NCSoft was running a beta version of Richard Garriot's newest game, Tabula Rasa in their booth at Barker Hanger. Developed by Destination Games, Tabula Rasa is an action-oriented, science fiction MMORPG. Players will be able to do all of the industry standards for an MMOG, with level-up systems, character customization, and the like. What sets Tabula Rasa apart is that movement and positioning matter greatly, and the game feels much more like a shooter than a game in the same genre as World of Warcraft.

Players are able to jump into the game with its WASD-and-mouse control scheme and start taking potshots at enemies. As with many first person shooters, running around will cause a player to be more difficult to hit, though the player's own accuracy will drop. On the other side of the coin, a crouching player gains an additional ability to aim, but he's a sitting duck for enemies. The AI will also take advantage of the combat system, attacking not just based on an aggro table, but changing its tactics based on what the players are doing.

While the Tabula Rasa demo we were shown went over mainly the combat system, the beta for the game will be starting in the next couple of months, so keep watch to RPGFan for more about Lord British's baby.