Datasoft, Inc. (also written as DataSoft and Data Soft) was a software developer and publisher for
home computers founded in 1980 by Pat Ketchum and based out of
Chatsworth, California. Datasoft primarily published video games, including home ports of
arcade game
An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade v ...
s, games based on licenses from movies and
TV shows, and original games. Like competitor
Synapse Software, the company also published other software: development tools, word processors, and utilities. Text Wizard, written by William Robinson and published by Datasoft when he was 16, was the basis for
AtariWriter.
[ Datasoft initially targeted the ]Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...
, Apple II
The Apple II (stylized as ) is an 8-bit home computer and one of the world's first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak; Jerry Manock developed the design of Apple II's foam-m ...
, and TRS-80 Color Computer, then later the Commodore 64
The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...
, IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer (model 5150, commonly known as the IBM PC) is the first microcomputer released in the IBM PC model line and the basis for the IBM PC compatible de facto standard. Released on August 12, 1981, it was created by a team ...
, Atari ST
The Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the Atari 8-bit family. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985 and was widely available in July. It was the first pers ...
, and Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
. Starting in 1983, a line of lower cost software was published under the name Gentry Software.[
Datasoft went into ]bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
, and its name and assets were purchased by two Datasoft executives, Samuel L. Poole and Ted Hoffman. They renamed the company IntelliCreations and distributed Datasoft games until it closed.
Software
Games
;1982
*''Canyon Climber
''Canyon Climber'' is a video game designed by Steve Bjork and James Garon for the TRS-80 Color Computer and published by Tandy Corporation in 1982. Ports to other home computers were published by Datasoft. ''Canyon Climber'' is a three-screen pl ...
''
*''Clowns and Balloons
''Clowns and Balloons'' is a circus-themed video game written by Frank Cohen for the Atari 8-bit family and published in 1982 by Datasoft. It is a clone of the 1977 arcade game ''Circus''. A variant of '' Breakout'', the player moves a trampoline ...
''
*'' Dung Beetles''
*'' Pacific Coast Highway''
*''Shooting Arcade
''Shooting Arcade'' is a fixed shooter written by Mark Riley for the Atari 8-bit family and published in 1982 by Datasoft. It was later released under Datasoft's Gentry Software budget label as ''Target Practice''. It was ported to the TRS-80 Colo ...
''
*''The Sands of Egypt
''The Sands of Egypt'' is a 1982 graphic adventure game written by James Garon, Ralph Burris, and Steve Bjork of Datasoft for the TRS-80 Color Computer. It was licensed to Tandy Corporation and was the first disk-only game for the Color Computer s ...
''
;1983
*''Genesis''
*'' Juno First'', arcade port
*''Moon Shuttle'', arcade port
*'' Nibbler'', arcade port
*''O'Riley's Mine
''O'Riley's Mine'' is an action game designed by Mark Riley and published in 1983 by Datasoft for the Atari 8-bit family, Atari 8-bit home computer. The game was ported to Apple II by Larry Lewis and to Commodore 64 by Al Rubin. Both ports were ...
''
*'' Pooyan'', arcade port
*'' Zaxxon'', arcade port
;1984
*'' Conan''
*''Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (; born Lee Jun-fan, ; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that ...
''
*'' Lost Tomb'', arcade port
*'' The Dallas Quest''
*''Mancopter
Mancopter is a video game developed by Nichibutsu USA and published by Datasoft for the Commodore 64 in 1984. It was programmed by Scott Spanburg, and the music was composed by John A. Fitzpatrick. The player controls a person piloting a helico ...
''
*'' Mr. Do!'', arcade port
*''Pac-Man
originally called ''Puck Man'' in Japan, is a 1980 maze action video game developed and released by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. Th ...
'', arcade port
*''Pole Position
In a motorsports race, the pole position is usually the best and "statistically the most advantageous" starting position on the track. The pole position is usually earned by the driver with the best qualifying times in the trials before the rac ...
'', arcade port
;1985
*'' Alternate Reality: The City''
*'' The Goonies''
*'' Tomahawk''
*'' Zorro''
;1986
*''Crosscheck''
*'' Mercenary''
*''Mind Pursuit''
;1987
*''221B Baker Street
221B Baker Street is the London address of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, created by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the United Kingdom, postal addresses with a number followed by a letter may indicate a separate address within ...
''
*'' Alternate Reality: The Dungeon''
*'' Bismarck''
*'' Black Magic''
*''Dark Lord''
*''Force 7''
*''Gunslinger''
*''Saracen''
;1988
*'' Napoleon in Russia: Borodino 1812'' (MS-DOS)
Education
*''Bishop's Square / Maxwell's Demon'' (1982)
Word processing
*Text Wizard (1981)
*Spell Wizard (1982)
*Letter Wizard (1984)
Other software
*Micro-Painter (1982)
References
External links
*
Adventureland Company Profile
Atari 8-bit family
Video game companies established in 1980
Defunct video game companies of the United States
Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles
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