"DarkAge of the WarcraftStrike". That's a fictional MMO that Turbine Entertainment executive producer and creative director Jessica Mulligan used as an example during her rant at the Austin Game Conference. According to her, there are some MMOs that use the WoW formula, and end up as nothing but WoW copycats.

Which brings us to our question: Are all MMOs the same? Tobold asks the same question in his blog. And with the proliferation of WoW copycats out in the market today, you can't help but wonder the same thing. After all, there's a nugget of truth in Mulligan's claim.

According to Tobold, there's a general flow to MMO gameplay: start in a city, take quests and missions, slay some monsters, gather loot and eventually sell them. However, Tobold adds that even though most MMOs subscribe to this structure, each MMO game focuses on particular details, which makes them different from one another.

For example, WoW is known for being PvE-centric, while games such as Lineage and EVE are known for their excellent PvP features. Then there's the gameplay: Does this MMO have a more difficult gameplay than the other? More importantly, there's the question of the setting, which I believe lies most of the game's appeal. After all, we have sci-fi MMOs, "historical MMOs" (remember the upcoming "Shakespeare MMO"?), and the more popular fantasy MMO. Of course, each world offers something different (the "Matrix world" is different from the one in "Star Wars"), which makes more games appealing, and more addictive, depending on your taste.

So, according to our source, "in the end, no two MMORPG are really the same". And we here at QJ definitely agree with him. What do you think?

So you've seen the enemies. There's the Bane Stalker with its triple legs and plasma bombs. There's the high-flying, gun-toting Predator; as well as the agile warfreak hordes of Thrax Soldiers. And let's not even get started on the creepy creatures.

Have you taken a good look at planet Arieki itself? Let's see... Lots of volcanic activity? Check. Rocky terrain? Check. Geysers and fissures? Check. Electrical Storms? Check. Flame tornadoes? Check. Acidic Ion Rain? Check. Home Sweet Home? Err... Yep, this place is nothing next to the usual oh-so-colorful-where-dreams-are-made-of-wonderland. It's a harsh environment filled with harsh creatures and unfortunately for you, this is where all the Tabula Rasa action takes place.

So there, a creepy environment coupled with creepy enemies all wrapped up in a nice, little package. What else can make this make this game better than an equally dark soundtrack to boot? Chris Vrenna makes it all possible, by contributing his rock masterpieces to the game itself.

Vrenna's one of the founding members and former drummer of the Nine Inch Nails (an industrial rock band touted by David Bowie as one of "The Immortals" in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list) isn't new to the gaming industry scene. He had worked on a handful of game soundtracks before: Quake IV, Doom 3, Enter The Matrix, Quake and American McGee's Alice, to be specific, and now you can add the upcoming MMO Tabula Rasa to the list.

Soon, you'd be going on an alien-killing spree with Vrenna's rockin' beats in the background. That's one more reason to anticipate the game's release, isn't it?

Pre-order: [Tabula Rasa]