The game won the 1999 GameSpot Game of the Year and also a 2007 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award. Smedley co-founded Verant Interactive, Inc. which later became Sony Online Entertainment, Inc. after being purchased by Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2000. Smedley announced a chance in director for Sony Online Entertainment in 2007 which included a broadening of business models beyond the subscription model. It also included pursuing female consumers to balance their 85% male audience. The 15th anniversary of EverQuest was recently celebrated at SOE Live in Las Vegas.