Tabula Rasa
Tabula Rasa was a 3D science-fiction MMORPG that blended familiar MMO structure with light third-person shooter ideas. It ran on a monthly subscription model and placed players in a bleak, war-torn setting where humanity fought a desperate campaign against the alien Bane.
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Publisher: NCSOFT Type: MMORPG Release Date: November 2, 2007 Closure Date: February 28, 2009 Pros: +Clever attempt to merge MMO progression with ranged gunplay. +Shared, map-wide events that pushed cooperation. +Hybrid races added customization. +Distinct sci-fi atmosphere and locations. Cons: -Rocky launch with bugs and unstable connections. -Thin endgame and not enough content early on. -A scope that outpaced what shipped. |
Tabula Rasa Shut Down on February 28, 2009
Tabula Rasa Overview
Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa launched as a high-concept, subscription MMORPG that aimed to refresh the formula while still feeling recognizably “classic MMO.” In play, it followed familiar genre fundamentals—hotbar abilities, statistical hit/damage checks, and a targeting approach that didn’t require constant twitch-level aiming. Still, it set itself apart by emphasizing guns, tactical positioning with cover in mind, and a snappier rhythm than many fantasy MMOs from the same period.
A standout appeal was the sense that the front line could change around you. Rather than relying solely on static quest hubs, Tabula Rasa pushed nearby players to converge on embattled locations, repel Bane offensives, and hold territory that had been reclaimed. Missions also leaned into cinematic framing and player agency, frequently using instanced sequences to make the conflict feel more personal and, at times, presenting ethically messy decisions instead of straightforward errands.
Tabula Rasa Key Features:
- RPG Shooter – a hybrid combat model where damage calculations consider weapon and ammunition type, stance, movement speed, and use of terrain or cover.
- Storytelling Missions – quests that sometimes hinge on ethical choices, plus instanced segments that tailor events to the player for a stronger narrative feel.
- Dynamic Battlefields – NPC bases and control points spread across zones, designed to be captured and defended from Bane attacks by players in the area.
- War Games – three PvP options: Duels (Wargame Duels), clan conflict (Wargame Feuds), and larger battleground-style maps (Wargame Maps).
- Multi-Tiered Character Classes – begin as a recruit, then climb a four-branch advancement tree, with racial choices like Human, Thrax, Forean, and Brann, plus the option to create hybrids.
Similar Games – Fans of Tabula Rasa may also want to look at Defiance, FireFall, Global Agenda, Star Trek Online, and Anarchy Online.
Tabula Rasa Screenshots
Tabula Rasa Featured Video
Tabula Rasa Links
Tabula Rasa Wikipedia Entry
Tabula Rasa Wikia [Database/Guidees]
Tabula Rasa Metacritic Page
Tabula Rasa NCSoft Page
Tabula Rasa Music & Soundtrack
Tabula Rasa Additional Information
Developer: Destination Games
Publisher: NCSoft
Game Engine: Proprietary internal engine (custom built).
Lead Designer: Richard Garriott
Closed Beta Date: May 2, 2007 – October 26, 2007
Release Date: November 2, 2007
Closure Date: February 28, 2009
Development History / Background:
Work on Tabula Rasa began in May 2001, but the project did not travel in a straight line to release. Within a couple of years it underwent a substantial reset, including major code changes and a reconfigured team, before a new direction was shown publicly at E3 2005. Throughout this process, Richard Garriott served as the major creative force, bringing with him the reputation of founding Origin Systems and helping shape the Ultima franchise.
From a business perspective, the partnership with NCSOFT also reflected a bigger industry reality at the time. Even with Ultima Online and other Western MMORPGs proving the model could succeed, Garriott frequently pointed to the size of the Asian online market, where titles such as Lineage could draw an audience far beyond what most US releases achieved.
Despite how natural the pairing looked on paper, the relationship between Garriott (often associated with the Lord British persona) and NCSOFT deteriorated badly. The outcome was a legal dispute that ended with NCSOFT paying $24 million related to Garriott’s wrongful termination. In practice, Tabula Rasa became an example of how company conflict can overshadow design potential, and the game’s lifespan ended up being brief, closing a little over a year after launch.
Tabula Rasa Private Servers
Currently, only a single private server/emulation initiative is widely cited for Tabula Rasa: Infinite Rasa. It remains a work in progress, with significant parts of the original experience still not recreated. If you decide to try it, approach the install and files as you would any unofficial community effort and take appropriate precautions.
Infinite Rasa Installation Guide [Reddit Link]