Korean-based game company NCsoft has announced that they will not be sponsoring Richard Garriott's flight to the International Space Station next year. The announcement followed the news that Garriott, creator of Tabula Rasa and Ultima Online, has already started preparations to make the space trip.

Kim Ju-young, a spokesperson for NCsoft explains: "It is a personal affair [of Garriott]. We decided not to participate in the program." The decision may be the result of some internal problems in NCsoft, caused by some conflict between CEO Kim Taek-Kin and the employees.

The hefty price to create Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa (it cost the company about US$ 18.5 million) and the long delays (around six years), caused NCsoft employees to lose trust in Garriott and are troubled since Kim continues to support Garriott. The decision not to fund the space trip may be a move to mitigate the issue.

Garriott may end up having to fund his own trip to outer space next year. If he does decide to do so he may have to dish out something within the region of US$ 30 million.