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Ultima creator and Tabula Rasa executive producer Richard Garriott has revealed his plans to leave game publisher NCsoft to pursue goals outside of the company. The precise nature of those goals -- and whether or not they're at all gaming-related -- is still a mystery, but Garriott notes in his open letter to the Tabula Rasa community that these new aspirations were greatly influenced by his recent voyage into space:

Many of you probably wonder what my plans are, now that I have achieved the lifelong dream of going to space. Well, that unforgettable experience has sparked some new interests that I would like to devote my time and resources to. As such, I am leaving NCsoft to pursue those interests.

This news is difficult for me to deliver. I am honored to have worked with the team I've had and I'm grateful to the community who makes this game so unique and fun.

It's difficult to imagine Garriott's departure having much of a pronounced negative effect on Tabula Rasa, especially considering the sci-fi MMO's already grim outlook. Still, the absence of the man they call General British is sure to be felt throughout NCsoft's Austin branch, where Garriott has worked as a producer since 2001. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors -- be they in commercial space travel, haunted houses, or computer games.