Landmark (video game)
| Landmark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Daybreak Game Company |
| Publisher(s) | Daybreak Game Company |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Soule[1] |
| Engine | ForgeLight |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Landmark was a partially Early access funded[2] massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed and published by Daybreak Game Company (originally Sony Online Entertainment) for Microsoft Windows. The games original name was EverQuest Next Landmark, but was switched to simply Landmark in March 2014.[3] The game was released in June 2016, and was playable until the servers were shut down in February 2017.
Development
In April 2014, Dave Georgeson, director of development on the EverQuest series, told Polygon in the interview that "Sony Online [Daybreak] won't ever be finished making Landmark".[2] On February 2, 2015, Sony sold Sony Online Entertainment to the investment company Columbus Nova, who renamed it Daybreak Game Company. In June 2015, it was announced that Daybreak Game Company shifted its focus of development from Landmark to EverQuest Next, meaning that "any features that are Landmark-only are lower in priority and will have to wait until we have time to come back to them."[4]
In March 2016, The Daybreak Games president Russell Shanks announced that EverQuest Next had been cancelled.[5] Later, an executive producer of EverQuest and EverQuest II announced that Landmark would be launching in 2016, explaining that Landmark had become more than a building tool for EverQuest Next, and that it has evolved into its own game with "its own unique identity and purpose"[6] In January 2017, just seven months after its release, Daybreak Games announced they would be shutting down the game's servers, as well as the accompanying forums and social media channels, on February 21, 2017.[7]
Early Access and Monetization
In May 2014, Landmark Founder's Packs sold for 99.99$, 59.99$ and 19.99$ for Trailblazer, Explorer and Settler pack, respectively, on SOE Station.[8] The Founder's Packs became later available on Steam Early Access for the same price.[9][10][11] Landmark was released on 10 June 2016 and remained available for purchase on Steam until the beginning of January 2017, less than two months before all game related services were scheduled to be shut down. The Steam Store page was removed in the beginning of January 2017. The game had a large number of mostly negative reviews by disappointed early access customers who had bought the games DLC Founder's Packs and made in-game Marketplace purchases.[12] The Marketplace used SOE Station Cash as its currency, which was later renamed to Daybreak Cash after the company changed ownership and name. The copy of the game's Steam Store page on Internet Archives (21 October 2016) shows that of the 2081 reviews, 35% were positive.[13] Customers who had bought the Founder's Packs were able to write reviews on the games main Steam Store page after its release, which explains there being only a few dozen reviews to be seen on the different pages for the Founder's Packs.[9][10][11]
References
- ↑ "Composer Jeremy Soule signs exclusivity deal with SOE for EverQuest Next and Landmark". VG247.com.
- 1 2 Samit Sarkar. "How Landmark forced Sony Online to change its usual development model". Polygon.
- ↑ "EverQuest Next Landmark is now just Landmark". MMO Attack. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ↑ "Producer's Letter: June 2015". Daybreak Game Company, 5 June 2015.
- ↑ "EQN News: A Letter from Daybreak's President". Daybreak Game Company. 11 March 2016.
- ↑ "Landmark Launching Spring 2016!".
- ↑ "Important News About Landmark !".
- ↑ "Archived copies of www.landmarkthegame.com/founders-pack, beginning of 10 May 2014". Internet Archives.
- 1 2 "Landmark Settler DLC". Steam Store.
- 1 2 "Landmark Explorer DLC". Steam Store.
- 1 2 "Landmark Trailblazer DLC". Steam Store.
- ↑ "Marketplace". Official Landmark Wiki.
- ↑ "Copy of Landmark Steam Store page, 21 October 2016". Internet Archives.