I knew when I played the open beta that nothing the dev team did could save this worthless crapfest of a game. Here's some confirmation:

"It is highly unlikely that Tabula Rasa will ever end up being profitable for NCsoft and this was admitted by NCsoft's CFO in the call.

Richard Garriott placed part of the blame on letting too many testers into Tabula Rasa's beta early-on."

Link to Source: www.massively.com/2008/02/21/q4-2007-ncsoft-s-subscription-numbers-and-tabula-rasa-s-financial/

Also note the price drop on Amazon (WoW is listed just beneath it for $19.99, ROFL): 

And this is why devs and investors need to quit rushing games out the door, when they know it's still half-broken and barely playable.

Those of you who're still forcing yourselves to play this game because you're in denial about how much it blows should just let it rest in peace.

I think that's overly harsh.

I played it for a month and on the whole, didn't like it even though there were some really good elements to the game.

Eg. I felt they really achieved a sense of the world being a combat zone. The FPS, the way mobs were airlifted in rather than just magically appearing, NPCs attacking and capturing outposts etc.. The game's atmosphere was great.

But I normally enjoy playing healer/support types and... well everyone knows they sucked at release. They made some pretty obviously stupid mistakes with those. And while I know they ended up making changes to address those mistakes, and some of those changes looked good...

... first impressions really do count. I'll agree completely with the OP as far there being no excuse for releasing a game - expecting people to pay for it - before it's really finished. And these days, there's simply too much competition to risk it.

What exactly makes you an authority on how good aor bad this game is? The 2 months you played in beta??

They add content, bug fixes and tweaks to this game on a monthly basis. And they actually fix things, unlike Blizzard.

does the game still need some work? yes. Is it the steaming pile of crap that you judge it to be with ZERO credibility? no.

Also, check your facts. that article you quote from Massivily was rebuted by NCsoft and they explain that the reporter has an agenda agaist the company as a whole, and further they expalin their level of commitment to TR.

<modedit>

I took advantage of the deal on amazon at that price and glad I did. At the moment I am very much enjoying this game. It was posted on Massively a few weeks ago about the pricce.

So if anything, thanks for posting the pic, maybe more people will see the offer and take advantage of the deal.

Here is the links to the deals...

Standard: 9.99

http://www.amazon.com/NCsoft-FG-XP-TR1ST-030-Richard-Garriotts-Tabula/dp/B000SAV6RS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1207408386&sr=8-1

Collectors Edition: 19.99

http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Garriotts-Tabula-Rasa-Collectors/dp/B000RLO7M4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1207408424&sr=8-2

Agree with OP...............

This game was garbage from the very beginning and never improved. Richard Garriott should be ashamed of himself.

Actually the game is very much a success much like RG's predecessor UO

Things take time though and TR will get better with age once all the pieces of the vast puzzle come together.

There's alot of things in the pipe that aren't yet live and won't be for a few months to come.

RG Himself hand selected the development team working on TR so saying it's a complete failure is a total farce and basically slaps RG in the face for all the hard work he does.

Don't even bring AutoAssault to light in this matter either because it was done by NetDevil who did TWO things that TR has never done.

#1 Never listen to the community

#2 Never update their game

Originally posted by DoktorTeufel

And this is why devs and investors need to quit rushing games out the door, when they know it's still half-broken and barely playable.

Those of you who're still forcing yourselves to play this game because you're in denial about how much it blows should just let it rest in peace.

I haven't played TR, and I probably won't. But why in the world would you begrudge people who decide that they enjoy this game?

"They're in denial..." really?

"The game deserved to fail..."  Even after a dedicated team gave it their best effort?

Seriously. That's a pretty tacky thing to say, and I can't imagine an emotionally healthy person taking a malicious position like that.

Originally posted by green13

I played it for a month and on the whole, didn't like it even though there were some really good elements to the game.

*Some* good elements do not make a game. It takes a lot more. Implementation, content, polish ....

And while I don't want to comment whether it "deserves" to fail. It is failing financially and probably will never recoup the initial investment. In terms of reviews, it is not doing too badly though (78 on metacritics). It is obviously not GOTY material, but it has decent reviews.

Well to be quite honest what NCSoft game ever got Rave reviews right out the door?

I think most of the people who trash this game never played it in retail.  I agree, beta sucked.  I posted here complaining about how poorly the game ran, along with other issues i had with it.  I couldn't make myself play the beta past about level 7... and I tried it in both the open and closed beta stages.  At the time I thought it sucked.

I don't really even know how it was at launch, but I do know that a lot of the complaints I read about it before I played simply aren't true of the game right now.  I know that if you just read the highlights of the patch notes since launch, you will see that they consistently address the issues people were complaining about.

I joined the chorus complaining about poor performance early on, and I can say now that it runs smooth as butter for me on the ultra high setting on my budget gaming machine.

Everyone was crying that you couldn't be anything other than Human in the game, they added the hybrid system... Then the game supposedly sucked because you couldn't respec without cloning so they gave us the ability to buy a respec with assault and defense tokens.

I cant comment on the lack of endgame content, since I am not there yet.  If I take those complaints at face value and there is no endgame content... I won't be surprised. For me endgame content is a myth anyway.  I'm not in to hardcore raiding or serious PvP... I hate grinding endless honor or faction points past max level for insignificant stat increases or trivial useless token loot.  So far out of all the MMOs I have played, none of them had endgame content that compelled me to stick around long post max level except PRE-CU SWG... and I'm sure I would have gotten tired of that too if they hadn't utterly ruined the game just a few months after I hit my hit my third master box.

I am excited to see the endgame content that has been announced.  It sounds like stuff I'll enjoy, if it ever makes it live.  I realize that financial realities could keep some or all of it from ever getting done... and I think that would be a shame. Despite poor sales and a shaky launch, this IS a really fun game. I know sales are generally an pretty accurate barometer for quality, but we all know there are exceptions to the rule...  Unless we are all ready to say Hannah Montana has more musical credibility than Radiohead, as the sales of their most recent albums would imply. ;)

 It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game this much... or since I enjoyed a game more the longer I played it. The standard RPG combat interface that all the other MMOs use has just been done to death.  They are all pretty fun at first, but the longer you stand still hitting 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3 the more tedious and tiresome it gets.  It is to the point where we only do the missions for the reward, and not because it's actually fun to do the mission. The combat is a tedium that has to be endured for reward.

In TR I'm running and jumping over logs and sandbags, ducking behind trees and popping out to hit each target a few times. I'm always making decisions on weapon type and target selection. Hitting each target a couple of times with my injection gun for the DOT and witching to repair or healing tool to keep on top of the group's health. I'll admit that the first few days I hated having to aim and fire my healing tool at a friendly target.. but now I love it for the challenge.  It's just a rush to play.. all this on top of firing my logos skills... which is pretty much all there is to the combat in the other MMOs I have played.

Originally posted by Salvatoris

I think most of the people who trash this game never played it in retail.  I agree, beta sucked.  I posted here complaining about how poorly the game ran, along with other issues i had with it.  I couldn't make myself play the beta past about level 7... and I tried it in both the open and closed beta stages.  At the time I thought it sucked.

I don't really even know how it was at launch, but I do know that a lot of the complaints I read about it before I played simply aren't true of the game right now.  I know that if you just read the highlights of the patch notes since launch, you will see that they consistently address the issues people were complaining about.

I joined the chorus complaining about poor performance early on, and I can say now that it runs smooth as butter for me on the ultra high setting on my budget gaming machine.

Everyone was crying that you couldn't be anything other than Human in the game, they added the hybrid system... Then the game supposedly sucked because you couldn't respec without cloning so they gave us the ability to buy a respec with assault and defense tokens.

I cant comment on the lack of endgame content, since I am not there yet.  If I take those complaints at face value and there is no endgame content... I won't be surprised. For me endgame content is a myth anyway.  I'm not in to hardcore raiding or serious PvP... I hate grinding endless honor or faction points past max level for insignificant stat increases or trivial useless token loot.  So far out of all the MMOs I have played, none of them had endgame content that compelled me to stick around long post max level except PRE-CU SWG... and I'm sure I would have gotten tired of that too if they hadn't utterly ruined the game just a few months after I hit my hit my third master box.

I am excited to see the endgame content that has been announced.  It sounds like stuff I'll enjoy, if it ever makes it live.  I realize that financial realities could keep some or all of it from ever getting done... and I think that would be a shame. Despite poor sales and a shaky launch, this IS a really fun game. I know sales are generally an pretty accurate barometer for quality, but we all know there are exceptions to the rule...  Unless we are all ready to say Hannah Montana has more musical credibility than Radiohead, as the sales of their most recent albums would imply. ;)

 It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game this much... or since I enjoyed a game more the longer I played it. The standard RPG combat interface that all the other MMOs use has just been done to death.  They are all pretty fun at first, but the longer you stand still hitting 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3 the more tedious and tiresome it gets.  It is to the point where we only do the missions for the reward, and not because it's actually fun to do the mission. The combat is a tedium that has to be endured for reward.

In TR I'm running and jumping over logs and sandbags, ducking behind trees and popping out to hit each target a few times. I'm always making decisions on weapon type and target selection. Hitting each target a couple of times with my injection gun for the DOT and witching to repair or healing tool to keep on top of the group's health. I'll admit that the first few days I hated having to aim and fire my healing tool at a friendly target.. but now I love it for the challenge.  It's just a rush to play.. all this on top of firing my logos skills... which is pretty much all there is to the combat in the other MMOs I have played.

1. PAU's

2. Max lvl instances

3. PvP CPs

4. PvP zones

I mean there are some problems with the game, but what game doesn't have it's problems? Overall the game is on a nice pace addressing issuses, and adding new features. In another 3 or 4 months this game will be better polished, and have better "end game", but that won't stop these trolls from hateing. My advice to these haters is stop with preconceptions of what you "expect" the game to be, and let it evolve to the game is was meant to be.

Originally posted by nariusseldon

 

Originally posted by green13

I played it for a month and on the whole, didn't like it even though there were some really good elements to the game.

 

*Some* good elements do not make a game. It takes a lot more. Implementation, content, polish ....

Um, duh. Did you read the rest of my (short) post?

I think it's only fair to acknowledge good points of the game, even if your overall opinion of it isn't very high.

Originally posted by starman999

Agree with OP...............

 

This game was garbage from the very beginning and never improved. Richard Garriott should be ashamed of himself.

 

 

Originally posted by Salvatoris

I think most of the people who trash this game never played it in retail. 

Originally posted by Mistick

 

In another 3 or 4 months this game will be better polished, and have better "end game", but that won't stop these trolls from hateing. My advice to these haters is stop with preconceptions of what you "expect" the game to be, and let it evolve to the game is was meant to be.

I played it in retail - and the fact is the game wasn't ready then.

As for letting games evolve... No - the more appropriate word would be gestate. MMOs should be a completely playable game on release. That's a fair and reasonable consumer standard. Asking consumers to hand over money for an unfinished product and then expect them to continue paying for the product while you finish it is not reasonable.

TR isn't the worst example of an unfinished mmo hitting the market, but it is deserving of criticism on this count.

The OP's hate filled, trash comments are a ripe example of the worst aspect of what the modern video game crowd is made of.

It really makes me sick to think people can harbor such hate for something that does not effect them.

Originally posted by salamander13

The OP's hate filled, trash comments are a ripe example of the worst aspect of what the modern video game crowd is made of.

It really makes me sick to think people can harbor such hate for something that does not effect them.

Generally the video game crowd that responds like the op have a misguided view that games like this do directly effect them.  When a game does not turn out as they envisioned it, they turn ugly and cruel.  If they can not play the way they want, EVERYONE will pay.  It is after all the me me me generation.

My experience of the game:

"Ok, it sucks a bit but it's just been released and the combat is fun, so I'll give it a chance."
"Ok, it sucks a bit but it's only a month old and the combat is still fun, so I'll give it a chance."
"Ok, it sucks a bit but it's only 2 months old and the combat is still kinda fun, so I'll give it a chance."
"Ok, it sucks a bit but it's only 3 months old and the combat is getting boring, but I'll give it a chance."
"Ok, it sucks a bit but it's only 4 months old and the combat is pretty boring now, but I'll give it a chance."
"Ok, it still sucks and it's 5 months old, so I'll cancel my sub."

Good game with an innovative idea and a nice grpahics engine, but suffered from a lack of direction from it's development team and made the mistake of completely ignoring PVP and high-level content 'til FAR too late. It's basically a "grind to 50 then reroll" game with a lack of replay value due to the generic and uninteresting quests.

I tell you what 'blows' this Op and his thread.  Since launch NCsoft has changed, added and fixed a whole load of stuff in the game.  I signed up 3 days after launch and still playing and had a great session on it this morning.  In fact the numbers are increasing a lot as well.  The servers at any time are showing medium at least and the general chat is really active (On the EU Server at least)  Plus a good sign is seeing a lot of new players entering and asking for help and people commenting on how much they like the game.  Is it my favourite game? No. Do I enjoy it? yes, a lot!  So where do you get off writing a thread about how this game deserves to fail?  The complete lack of any constructive or objective outlook from the OP is astounding.

Let us all agree that the game is good for some and bad for others, life is like that, and so is games. You will never find a game that will appeal to everyone. Either go play another game where it appeals to you or do... um.. something else.

But, I enjoyed TR in beta, I'm waiting until there is a 7-14 day trial so i can hop in and see if I should purchase it. If I don't like it, I just move on to another game. Respect his views people, even if we don't agree, it's the OP's opinion, you have yours. His views are as important as yours.

Edit: Let me clearify, I understand that the OP's views might be shortsided and premature.. but still..

Originally posted by green13

 

 

Originally posted by Salvatoris

I think most of the people who trash this game never played it in retail. 

Originally posted by Mistick

 

In another 3 or 4 months this game will be better polished, and have better "end game", but that won't stop these trolls from hateing. My advice to these haters is stop with preconceptions of what you "expect" the game to be, and let it evolve to the game is was meant to be.

 

I played it in retail - and the fact is the game wasn't ready then.

As for letting games evolve... No - the more appropriate word would be gestate. MMOs should be a completely playable game on release. That's a fair and reasonable consumer standard. Asking consumers to hand over money for an unfinished product and then expect them to continue paying for the product while you finish it is not reasonable.

TR isn't the worst example of an unfinished mmo hitting the market, but it is deserving of criticism on this count.

Please name one MMO that ever was completely ready at launch? Tell me one MMO that had "end game" at launch? Tell me one MMO that hasn't changed something in the game too fix bugs, or enhance gamming experience? I even dare you to say WoW, because fact is not even WoW was ready or had end game at launch.