''Cosmic Rift'' was a
two-dimensional
In mathematics, a plane is a Euclidean ( flat), two-dimensional surface that extends indefinitely. A plane is the two-dimensional analogue of a point (zero dimensions), a line (one dimension) and three-dimensional space. Planes can arise as ...
massively multiplayer
A massively multiplayer online game (MMOG or more commonly MMO) is an online video game with a large number of players, often hundreds or thousands, on the same server. MMOs usually feature a huge, persistent world, persistent open world, alt ...
video game designed by lead programmer Jeff Petersen. It is based in a science fiction universe wherein players can fly from an overhead view one of 13 spaceships, each with their own strengths and unique weapons, in a variety of gaming zones each with a different objective.
History
''Cosmic Rift'' is provided as part of the Station Pass package offered by
Sony Online Entertainment
Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in ...
, which also includes ''
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
'' and ''
Tanarus''. Its gameplay is comparable to
Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Virgin Interactive Entertainment (later renamed Avalon Interactive) was the video game publishing division of British conglomerate the Virgin Group. It developed and published games for major platforms and employed developers, including Westwo ...
'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 (see zone description below) until August 2005. Since the end of this league, the Cosmic Rift's player base had been essentially non-existent.
On May 23, 2007, it was announced that the Station Pass games would become completely free as of June 26, 2007. A map editor for both ''Cosmic Rift'' and ''Infantry'' were also being worked on in hopes to have them publicly released by the time the three Station Pass games are made free. This announcement had initially prompted an increase in the population of the game's servers. Despite these efforts, however, the game's population still remained largely insubstantial.
Closing
On March 1 of 2012
Sony Online Entertainment
Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in ...
announced that ''Cosmic Rift'', ''
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
'', ''
Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga'', and ''
EverQuest Online Adventures'' were to come to close on March 29, 2012.
The reason given by
Sony Online Entertainment
Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in ...
for the closings was that development resources for those titles would be better put to use on developing newer games.
Gaming Zones
* Alpha Zone: Team or solo free for all with no objective but to destroy any enemy ships, intended for beginners.
* Chaos Zone: Team or solo free for all with no objective but to destroy any enemy ships, intended for experts.
* Conquest: Teams are associated with a particular base, which they must defend, while simultaneously attempting to overwhelm the bases of opposing teams.
* CRPL: Stands for Cosmic Rift Players League, organized four on four matches with limited lives for each player.
* Dueling Zone: Intended for solo one on one matches, with small team or free for all combat permitted.
* Rift Ball: Two teams compete in a format similar to soccer, the objective is to score goals with a Rift Ball that is passed between ships. Combat is permitted while controlling this ball.
* Rogue Trader: An RPG based game where the objective is to earn money via gathering minerals, and destroying enemy ships. The money can be used to purchase improvements to one's ship that remain persistent across multiple sessions.
*Scrimmage
* Seek and Destroy: One player possesses a flag, and the opposing players must attempt to destroy this particular ship which then moves control of the flag to the killer. Victory goes to the team which holds the flag for a set period of time.
* Speed Zone: Objective is to destroy as many enemy ships possible in a limited time frame.
* Super Fortress: Eight flags which are randomly distributed across the map must be gathered by a team and held for a set period of time.
* Total War: Two teams face against each other with the intent to destroy the opposing team's base. The base comes equipped with computer-controlled turrets.
* Gravity Well: This zone is currently not online, but the premise consists of multiple gravity wells that will destroy one's craft, and weapons that will be awarded for destroying other ships.
References
External links
''Cosmic Rift'' website
{{Daybreak Game Company
2001 video games
Products and services discontinued in 2012
Massively multiplayer online games
Video games developed in the United States
Windows games
Windows-only games
Inactive massively multiplayer online games