NCsoft, the publisher of Tabula Rasa, their next MMO was fined with $5000 by the E3 organizers because their noise levels were too high.

NCsoft’s booth at E3 2006 consisted of a large stage area where live music sets were repeatedly played to promote the company’s forthcoming MMO title, Tabula Rasa.

The crowd were encouraged to applaud as loudly as possible, although NCsoft maintains that there were louder noise levels from rival publisher’s stands and that the situation was monitored by its staff during the event.

As Mutaytor (the music band) finished its set with fire-swallowing and dragon dancing, the audience was implored to get as loud as it could, and the booth shook with reverberations from the music.

It seems that the guys from SEGA (which had a booth near the NCsoft one) were having decibel readers. As soon as the band finished it’s part, Fred Schmidt, NCsoft vice president of strategic development, addressed to the public and told them about the fine that ESA gave them.

Here is what Fred had to say about E3 and ESA:

“We’re not sure we’re on the same plane with this organization… We have been harassed for three days straight, and I’m not sure we’re coming back here, but we are going to have a party next year–real near here–and we hope you all will come.”

Schmidt then said he requested E3 show management’s presence at the booth, held up a credit card and said if they wanted his money, they’d have to come and get it from him. When nobody came on stage to take his card, Schmidt said the ESA didn’t want to discuss it in public “because it’s much better to have it in private of course–beat ‘em up behind the scenes. But I’m sure I’ll get the bill somewhere.”

After all that he informed the public that in the end of the show a Guild Wars PvP tournament and an award show will be available.