Ultima creator Richard Garriott Preparing to go to Space, possibly to destroy Minax

Pictured above: Spaceflight in Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress.

This news has been covered by plenty of other news organizations, but I thought I’d mention it here for anyone that came by to read my interview with Stephen Emond. Furthermore, I am reviewing a copy of the book, Dungeons and Dreamers: The Rise of Computer Game Culture, from Geek to Chic – the book features Richard Garriott quite prominently throughout (the review should be posted in a week or two).

From Gamasutra:

Space tourism firm Space Adventures announced today that ‘father of Ultima’ and current NCSoft exec Richard “Lord British” Garriott, son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, has begun preparations for a “commercially active” mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Although it was rumored by Wired writer John Borland that the trip might be sponsored by NCSoft as part of a marketing campaign for Tabula Rasa, the Korea Times later confirmed that he will not received any funding from the company,

… NCsoft confirmed that Garriott will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in the fall of 2008. But he will not get any money from the firm and will have to finance the project by himself, it said.

“It is a personal affair (of Garriott). We decided not to participate in the program,” NCsoft’s spokesperson Kim Ju-young said.

There is now even an official Richard Garriott’s Space Mission web site that will chronicle his trip into space. I guess when you’re spending $30 million on a space vacation you might as well advertise a bit.

This is all well and good, but crucial questions remain: Where will Richard find enough Tri-Lithium to power the rocket? Will he find Planet X and Father Antos?

(if you got that joke, you are truly truly geeky)