Cosmic Rift
Encyclopedia
Cosmic Rift is a two-dimensional
massively multiplayer
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.
Cosmic Rift is provided as part of the Station Pass package offered by Sony Online Entertainment
, which also includes 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 (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 23rd, 2007, it was announced that the Station Pass games would become completely free as of June 26th, 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 remains largely insubstantial.
Cosmic Rift (C 2011) is also the title of a science-fiction novel by J.P. Osterman.JPOsterman (talk) 00:55, 17 October 2011 (UTC)
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
massively multiplayer
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
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
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
, which also includes Infantry
Infantry (computer game)
Infantry Online is an isometric perspective multiplayer combat video game with sprite animation graphics, using complex soldier, ground vehicle and space-ship models on typically complex terrains...
and Tanarus. Its gameplay is comparable to Virgin Interactive Entertainment's Subspace
SubSpace (computer game)
SubSpace is a two-dimensional space shooter computer game published in 1997 by Virgin Interactive Entertainment which was a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Online Game of the Year Award in 1998. SubSpace incorporates quasi-realistic zero-friction physics into a massively...
, 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 23rd, 2007, it was announced that the Station Pass games would become completely free as of June 26th, 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 remains largely insubstantial.
Cosmic Rift (C 2011) is also the title of a science-fiction novel by J.P. Osterman.JPOsterman (talk) 00:55, 17 October 2011 (UTC)
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.