GameSetUpdate: Lord British? Space? Not So Crazed!
So just a couple of weeks ago, just after his (pictured) UT fundraiser, we ran a report here on GSW from the Korea Times, including "...some hilarious Richard Garriott gossip - claiming NCSoft will pay to fly Garriott into space."
The report said that Lord British's space shot would be to promote Tabula Rasa, and we scoffed: "While I guess Garriott could go eventually, a $30 million promotion for the game? Guessing not." Well, guess what? Just announced is RichardInSpace.com and a press release revealing "...famed game developer Richard Garriott, son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, has begun preparations for a “commercially active” mission to the International Space Station."
However, to be fair: "The first commercial research partner involved in Mr. Garriott’s mission is ExtremoZyme, Inc., a biotechnology company co-founded by Owen Garriott." So NCSoft isn't yet an official partner - although Richard does talk about them in his first blog on the site. But still, if we wore hats, we'd be eating them about now.
[While we're on the Korea Times and NCSoft, John Andersen points out a fascinating new article there called 'NCsoft CEO Stands at Crossroads', which includes incisive analysis of NCSoft's declining profits, why Tabula Rasa is vital for the company, and a few ladlings of gossip about NCSoft boss Kim Taek-jin - definitely worth checking out.]
Comments
RICHARD GARRIOT'S FATHER WAS AN ASTRONAUT?! How come I've never heard of this before now? Geez, some families get all the cool.
Posted by: John H. | September 30, 2007 2:39 AM
As the story goes (according to some writing from Garriott I can't place at the moment), Garriott was one of the people who put into motion all the negotiations, designs, and contingency planning for the whole "space tourist" thing in the first place, but the market downturn took away his $20 million he could use to spend that way.
Sounds like he found a way to get there, so good for him.
Posted by: Jason Scott | September 30, 2007 7:08 PM
I recently had trouble getting Richard to do an interview about UO thanks to Tabula Rasa's launch. Now maybe he won't be so busy...
Oh wait. Crap.
Posted by: Benj Edwards | September 30, 2007 7:23 PM
Even if this whole space astronaut thing doesn't work out for him, you have to admit that it's one hell of an awesome publicity stunt for his new game. Notice the strategically placed screenshots for Tabula Rasa on his space blog.
Posted by: Uncle Charles III | September 30, 2007 7:27 PM