Tabula Rasa Q&A

FileFront has conducted an interview with Paul Sage, asking the lead designer several questions about the upcoming MMORPG, Tabula Rasa. Check it out:
Q: How is the experience of Tabula Rasa going to relate to other MMORPGs such as Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot?

A: Those titles are very different in terms of the type of gameplay experience they offer. I think our game will appeal to a somewhat different audience. There are a few common elements we share such as leveling, experience growth through combat, and the pursuit of loot. However, there are some radical departures to the standard MMORPG design found in Tabula Rasa.

For instance, the limited amount of travel time and the pacing of combat have resulted in a much more engaging, fast-paced experience than you might have in other MMORPGs. You'll also see differences in terms of the basic look and feel of the Tabula Rasa universe. The attention to detail in terms of both the graphics and the crafting of the fictional setting is very significant.

Everquest and DAoC are fantastic, high quality games, to be sure. We anticipate their players will be pleased to find Tabula Rasa maintaining a similarly high degree of quality as well as offering some of the things they really like in a MMORPG. However, we are also hoping that Tabula Rasa draws in some new people who haven't tried MMOs before. There's a fine line to walk because when you look at some of the more appealing aspects of EQ and DAoC - especially in regard to depth - you realize that the same depth can be daunting for newer players. I think we're doing a really good job with a fairly simple gameplay structure that is enhanced by an exploration of its fictional depth.