Big, bad news: Cho Jin-seo of The Korea Times reported today that NCSoft is downsizing its studio in Austin due to the failure of Tabula Rasa. The game is estimated to have cost 100 Billion Won (US$106 Million) over 6 years. The game earned 5 Billion Won ($5.3 Million) in 2007 and is projected to earn 15 Billion Won ($16 Million) in 2008 worldwide.

Robert Garriot has been removed from day-to-day operations at the company and Richard Garriot’s focus on becoming a space tourist is highlighted - each brother was compensated with 14 Billion Won ($15 Million) in NCSoft stock when they joined the company.

NCSoft’s stock hit an all time low on the announcement.

Editor Note:

Well kids this happens when the developers are clueless. Tabula Rasa is decent game, but it never worthed investing 100mil dollars, on the gameplay features the game has now. Probably an indie studio could make that with 1 mil, and 10 times better..But hey we are big and "smart", right....