VERANT INTERACTIVE, developer of EverQuest, is an independent online game development studio that emerged from 989 Studios (formerly Sony Interactive Studios), which began development of EverQuest in 1996. Verant is also the developer of Tanarus, an online tank warfare game, as well as Star Wars Online and the upcoming massively multiplayer game Sovereign. EverQuest has received numerous awards from such organizations as Entertainment Weekly (Top Ten Hall of Fame), Electric Games (1999 Online Game of the Year), Computer Games Online (Best Online Game of 1999), and Gamespot (Game of the Year for 1999).