The Game Business Law summit is co-chaired by Richard Garriott, and Dr. Peter E. Raad, the dean of Southern Methodist University's game program, the Guildhall. During last night's founders dinner in a small hotel ballroom in Dallas, Garriott (who resigned from NCsoft in November) regaled an enthralled audience of game executives, academics, and attorneys with tales of his recent voyage to the International Space Station.

Fresh off the trip -- he'd only spent two weeks in his own bed since returning to earth -- the gentleman explorer joked during his talk that he'd spent all of his money on the space trip, and would need got get another job in order to go to space again. Afterwards, GameDaily BIZ took a moment to chat with Garriott about his inevitable return to games.

GameDaily BIZ: What was your reaction to the closure of Tabula Rasa?

Garriott: Of course, I wish it had continued. I also, personally, think it should have continued -- in the sense of, it was a game that was hitting its stride enough where it could keep what I'll call a critical fan base, and had the opportunity to continue to be grown.

"...some day in the future, it's hard not to assume I will get back into gaming. I still personally believe I have lots of great ideas and desire to build games."

If I were in charge, I would continue to grow it, because MMOs are long-term plays, and that's what you should do with them. That being said, we had already lost a fair number of critical team members. And while Tabula Rasa definitely had a rocky start, it did have a core fan base, and the team was motivated to continue to grow it. So I wish it had continued.

But I'm also not what I'll call terribly surprised, either, that the company would choose this path. I think NCsoft looks at it as an opportunity cost issue -- where they put those resources and people on that, or something new. They chose something new.

BIZ: We've seen things like Conan go from a very strong start to tapering off. Warhammer never got off the ground. Do you think there may not be as much demand for the big MMO?

Garriott: Oh, no! I actually think the demand is still there for the big MMO. I just think we continue to get further and further into a hit-based business. And so you'll have a few big games like World of Warcraft. But when you've got something that's that dominant in the space, there's a few others that will become strong, and the rest will be fighting over what's left over.

But I think that's just the nature of the growth of the industry -- it's getting more and more competitive over time, and everyone just has to deal with it.