| Cosmic Rift | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment |
| Designer(s) | Jeff Petersen |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Cosmic Rift was a two-dimensional massively multiplayer video game designed by lead programmer Jeff Petersen. It is based in a science fiction universe wherein players could fly from an overhead view one of 13 spaceships, [1] each with their own strengths and unique weapons, in a variety of gaming zones each with a different objective. [2]
Cosmic Rift was provided as part of the Station Pass package offered by Sony Online Entertainment, which also included Infantry and Tanarus . Its gameplay is comparable to Virgin Interactive Entertainment's Subspace , another two-dimensional space shooter written by Jeff Petersen prior to joining Sony's team. Today, Subspace remains available in a freeware flavor known as Continuum.
Cosmic Rift was released as an open beta in April 2001, which lasted until May 2002. From this point forward players were required to pay a monthly fee to gain full access to any of the Station Pass games, with limited capability permitted to non-subscribers.
One of the largest draws for subscribers was the 4 on 4 league which sustained the generally low popularity of the game until August 2004, when the league completed its sixth and final season. The remaining subscribers lingered for approximately one year playing only in the Rift Ball league until August 2005. Since the end of this league, the Cosmic Rift's player base had been essentially non-existent.
Starting in June 2007, all the Station Pass games, including Cosmic Rift, became completely free. [3] A map editor [4] for both Cosmic Rift and Infantry has also been worked on in the hope that they will be publicly released by the time the three Station Pass games become free. [5] Initially it prompted an increase in the population of the game's servers, but despite these efforts, the game's population still remained largely insubstantial.
Cosmic Rift, Infantry , Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga , and EverQuest Online Adventures were shut down in March 2012.
The reason given by Sony Online Entertainment for the closings was that development resources for those titles would be better put to use on developing newer games. [6]