, and NCsoft calls him to drop the hammer - while he's stuck in Russia, decontaminating. No choice, no warning, nothing. "So long, and thanks for all the Bane."

Continue reading Richard Garriott blasts NCsoft with $24 million lawsuit

MassivelyRichard Garriott blasts NCsoft with $24 million lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdestination-gameslawsuitrgtrrichard-garriottstock-optionstabula-rasatrWed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A final salute]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/one-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While Tabula Rasa may have shut down all of the servers, this game is by no means forgotten. As many people head into their favorite gaming spaces this weekend to spend time with friends, at least one group will be missing their favorite MMO haunt. This salute to the end of Tabula Rasa comes to us from Mort, who sent along the follow brief note: [This is] a final salute to the fallen Earth from clan Kaka, [taken] at the Empire State Building. We have a few other final Tabula Rasa contributions, so we'll be adding those in the mix in the days to come - if you'd like to send yours and join the fun, feel free!

If you're playing a game we haven't seen in a while - or likely won't see again - why not send in a screenshot? We like to see everything from rolling landscape screens to the intense heat of battle. All you have to do is email it to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the game it's from, and a quick note about what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots


MassivelyOne Shots: A final salute originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftone-shotsrgtrscreenshotscreenshotssunsettedtabula-rasatrFri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: A farewell to Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As this morning dawns across the world, the ranks of MMO communities are down by one. Tabula Rasa, started on the same day that Massively opened its doors, has closed down after one final, epic battle. As MMO players, just about all of us can relate as to how much it would suck to lose the game our community is in, thereby sending that community to the four corners of the gaming world. It's always a hard thing to see any MMO sunsetted.

This morning, we wanted to give those players a chance to reflect on what they loved about Tabula Rasa - the community, the graphics, the story line, the dev interaction. Also, we'd love to hear what your plans are now; other AFS alumni may decide to join you in new gaming pastures! Will there be another MMO, or are you off to play games like Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: A farewell to Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mmommofpsncsoftrgtrrichard-garriottsunsetsunsettedtabula-rasaSun, 01 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa's shutdown salute schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Listen up, soldiers! We're going to post this once and only once, so I want all eyes and ears on this blog post! Do you get me!?

*Waits to hear the chorus of "We get you, sir!" coming from the computer monitor.*

We have gotten word from AFS High Command that the Bane are preparing for an all out attack against the Allied Free Sentients in Tabula Rasa. This will be the single largest troop movement that the battlefields have seen to date. This is why all soldiers are being asked to fortify all AFS bases in preparation of an attack on Saturday at 8 PM GMT for the Centarus (EU) server and again at 8 PM CST for the Hydra server.

These attacks will be lead by the infamous Neph, cousin race to the benevolent Eloh. Neph are the most intelligent commanders that the Bane has to throw against us, but we will fight them back!

The attacks are expected to last until midnight GMT and midnight CST. If we are unsuccessful with our defense, and should we be overrun, then we will make sure that their victory will cost them everything! The Penumbra Division has been ordered to ready the last resort weapon and only fire it should we still be under attack at midnight. If we're going down, we're taking them, and the server, with us!

Hoo-rah, soldiers!

MassivelyTabula Rasa's shutdown salute schedule originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afsallied-free-sentientsattackbanebasebreakingdefenseeloheventin-game-eventnephpenumbrargtrrichard-garriotts-tabula-rasashutdowntabula-rasaFri, 27 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Deployment 16 stomps onto Tabula Rasa's battlefields]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/deployment-16-stomps-onto-tabula-rasas-battlefields/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/deployment-16-stomps-onto-tabula-rasas-battlefields/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/deployment-16-stomps-onto-tabula-rasas-battlefields/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you've been clamoring for mechs, then clamor no more! Deployment 16 has now hit the Tabula Rasa servers, and you too can jump in a big 'ol mech and go stomp some people. Don't know how to find them? Don't worry, we've got you covered in that department.

The only downside to all of this mech joy is that they're only available in Edmund Range. But, with the mechs now being available, you can be sure that pretty much everyone is rushing on over to get a taste of steel in their system.

This patch isn't devoted entirely to mechs, though. Players will be happy to procure three new sets of armor, as well as 40 rare weapons that are named after TR players. The AFS buildings got a facelift as well, so there will be some new sights to see for all of the players before the game closes.

For the full patch notes, check them out on the Tabula Rasa website.

MassivelyDeployment 16 stomps onto Tabula Rasa's battlefields originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afsbreakingdeployment-16edmund-rangemechsncsoftnew-weaponspausrgtrtabula-rasaWed, 11 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 wasn't a good year for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


One of the blog posts over at the Hellforge community that is getting some traction is Agamemnon's look back at the MMO failures of 2008. Included are looks into why Tabula Rasa, Hellgate: London, Age of Conan, and Pirates of the Burning Sea either outright failed (in the case of Tabula Rasa and Hellgate) or were unable to get the subscriber numbers they expected with their launches.

What separates this blog post from the myriad of other posts on the same subject is that the article ends with the many things that these games all did wrong and other developers should learn from. Little things, like listening closely to the feedback from your beta testers, fostering a community, and learning to stay away from the concept of "we'll patch it to perfection." It's a good analysis of the many failures of other games, and a kind tip of the hat to the things an MMO can do right, such as Mythic's openness with Warhammer Online.

Massively2008 wasn't a good year for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failureflagship-studiosflying-labfuncomhellforgehellgate-londonhglmythic-entertainmentncsoftpatchpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsrgtrsubscriberstabula-rasawarwarhammer-onlineMon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you holding down the fort in Tabula Rasa?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-holding-down-the-fort-in-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-holding-down-the-fort-in-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-holding-down-the-fort-in-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Listen up soldier and listen well! You have only a little over two months before the Bane reinforcements arrive and put the entire army of the Allied Free Sentients at risk in Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa! We at the Massively.com detatchment want to know if you are on the front lines of the war, or are spending time in other battlefronts!

With the game becoming free to play, it seems that more soldiers are adding to the AFS front lines every day. But we here at Massively understand that you may not want to pick up your gun, as you know the war will be ending on February 28th! But the skilled engineers of the AFS have added many new tools of destruction to the field of war, such as a first-person tactical combat view and the highly anticipated PAUs and mechs!

So are you with us, soldier? Are you going to be using less mew mew and more pew pew? Shout out your plans in the comment box below, but be loud! That Bane artillery cannon on our position is causing too much of a racket!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you holding down the fort in Tabula Rasa? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>first-person-viewfree-to-playmechsncsoftpausrgtrrichard-garriotttabula-rasathe-daily-grindThu, 08 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The bane of the Big Apple]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/one-shots-the-bane-of-the-big-apple/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/one-shots-the-bane-of-the-big-apple/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/one-shots-the-bane-of-the-big-apple/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In one of the shockers of the year, we've seen Tabula Rasa head towards shutdown just one year after initial release. What's really disappointing is that so many people we've heard from have said that Tabula Rasa has come leaps and bounds from original release. Several think the game is very enjoyable now that they've added in the new content. Whether or not people coming back and playing TR now may be enough to make NCsoft reconsider their decision or not remains to be seen. Nonetheless, today we've got a screenshot sent in to us by Kaczmanchoy, who has also been enjoying the new content. Kaczmanchoy writes: This is from Tabula Rasa's latest high-level epic instance "The Empire Sector". This is the view that greets you when you first come out of the subway tunnels after taking the wormhole back to Earth. Not only is NYC in ruins (although the Empire State Building still stands in the background), but the Bane have already begun terraforming it to their liking.

Are you still playing Tabula Rasa or Hellgate London? If so, we'd love to have some screenshots from you to preserve your games for future generations. Just send those screens to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and whatever you'd like to say about it. We'll post it out here, and give you the credit for snapping the image.

MassivelyOne Shots: The bane of the Big Apple originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Kaczmanchoyncsoftone-shotsrgtrscreenshotscreenshotstabula-rasatrMon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

And so we mark the passing of another MMO. I was going to add an adjective to that sentence, maybe 'great', 'fine' or even just 'good'. I couldn't decide, as I didn't play Tabula Rasa beyond the Open Beta. That's clearly not my fault though, obviously it's something to do with the developers not making exactly the game I wanted, needed or deserved at the time. Cry, whine, QQ, etc.

Don't worry, this won't be an obituary for TR. That would be silly; I'm not lying when I say I didn't play it beyond Open Beta. I liked it well enough, but it lacked the spark that drives me to log on, night after night.

The news of TR's demise however, has got me thinking. Like it or not, nothing lasts forever. MMOs are subject to the same financial rules as any other business, and sometimes those rules mean you lose. Regardless of how long we've been playing any particular game, how many alts you've raised up or how much of a home you've made for yourself in the community there, there's a chance your MMO will die eventually. Some games last longer than others; gaining enough momentum to garner a fair-sized and dedicated fanbase before they're shut down. Others barely get out of Beta testing before things go South, and the doors are closed before momentum really gets going.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: This too shall pass originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbehind-the-curtainblizzardclosurefeaturedrgtrshutdowntabula-rasavivendiwarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Penny for your Tabula Rasa thoughts?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-daily-grind-penny-for-your-tabula-rasa-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-daily-grind-penny-for-your-tabula-rasa-thoughts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-daily-grind-penny-for-your-tabula-rasa-thoughts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The announcement that Tabula Rasa will close in February came suddenly, what with NCsoft employees saying there were "no current plans" to close the game only a couple of months ago. We're sad to see the game go, though we're not surprised in the wake of Richard Garriott's departure.

Are you a current or former Tabula Rasa player, and if so, what's your take on all this? Did you see it coming? Is it a tragic early death, or an appropriate end to an era? And where do you plan to go next? NCsoft is offering a fair deal to refugees -- months of free playtime in City of Heroes, Lineage II, or the forthcoming Aion. Does that tempt you, or are you going to take your business elsewhere -- to Turbine, Blizzard, SOE, CCP, or Funcom, perhaps?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Penny for your Tabula Rasa thoughts? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncity-of-heroesclosingcohdiscussionlineage-2lineage-iincsoftopinionrgtrrichard-garriotttabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindtrSat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively.com giveaway: Tabula Rasa AFS Commander prize pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-commander-prize-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-commander-prize-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-commander-prize-pack/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Earlier today we started giving away 50 Tabula Rasa soldier packs. There's some really nice swag in there ... but it is just not enough. See, Massively and Tabula Rasa share pretty much the same birthday. Last year's giveaway extranavangza had us doing an entire 24-hour marathon of giveaways. So this year we wanted to offer something really special to everyone serving in the AFS. That's why we have the AFS Commander Prize Pack. If you win this one-of-a-kind pack you'll get: A collector's edition box of Tabula Rasa (retail: $39.99), a Tabula Rasa T-Shirt, a TR Zboard keyset, TR dogtags, a TR hat, a Tabula Rasa lanyard, a commemorative patch from Richard Garriott's flight to the ISS, and a fantastic Tabula Rasa poster signed by General British and Starr Long. Total estimated retail value: $116.

All you have to do to win this kingly swag pack is leave a comment on this post telling us whether you'd want to serve on the front lines against the Bane. Would you sign up, or leave the alien-fighting to others? You'll need to comment before 7:00 AM EST Wednesday, November 5th to be eligible. You can only enter once per person, and after the contest closes we'll ship out the prize pack to one randomly-selected winner. Give us at least a week to ship out this massive pile of swag, though. To win you must be age 18 or up and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). For full eligibility details, we suggest you read our official rules. Good luck!

MassivelyMassively.com giveaway: Tabula Rasa AFS Commander prize pack originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmassively-giveawaysncsoftrgtrtabula-rasatrMon, 03 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively.com giveaway: Tabula Rasa AFS soldier packs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-soldier-packs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-soldier-packs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/massively-com-giveaway-tabula-rasa-afs-soldier-packs/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We thought we'd kick off today's giveaways with a bang! You're almost guaranteed* to win one of these packs, we've got so many of them! 50 of you lucky readers will get to walk away with the ultimate in Tabula Rasa swag packs! Each pack has (at least) 1 XL Tabula Rasa T-shirt, 1 set of Tabula Rasa Dog Tags, and 1 Tabula Rasa Lanyard! Of those 50 packs, 9 of them are going to find an extra special addition slipped inside: a commorative patch from Richard Garriott's historic flight to the International Space Station! Total retail value of everything is less than $20. Plus, every NCsoft giveaway we do today is going to get some extras, like City of Heroes/Villains balloons, buttons, and bumper stickers ... what you get is a total surprise!

Remember, we've got 50 of these things to giveaway! Enter quick to get your chance! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what you like about Tabula Rasa! You'll need to comment before 7:00 AM EST Wednesday, November 5th. You can only enter once per person, and after the contest closes we'll ship out these fantastic prizes to 50 randomly-selected winners. Give us at least a week to ship out this massive pile of swag. To win you must be age 18 or up and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). For full eligibility details, we suggest you read our official rules. Good luck!

*Mr. Asterisk guarantees nothing.

MassivelyMassively.com giveaway: Tabula Rasa AFS soldier packs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmassively-giveawaysncsoftrgtrtabula-rasaMon, 03 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

By now a lot of you know that Richard Garriott, creator of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, is in space. Sadly, since we didn't watch the live broadcast of his liftoff, we only know this through second-hand reports. But it's all going to be okay -- the NASA TV broadcast has been uploaded to YouTube, so if you missed it as we did then you too can watch an eccentric and wealthy nerd experience his lifelong dream. We've embedded it after the jump. Enjoy!

Garriott lifted off on October 12th, carrying with him the DNA of Operation Immortality participants, including some Tabula Rasa players. Shortly after liftoff he displayed to the camera a Logos message to the camera on the spacecraft -- simultaneously an inspiring quote about space travel from a Russian scientist ("Earth is the cradle of humanity but mankind will not be in the cradle forever.") and a hint at upcoming additions to Tabula Rasa.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Watch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage

MassivelyWatch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>international-space-stationissliftofflogosnasanasa-tvoperation-immortalityrgtrrichard-garriottrichard-in-spacesoyuzspacespace-traveltabula-rasatrvideoyoutubeThu, 16 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scouting ahead to Tabula Rasa deployment 14]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/scouting-ahead-to-tabula-rasa-deployment-14/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/scouting-ahead-to-tabula-rasa-deployment-14/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/scouting-ahead-to-tabula-rasa-deployment-14/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tabula Rasa has seen a lot of attention recently, what with the free trial offer pulling in many curious new (and old) players, and Richard Garriott sending a message in Logos script back to Earth. Now, excitement is hotting up for the next deployment due to be issued to Tabula Rasa players.

Three of the team members have been talking about specific areas of the game that are due to be addressed. Casey Thorp gives the rundown on changes in enemy strategy on Divide, with an increase coming in Bane aggressiveness and tactical intelligence. There's also a tantalizing hint at a new system of Dynamic Spawners, 'the first steps of a system of modular kits that will add new and interesting combat scenarios to the already lush environments of TR.' Casey doesn't go into detail, but it seems there will be reactive spawns specifically engineered around player presence.

Dwight Spaulding describes changes to the treasure chest mechanics on Plains and Mires, with a broader variety of loot and a chance at enemy response, while Raven Sherman has explained the addition of expanded storage in the Clan Lockboxes, something the players have been asking for. Many players are also revved up at the arrival of the long-awaited PAUs (Personal Armor Units) on the Public Test Server, which (although the design has changed since the first announcements) show a good deal of potential.

MassivelyScouting ahead to Tabula Rasa deployment 14 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deployment-14dynamic-spawnersrgtrtabula-rasaMon, 13 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Witness Richard Garriott launch into space on October 12]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/witness-richard-garriott-launch-into-space-on-october-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/witness-richard-garriott-launch-into-space-on-october-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/witness-richard-garriott-launch-into-space-on-october-12/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


One of the MMO industry's most recognized names, Richard Garriott, is about to become the world's sixth private citizen to participate in a space mission aboard the International Space Station. The trip into space comes at no small cost through Space Adventures, and the whole experience of gearing up for the trip is documented on Garriott's dedicated site. The MMO tie-in is that Garriott's space walk is part of "Operation Immortality" which we've touched upon in the past here at Massively.

Garriott fans can watch him launch into space via streaming video at NASA TV, NASA Select TV (Australia), or the NASA TV Public Channel. Haters can do the same thing, just describing it as "seeing him strapped to a rocket and shot into space." It's all about perspective. Regardless of whether you think Operation Immortality and the trip to the International Space Station is interesting or not, it's a first in the industry. If you're in the Austin area, there will be a space watch party at Opal Divine's Penn Field restaurant, with live music and pre-launch activities.The launch is scheduled for October 12, at 1 pm Kazakhstan time. Since we suspect most of our readers don't reside in Kazakhstan, that's Sunday at 2 am Central, 3 am Eastern, and midnight Pacific. Best of luck with the flight, Richard.

MassivelyWitness Richard Garriott launch into space on October 12 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kazakhstannasancsoftoperation-immortalityplayboyrgtrrichard-garriottspacespace-adventuresspace-missiontabula-rasaultima-onlineFri, 03 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: AFK, researching]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/one-shots-afk-researching/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/one-shots-afk-researching/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/one-shots-afk-researching/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Many of the Massively staff will be on the road this weekend covering either PAX or Dragon*Con, so we figured this screenshot was appropriate for today's One Shots. What is it, you might ask? Well, from what we're told by Sevenwind, this is what the "AFK" screen looks like in Tabula Rasa. If you're going to be AFK, there are certainly worse things for your character to do beyond researching the situation. (Heck, that could be really handy on boss mobs if your character could research and tell you what to expect as opposed to having to rely on external websites and/or your raid leader!)

Will you be gaming at home this weekend, or heading out to get your geek on? If you'll be doing some gaming, you should grab some screenshots of your favorite game and send them our way! After all, One Shots thrives on your screenshots; otherwise we have to dig into the folders of our staffers. Email those screenshots and descriptions to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com! Safe (in and out of game) travels, all!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: AFK, researching originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftone-shotsrgtrrichard-garriottscreenshotscreenshotssevenwindtabula-rasatrWed, 27 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Early Stargate Worlds combat video shows off enemy AI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/early-stargate-worlds-combat-video-shows-off-enemy-ai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/early-stargate-worlds-combat-video-shows-off-enemy-ai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/early-stargate-worlds-combat-video-shows-off-enemy-ai/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Jon Wood at MMORPG recently put up a hands-on video of gameplay in Stargate Worlds. This latest footage gives us an early look at combat in Stargate Worlds. Primarily, it shows the importance of using cover to survive.

Wood seems to like what he's experienced of the game so far, particularly in terms of the AI in Stargate Worlds."Getting taken off-guard by AI opponents does not happen very often. But when it does, it's just fantastic. It gets your heart going, causes you to panic," he says. The comments related to the video are drawing comparisons with Tabula Rasa but keep in mind this footage is from an alpha stage of testing. That being said, what do you think about how Stargate Worlds is shaping up?

MassivelyEarly Stargate Worlds combat video shows off enemy AI originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aialphacheyenne-mountaincmecombatfireskyjon-woodmmorpgpreviewpvergtrsgwstargate-worldstabula-rasavideoMon, 04 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shopping list: Milk, bread, MMO game time cards...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/shopping-list-milk-bread-mmo-game-time-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/shopping-list-milk-bread-mmo-game-time-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/shopping-list-milk-bread-mmo-game-time-cards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Let's face it, getting time cards for your favorite game is a necessity. It's up there with the milk, bread, and eggs that you need for your daily survival. We have enough stories about MMO withdrawal to fill a shopping cart, so why not sell our addiction where we can easily grab it?

NCsoft got the message and is pushing their time cards out to the masses by partnering up with Target, Rite Aid, and Best Buy. Now you too can literally walk down the street to the drug store and pick up your favorite addiction -- more play time. More importantly, if you're a subscriber to City of Heroes/Villains, grab yourself a time card because it will unlock an in-game jet pack for you to use.

The approach isn't anything new, as Nexon has already been providing their cash cards to customers of 7-Eleven convenience stores for some time now. What all of this does show is a marketing push by more game companies to get their cards into the mainstream market of consumer products.

Lastly, as a friendly reminder, when you're running out to get those "essentials" at Rite-Aid or Target before that "big storm" hits, remember your desktop computer doesn't work when the power is out.

MassivelyShopping list: Milk, bread, MMO game time cards... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-117-elevenbest-buycash-cardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovexteell2lineagelineage-2maple-storyncsoftnexonrgtrrite-aidseven-eleventabula-rasatargettime-cardtime-cardstrMon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Deployment 10.6 now on Tabula Rasa public test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/deployment-10-6-now-on-tabula-rasa-public-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/deployment-10-6-now-on-tabula-rasa-public-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/deployment-10-6-now-on-tabula-rasa-public-test-server/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tabula Rasa's Public Test Server has now been fitted with Deployment 10.6. The main feature of this update is a change to Grey Market Vendor items -- their cost has been increased by 500%. The developers felt that the power of the Grey Market Vendor weapons was not proportional to their price, hence the rather drastic increase. They have left Control Point vendor items alone, but they will continue to monitor the equipment situation to make certain that crafted items are better than those bought from NPCs.

if you want to get involved with the testing on TR's PTS, you can visit this guide at the official site to get started.

MassivelyDeployment 10.6 now on Tabula Rasa public test server originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>control-point-vendordeployment-10.6grey-marketgrey-market-vendorncsoftptspublic-test-serverrgtrtabula-rasatrTue, 22 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Tabula Rasa's AFS War College]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/massively-exclusive-tabula-rasas-afs-war-college/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/massively-exclusive-tabula-rasas-afs-war-college/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/massively-exclusive-tabula-rasas-afs-war-college/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last week we got a chance to visit NCsoft's Austin offices to attend the first ever AFS War College, where some of Tabula Rasa's finest soldiers were invited to join NCsoft's developers for a day of discussions, questions, and demos. We took a tour of the facilities guided by Richard Garriott himself, and we invite you to join us as we learn all about the design of Logos, hear all the details on how Tabula Rasa is developed, and see the TR developers' top priorities. Have we piqued your interest yet? Click along with us and see what came of this year's War College!

Let's get started in the audio department >>

Gallery: Tabula Rasa War College 2008

NCsoft's in-house sound boothRichard Garriott & Tracy Bush talk about Tabula Rasa's soundTracy Bush in his officeRichard Garriott shows off Richard Garriott demos Akalabeth

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Tabula Rasa's AFS War College originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008-afs-war-collegeafsafs-war-collegeaustindestination-gamesfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslogosncsoftncsoft-austinrgtrrichard-garriotttabula-rasatrwar-collegeFri, 20 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa announcement contest winners announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/tabula-rasa-announcement-contest-winners-um-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/tabula-rasa-announcement-contest-winners-um-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/tabula-rasa-announcement-contest-winners-um-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

flickr.comThe Tabula Rasa community website has revealed the four winners of the Foreas Base announcement contest for the US version, English Europe version, French version, and German version. They've also kindly translated the French and German announcements into English, so those of us across the pond can laugh about them too.

Below the main post are also the runners up for all of the different versions, and we have to say, it was quite a hard call. Congratulations to the winners, and congratulations to everyone who participated!

The winners will have their announcements voiced-over and added to the standard Foreas Base announcements, which, even if you're not a TR player, you should listen to. They're sure to brighten up even a non-TR player's sour day.

MassivelyTabula Rasa announcement contest winners announced originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementcontestdestination-gamesforeas-basencsoftrgtrtabula-rasatrSun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NEWS FLASH: AFS pushes against Bane at Valverde Plateau]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/news-flash-afs-pushes-against-bane-at-valverde-plateau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/news-flash-afs-pushes-against-bane-at-valverde-plateau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/news-flash-afs-pushes-against-bane-at-valverde-plateau/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dateline: the planet Foreas. Those psychotic raiders from beyond the stars, the Bane, are giving our boys in the field what-for. In response, high command of the AFS has authorized a big push against those conniving crusties at the Valverde Plateau. Now known as the "Battle for Trinity Bridge", the boys of the AFS are pushing back against those no-goodnicks in a big way.

If you're going into battle, TenTonHammer has what you need, soldier. Their guide to the Plateau and the surrounding regions will let you take the fight to the front lines, and beyond! From Fort Defiance to Maligo Base, all the boys in the field are swearing by it; make sure to read up and then hit them where it hurts! For the video news about these offensives, with high-quality footage from the AFS Network, check below the cut. Good hunting, soldier!

Continue reading NEWS FLASH: AFS pushes against Bane at Valverde Plateau

MassivelyNEWS FLASH: AFS pushes against Bane at Valverde Plateau originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afsbanedestination-gamesncsoftplanet-foreasrgtrtabula-rasatrThu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How not to review Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/how-not-to-review-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/how-not-to-review-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/how-not-to-review-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PC Advisor UK recently ran a "expert review" of Tabula Rasa, giving you a wonderful look at the game... up until level 10. Then apparently the reviewer didn't want to play anymore and started to make things up.

Tabula Rasa Vault picked this gem of a review up and actually reviewed the review, and I'm quite inclined to agree with them. Last I checked, Foreas isn't an island, Twin Pillars and Foreas Base are nice places to hang out, you don't waste so much ammo when you crouch and have a higher accuracy, and it's really easy to avoid enemy controlled bases by just switching battlefield instances.

Reviewing an MMO is tough - especially when you may not have alot of time to put into it. This review is, sadly, proof of what happens when you don't spend some time with the game beyond an early level. This reviewer never got to see the interesting facets of Tabula Rasa, like the community sponsored fist fights, the in-game events, and the other cities and planets.

If the reviewer had played past level 10, he might have started to like Tabula Rasa. This is a great reason to make sure your reviewer checked his facts before posting his review. Otherwise, you might just be believing an illusion.

MassivelyHow not to review Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftpc-advisorreviewrgtrrichard-garriotttabula-rasatabula-rasa-vaulttrSun, 27 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Unicorns! Everywhere!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/one-shots-unicorns-everywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/one-shots-unicorns-everywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/one-shots-unicorns-everywhere/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So it isn't quite as unicorn-laden as the original Tabula Rasa was, but you have to admit, seeing uniformed unicorns is definitely a strange sight. While Razorwire may not have cared for this three-month veteran reward gadget, it certainly seems to have become somewhat popular amongst players like Mark "Jukovic" Benson (the one who sent this great One Shots) that understand the joke about Tabula Rasa's previous development period. That, and it's just downright silly, which gives it a 10 in our book. We love it when devs do something that shows their sense of humor to the players.

Do you have some screenshots of silly things from your MMO? If not, go get some! Then send those screenshots to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com. We can always use a good laugh.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Unicorns! Everywhere! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesncsoftrgtrrichard-garriorrtabula-rasatrunicornunicorn-headFri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa patch notes for 1.6 are up!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-for-1-6-are-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-for-1-6-are-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-for-1-6-are-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Some folks are happy, some guarded, and others aren't so thrilled, but the details for Tabula Rasa's upcoming Patch 1.6 have been released. Along with the experience buffs that were mentioned on Feedback Friday, there's also a boatload of fixes to missions, mobs, terrain problems, modifiers, and more. For those curious about how the new experience modifiers play out, here's the details:

- The kill streak multiplier has been updated to make leveling easier at higher levels. Before the same multiplier was available to everyone regardless of their level and players could only reach a maximum of plus 250%.

More patch notes experience news behind the cut!

Continue reading Tabula Rasa patch notes for 1.6 are up!

MassivelyTabula Rasa patch notes for 1.6 are up! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingkill-streakkill-streak-modifierpatch-1.6patch-1.6-notespatch-notes-1.6rgtrrichard-garriotttabula-rasatrSun, 09 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What would bring you back to a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/the-daily-grind-what-would-bring-you-back-to-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/the-daily-grind-what-would-bring-you-back-to-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/the-daily-grind-what-would-bring-you-back-to-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the bits of news yesterday was that of a stupendous deal on NCsoft's Tabula Rasa Collector's Edition version for the cost of $14.90. Now, as I tend to collect MMOs like many people collect books, this definitely got me to put down the $15 to give Tabula Rasa another go. I know a few other MMO fiends who were similarly interested, considering the extra goodies for the low price point and who have joined me on the "try again" bandwagon. This got me to thinking, though -- what would a company need to do to get your attention, and perhaps entice you into purchasing their game after a first try that didn't (for whatever reason) work for you? Is the promise of something shiny and extra -- on top of changes to the game structure from when you tried it -- more likely to get you to give a game a second go? Is there ever a time when you're willing to try an MMO again? Would a free trial or change to a free-to-play/microtransaction structure help? Or is it pretty much one try and move on for you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What would bring you back to a game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ncsoftrgtrtabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindtrWed, 20 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW: The Burning Crusade wins MMO of the year from the AIAS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/wow-the-burning-crusade-wins-mmo-of-the-year-from-the-aias/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/wow-the-burning-crusade-wins-mmo-of-the-year-from-the-aias/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/wow-the-burning-crusade-wins-mmo-of-the-year-from-the-aias/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has placed another feather in the positively avian cap of Blizzard's World of Warcraft. A final list of the nominees and winners from AIAS' 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards has been released, and of the five shortlisted games in the Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year category, it is the WoW expansion in particular, The Burning Crusade, that took the top honor (as Mike Schramm predicted when the nominations were first announced). Blizzard executives also gave speeches on the strategies behind their success -- unrelated to the award -- at the D.I.C.E. Summit, where the awards took place.

There were four other MMOs that deserve a mention for being nominated, and these are a mix of new titles and expansions. In no particular order, they are: EVE Online: Trinity, Guild Wars: Eye of the North, The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, and Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa. The Overall Game of the Year went to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and you can check out a discussion of this, and some of the other AIAS' gaming awards outside of the MMO focus, at Joystiq.

MassivelyWoW: The Burning Crusade wins MMO of the year from the AIAS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiaaaiasbcburning-crusadedicedice-summitevelotrorgtrtbctrwowFri, 08 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Logos Atlas sends a call for casual cryptologists]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/logos-atlas-sends-a-call-for-casual-cryptologists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/logos-atlas-sends-a-call-for-casual-cryptologists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/28/logos-atlas-sends-a-call-for-casual-cryptologists/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the interesting, if often ignored, parts of Tabula Rasa's lore are the Logos symbols. Not to be confused with Logos itself - which is said to be the power which controls the very fabric of the cosmos, or Logos abilities - which are TR's version of magic spells, Logos symbols are those little figures that appear on shrines and holy places, and make up the language that is used to tell the stories of the Eloh. Truthfully, their function in the lore is something that I haven't seen players show a terribly large amount of interest in to this point, but from hearing General British himself speak about them, it's easy to tell that they're something he put a good deal of thought into and is quite proud of -- even suggesting that they would make a good universal language for the deaf.

Among the Tabula Rasa resources on the 'net, Logos Atlas is easily the most reliable as it concerns the location of Logos shrines and their meaning. It should already occupy a spot in the bookmarks of any self-respecting member of the AFS. To drum up a bit of interest in their site, Logos Atlas is holding a contest through the end of the year, offering an Ideazon Zboard with a Tabula Rasa keyset and a Tabula Rasa FragMat mousepad for one lucky winner who can successfully decipher three puzzles written using Logos symbols. It sounds a lot easier than it actually is, and we're told nobody has successfully completed them yet. So if you fancy yourself an amateur cryptologist, give the contest a look -- it's free loot after all.

MassivelyLogos Atlas sends a call for casual cryptologists originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestdestination-gamesideazon-zboardlogoslogos-atlaslogos-symbolsrgtrtabula-rasatrFri, 28 Dec 2007 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa servers down for hotfix [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/tabula-rasa-servers-down-for-hotfix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/tabula-rasa-servers-down-for-hotfix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/tabula-rasa-servers-down-for-hotfix/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Tabula Rasa players hoping to enjoy some shooty MMORPG action after work will be a disappointed, as all four of the game servers are down for maintenance as of 5 p.m. EST this evening. According to a note on the official site, the servers are being brought down to apply a hotfix that will fix an error that was causing syncing problems between backpacks and footlockers, and another that was preventing players from accessing the new Faultlever instance.

You'll have to forgive us for being skeptical, but we suspect that there's problem more to this. If they're really dead set on fixing these problems (and the syncing issue has been around since launch, which is why we're curious about the apparent urgency), why would you bring the servers down during prime time, instead of in the early morning when nobody is playing?

[Update: No sooner do we put this story live than the servers come back live. Huzzah!]

MassivelyTabula Rasa servers down for hotfix [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsdestination-gamesdowntimergtrserverstabula-rasatrThu, 20 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Calling all TR experts - wanna be a wolf?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/calling-all-tr-experts-wanna-be-a-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/calling-all-tr-experts-wanna-be-a-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/calling-all-tr-experts-wanna-be-a-wolf/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The good people over at Tabula Rasa Vault are putting out a call vise vie the official Tabula Rasa website for experienced players to be "alpha wolves" in their new clan -- The Wolf Pack. What ostensibly sets this clan apart from every clan out there is the information-gathering role it will play for the TR Vault community. They're looking for players who are experts in their given class to find all there is to know, gather the concerns of other players in their class du jour, and suggest solutions to perceived class imbalances. Apparently, this role is more than just a self-appointed one -- as they're promising that these Alpha Dogs will get the chance to discuss their concerns with the TR designers themselves.

It's not uncommon in other titles for developers to pay attention to the class concerns of a game's elite guilds, but it's rare that a clan can promise that sort of interaction before most people have even settled in the end game. They're still recruiting for all Tier IV classes, so if being an Alpha Dog sounds like your cup of tea, check out the information on the TR website.

MassivelyCalling all TR experts - wanna be a wolf? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-wolfclanclassesdestination-gamesrgtrtabula-rasatabula-rasa-vaulttrwolf-packThu, 20 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Holideals: Tabula Rasa stocking stuffers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/holideals-tabula-rasa-stocking-stuffers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/holideals-tabula-rasa-stocking-stuffers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/holideals-tabula-rasa-stocking-stuffers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it comes to established games like World of Warcraft or City of Heroes, finding holiday goodies for dedicated gamers is a simple matter of hitting Google and seeing what manner of strange and extravagant goods rise to the surface. For a game like Tabula Rasa, which has only just now starting to sink into the hearts and minds of MMO nuts, simply getting people to consider playing the game is a difficult prospect in and of itself. With this in mind, we scoured the internet to find the best deals on Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa and came away pleasantly surprised.

The pickings are a little sparse, but definitely worthy of your holiday dollar:
  • Gamestop is running a promotion where you can get a free Tabula Rasa keyset with the purchase of a Zboard, a $20 value. The Zboard is a keyboard specifically designed to give you easy and quick keyboard access to chat features, emotes, and menu commands. The deal runs through the end of the year, so now is the time to jump on it if you were planning on springing for a Zboard anyway.
  • Amazon has both the regular and collector's editions of Tabula Rasa on sale for $25 and $30, respectively. This puts them well under the impulse purchase threshold. Heck, at that price, you could afford to buy the CE for yourself and a good buddy and set aside some holiday time to blast some Bane over a glass of eggnog.
Being a Tabula Rasa player myself, I can tell you that this it is the perfect "gateway game" for getting traditionally casual or console gamers into the MMO genre. There's something about shooting aliens with a rocket launcher that seems to transcend the normal social boundaries. For the new, reduced price of entry, you cant argue.

MassivelyHolideals: Tabula Rasa stocking stuffers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdealsgiftholidashholidaysholidazencsoftrgtrtabula-rasazboardThu, 06 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Theorycrafting: putting Rage to the test]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/theorycrafting-putting-rage-to-the-test/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/theorycrafting-putting-rage-to-the-test/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/theorycrafting-putting-rage-to-the-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are times, and it happens with almost every game released, when the description of a certain game mechanic or ability is ambiguous enough that players are left unsure of exactly what it does in certain specific game situations. When the devs aren't handy to provide direct clarification, there is a certain subsect of the gaming population that likes to engage in theorycrafting, grabbing large chunks of data to see how closely abilities work in practice to the numbers set forth on their tooltips or in the patch notes. Among the only solid theorycrafting I've seen so far for Tabula Rasa is from the folks over on the Tabula Spot forums, where among the many things they're working, is on figuring out which Logos abilities stack with Rage.

So far, the results don't look terribly promising. Neither Lightning Discharge nor Shrapnel show a statistically significant difference in damage when Rage is activated (and here we seem to be talking about the nerfed Rage on the PTR). This seems to conflict with the Rage tooltip, which says in part, "Utilize the power of Logos to increase the damage done by your attacks." Interestingly, while Rage doesn't appear to work with Logos abilities, it does work with hand-to-hand. Methinks they should consider amending the tooltip to reflect the way it actually works.

MassivelyTheorycrafting: putting Rage to the test originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesragergtrtabula-rasatabula-spottheorycraftingThu, 06 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Paul Sage promises changes for Specialist classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/paul-sage-promises-changes-for-specialist-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/paul-sage-promises-changes-for-specialist-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/paul-sage-promises-changes-for-specialist-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hey all you Specialists out there! Feeling a bit down? Tired of your Soldier friends flaunting those fancy chainguns and graviton armor while you run through the Plains in motor assist? Sick of throwing heals at pick up groups who forget you're even there? Well hang in there friends, because Paul Sage has the answer for you! According to the erstwhile Tabula Rasa designer, many of the changes in patch 1.3 are aimed at shoring up some of the weaknesses in the Biotech and Medic trees, including an AE damage/heal for the Biotech and a big debuff ability in Disease for Medics.

Perhaps more importantly, Sage revealed that they're going to be tweaking the significance of attributes to try and make Health a more meaningful statistic, instead of its utility now, which is basically just a rough estimation of how long it will be until you die once your armor is worn down. These changes won't be coming until 1.4, so they may be over a month away, but it's reason enough to go back to level 5 and retry that Specialist clone again, if you haven't already.

MassivelyPaul Sage promises changes for Specialist classes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.31.4biotechclassdestination-gamesmedicpaul-sagergtrspecialisttabula-rasaThu, 06 Dec 2007 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[TR 1.3 patch heralds in big changes on PTR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It seems like it's been a long time coming, but many hotly-anticipated changes to Tabula Rasa are finally making their way onto the build currently running on the PTRs. Exactly which changes, you ask? Well, honestly, just about all of them. According to the patch notes they released today, Rage is getting its big nerf, Military Surpluses will be implemented to give the game's economy a serious kick in the butt, itemization has been changed to make item rarity factor into damage, players all get a free respec, and of course, there are tons of bug fixes, skill tweaks, and even a few new missions.

There's no ETA on this patch going live, but the preface to the patch fixes seems to indicate that it might be another few weeks. According to the notes, "We are giving players patches earlier in the development process now - so this patch will NOT be going to the live servers. We will have another patch going on the test server in the near future that will be closer to a 'live' version." Giving it a bigger lead time seems like a good idea, but the sooner they can get these fixes live, the sooner general chat will stop being a non-stop Rageathon.

MassivelyTR 1.3 patch heralds in big changes on PTR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3destination-gamesitemizationmilitary-surpluspatchpatch-notesptrrage-nerfrgtrtabula-rasaWed, 05 Dec 2007 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 5 combat tips for Tabula Rasa recruits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/top-5-combat-tips-for-tabula-rasa-recruits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/top-5-combat-tips-for-tabula-rasa-recruits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/top-5-combat-tips-for-tabula-rasa-recruits/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


So you bought Tabula Rasa, created your character, and conquered basic training with ease, and maybe even found your first Logos. Good for you! As with any new MMO though, the learning period has only just begun. There are a myriad of subtleties, strategies, and nuances that dictate your success in Tabula Rasa, and most of them are only discovered via trial and error. That or prodigious use of alt+tab and Google.

After spending some time on TR's dedicated new players channel, we've boiled down the most common sources of complaint and confusion, and compiled them into our top 5 list of combat tips for Tabula Rasa recruits. It's by no means a comprehensive guide, but for players still getting their bearings, and perhaps even for some veterans, this should serve as a basic guide to surviving in Destination Games' Tabula Rasa.

Continue reading Top 5 combat tips for Tabula Rasa recruits

MassivelyTop 5 combat tips for Tabula Rasa recruits originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatdestination-gamesfeaturedguidehands-onhow-tojoystiqfeaturesncsoftrecruitsrgtrtabula-rasatop-5Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa devs foster Friday Night Fights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tabula-rasa-devs-foster-friday-night-fights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tabula-rasa-devs-foster-friday-night-fights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tabula-rasa-devs-foster-friday-night-fights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Destination Games posted another Tabula Rasa Weekend Wrap-up this morning, revealing the results of the latest Friday Night Fight. As part of their burgeoning community-centric approach to their game, they've been heavily involved in supporting the event that, not unlike the group in a particular movie starring Brad Pitt, seems to have started organically and has gradually grown with the support and interest of the player base. In Friday Night Fights, players roll new characters, strip them of all their high-tech weaponry and armor, and duke it out in hand-to-hand in a tiered series of battles.

What separates FNF from a nude gnome raid on Iron Forge is that the developers have actually helped facilitate transforming it into a legitimate community event, building a boxing ring for the event to take place in, and making sure that Tabula Rasa dignitaries like Sarah Morrison and General British are on-hand to cheer the fighters to victory. They're so involved, in fact, that after this past weekend's tournament, the winner was granted one of General British's berets, the only one like it in the game. When is the last time Thrall paid players the same mind?

MassivelyTabula Rasa devs foster Friday Night Fights originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beretcommunty-eventsdestination-gamesfnffriday-night-fightsrgtrtabula-rasaweekend-wrapupMon, 03 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forum fun: an open letter to Tabula Rasa's minimap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/forum-fun-an-open-letter-to-tabula-rasas-minimap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/forum-fun-an-open-letter-to-tabula-rasas-minimap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/forum-fun-an-open-letter-to-tabula-rasas-minimap/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One of the joys of the weekend is that we actually have time (sometimes) to bounce around the internet, hitting up all our favorite forum spots to see what the buzz is on various game community forums. Given that I myself have become something of a Tabula Rasa addict, I've taken to patrolling the loose confederation of forums that make up the community in lieu of official forums. Among the posts that caught my attention most was a rant on PlanetTR's Rants and Flames forum by poster BenBot. He begins his post:

Dear Minimap,
I hate you.

Don't we all. Benbot brings up a number of good points in his post, not least of which is that there are often no discernible visual cues that differentiate between terrain that can be traversed and terrain that can't, and the minimap often confuses this issue by making it appear as though you're right on top of a mission objective, when it's actually on the other side of hill that it's going to take 20 minutes to get around. Anybody whose ever been to Benefactor Valley in the The Divide will feel my pain. And unfortunately, it is something that's unlikely to be addressed with the current content, because of the work involved with going back to re-texture old terrain. That won't stop people from complaining about it though, or us from reporting on it!

MassivelyForum fun: an open letter to Tabula Rasa's minimap originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesforumsminimapplanet-trrgtrtabula-rasaSat, 01 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Weapon swap glitch in TR to get hotfix soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/weapon-swap-glitch-in-tr-to-get-hotfix-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/weapon-swap-glitch-in-tr-to-get-hotfix-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/weapon-swap-glitch-in-tr-to-get-hotfix-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Destination Games threw a quick notice on their website last night saying that they had been made aware of, and were currently working on a fix for, what has become a very troublesome bug in their seminal MMO release, Tabula Rasa. The bug, in the wording of the release, made it such that, "If you try to switch weapons immediately after firing, your weapon will remain the same. Instead you have to wait a sec or two, then try to switch again." That's putting a bit of a sugar-coating on the bug, which has actually been much more of a nuisance than their release lets on.

One of Tabula Rasa's most endearing gameplay features is that it's combat requires quick, almost shooter-like speed and precision in order to dispatch with enemies as efficiently as possible. Soldier classes need to be able to move between their equipped weapons smoothly, as different weapon types serve very specific purposes in combat, and moving between them mid-battle is absolutely key to taking on large, mixed groups of enemies. Specialists too need to be able to move between their repair and healing tools at will, in order to maximize their utility at keeping parties alive.

According to the release, it should be fixed as of this morning's maintenance. This bug has thrown a wrench in the way the game has played the last two days since the patch, so we're happy to see them getting on top of it ASAP.

MassivelyWeapon swap glitch in TR to get hotfix soon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugdestination-gameshotfixpatchrgtrtabula-rasaweapon-change-bugSat, 01 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR Feedback Friday addresses Military Surplus, emotes, bugs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/tr-feedback-friday-addresses-military-surplus-emotes-bugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/tr-feedback-friday-addresses-military-surplus-emotes-bugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/tr-feedback-friday-addresses-military-surplus-emotes-bugs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Well we have to say, the folks doing the community management for Tabula Rasa have done a tip-top job keeping up with community feedback and maintaining an on-going dialog with the player base, even despite their lack of official message boards. For this week's Feedback Friday, they've addressed a number of concerns that have been plaguing the Tabula Rasa community recently. Most notably, they said that the Military Surplus stores aren't quite ready to go live yet, but are available on the public test realms for those interested. They also announced that some new emotes will be hitting servers soon as veteran rewards and there'll also be a special /cutthroat emote for those who were part of the end of beta event. Very cool.

Considering the game has only been out a month, we haven't really gotten a good feel for the patch release schedule yet. But just based on the way they're talking about it and the speed that things seem to be moving from PTR to the live servers, we'd be willing to bet that Military Surpluses will make their way live in another two weeks or so, and at the very latest before the end of the calendar year. We'll keep you posted.

MassivelyTR Feedback Friday addresses Military Surplus, emotes, bugs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitydestination-gamesemotesmilitary-surpluspatchesrgtrtabula-rasaFri, 30 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa patch lands, underwhelms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/tabula-rasa-patch-underwhelms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/tabula-rasa-patch-underwhelms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/tabula-rasa-patch-underwhelms/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


I suppose it was a bit naive to assume that any of the proposed changes to Tabula Rasa that hadn't appeared on the public test realm would actually make their way into the 48.9mb patch that was officially put live this morning. You can probably attribute the community-wide high hopes to the fact that Destination Games hasn't even given an ETA on the Rage nerf, let alone when they're actually planning to implement the Military Surplus (TR's version of an AH) or the huge change to weapon itemization. I think the hope was that, not unlike Santa Claus, the devs were going to slip down our intertubes at night and leave us a whole bunch of in-game goodies while we stay asleep, none the wiser. Alas, that was not to be.

Most of the changes in the patch are fairly routine, including the new integrated screenshot utility and UI toggle we mentioned not long ago (used to snap the shot of my character's sweet porno 'stach above). Hopping into the game for the first time post-patch, the first thing I noticed was that (unless I'm mistaken) the number of tokens required for the CP defense quests in Divide had been nerfed big time from 100 to 25. Considering I was at 97 at Hydro Plant last night, I can say that this is definitely personally disappointing, but I think it's also a shame because it gives less incentive for people to engage in the free-form base attack and defense that is so unique to Tabula Rasa. They also seemed to have created a glitch where you can't switch weapons during combat. Oh well, such is life with patches...

Since for some reason they don't like to post patch notes on their site, I've gone ahead and copied them for your perusal after the jump. You're welcome.

Continue reading Tabula Rasa patch lands, underwhelms

MassivelyTabula Rasa patch lands, underwhelms originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesmilitary surplusMilitarySurpluspatchpatch-notesPTRrage-nerfrgtrtabula-rasaThu, 29 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST