The Learning Company

The Learning Company (TLC) was an educational software company founded in 1980 in Palo Alto, California and headquartered in Fremont, California. The company produced a grade-based line of learning software, edutainment games, and productivity tools. Its titles included the flagship series ''Reader Rabbit'', for preschoolers through second graders, and ''The ClueFinders'', for more advanced students. The company was also known for publishing licensed educational titles featuring characters such as Arthur, Scooby-Doo, Zoboomafoo, and Caillou.

In 1995, the company was acquired by SoftKey in a hostile takeover bid, at which point SoftKey assumed the Learning Company name and brand.

History

The Learning Company was founded in 1980 by Ann McCormick; Leslie Grimm; Teri Perl; and Warren Robinett, a former Atari employee who had programmed the popular game ''Adventure''. They saw the Apple II as an opportunity to teach young children concepts of math, reading, science, problem-solving, and thinking skills. Part of the original funding for the company came from a National Science Foundation grant.

TLC produced launch titles for the PCjr, announced in late 1983. From 1980 through 1984, it created a line of 15 widely acclaimed children's educational software products, which were sold through the U.S. retail and school computer software channels.

In the first half of 1985, the board hired as CEO Bill Dinsmore. Shortly thereafter, Reece Duca, a founding Partner of the Investment Group of Santa Barbara (IGSB), became a member of the board of directors and purchased shares from several founders and original venture firms. In late 1986, Duca was elected chairman of the board. At that time, IGSB became The Learning Company's largest shareholder.

Between 1985 and 1995, TLC's revenues grew at a 36% compounded rate from $2.4M to $53.2M and profitability increased from breakeven in 1985 to a 20% pre-tax margin. The leading families of products were the ''Reader Rabbit'' series for ages 2–8, the ''Treasure Mountain'' Reading-Math-Science series for ages 5–9, the ''Super Solver'' series for ages 7–12, the ''Student Writing & Publishing Center'' for ages 7-adult, and the ''Foreign Language Learning'' series for ages 15-adult.

TLC went public on April 28, 1992, in an IPO led by Morgan Stanley and Robertson, Stephens & Co. From 1992 to 1995, TLC achieved 16 consecutive quarters of revenues and profits growth, never experiencing a down quarter or year. TLC's early struggles, followed by 10 consecutive years of outstanding performance, were the subject of case studies at both Harvard and Stanford universities.

SoftKey acquisition

On December 8, 1995, TLC was acquired by SoftKey for $606M in a hostile takeover bid, and a large percentage of the staff were let go. After the acquisition was complete, SoftKey changed its name to The Learning Company and continued to use its brand.

Software

Note: When The Learning Company purchased Broderbund Software and MECC, they gained the rights to the long-running ''Carmen Sandiego'' and ''Trail'' series, respectively. Only those games created during the ownership of The Learning Company are included here.

''Carmen Sandiego'' series

*'' Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge'' (1999)
*''Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge'' (2001)
*'' Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math'' (2011–2012)
*'' Carmen Sandiego Returns'' (2015)

''The ClueFinders'' series

*Grade-based titles
**'' The ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures'' (1998)
**'' The ClueFinders 4th Grade Adventures'' (1998)
**'' The ClueFinders 5th Grade Adventures'' (1999)
**'' The ClueFinders 6th Grade Adventures'' (1999)
*Other titles
**'' The ClueFinders Math Adventures'' (1998)
**'' The ClueFinders Reading Adventures'' (1999)
**'' The ClueFinders Search and Solve Adventures'' (2000)
**'' The ClueFinders: The Incredible Toy Store Adventure!'' (2001)
**'' The ClueFinders: Mystery Mansion Arcade'' (2002)

''Fisher-Price'' series

Created and published by Davidson & Associates / Knowledge Adventure and re-released by The Learning Company
*''Fisher-Price: Dream Dollhouse'' (1995)
*''Fisher-Price: Great Adventures: Castle'' (1995)
*''Fisher-Price: Great Adventures: Pirate Ship'' (1996)
*''Fisher-Price: Great Adventures: Wild Western Town'' (1997)
*''Fisher-Price: Big Action Garage'' (1998)
*''Fisher-Price: Big Action Construction'' (1998)
*''Fisher-Price: Little People Christmas Activity Center'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Time to Play Dollhouse'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Time to Play Pet Shop'' (1998)
*''Fisher-Price: Outdoor Adventures: Ranger Trail'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Rescue Heroes: Hurricane Havoc'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Toddler'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Preschool'' (1999)
*''Fisher-Price: Kindergarten'' (1999)

''Reader Rabbit'' series

*Age-based titles
**''Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby''
**''Reader Rabbit Toddler''
*Grade-based titles
**''Reader Rabbit Preschool''
**'' Reader Rabbit Preschool: Sparkle Star Rescue''
**'' Reader Rabbit Kindergarten''
**''Reader Rabbit 1st Grade''
**'' Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade'' (later titled ''Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade: Classic'')
**''Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade: Mis-cheese-ious Dreamship Adventures''
*Other titles
**'' Reader Rabbit 1'' (1983)
**''Math Rabbit'' (1986; later titled ''Reader Rabbit Math'')
**'' Writer Rabbit'' (1986)
**''Reader Rabbit 2'' (1991)
**''Reader Rabbit 3'' (1993)
**''Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey'' (1994)
**''Reader Rabbit Thinking Games''

''StarFlyers'' series

*''Royal Jewel Rescue (2002)''
*''Alien Space Chase (2002)''

''Super Seekers'' games

*''Treasure Mountain!'' (1990)
**Note: This game was originally released as a regular ''Super Solvers'' title.
*'' Treasure MathStorm!'' (1992)
*'' Treasure Cove!'' (1992)
*'' Treasure Galaxy!'' (1994)

''Super Solvers'' series

*''Midnight Rescue!'' (Later re-released as ''Super Solvers Reading'' and then ''Leap Ahead! 3rd Grade'') (1989)
*'' OutNumbered!'' (Later re-released as ''Leap Ahead! 3rd Grade'') (1990)
*'' Challenge of the Ancient Empires!'' (''Ancient Empires'') (1990)
*'' Spellbound!'' (Later re-released as ''Leap Ahead! Spelling'') (1991)
*'' Gizmos & Gadgets!'' (1993)
*'' Mission: T.H.I.N.K.'' (1997)

''Trail'' series

*'' Africa Trail'' (1995)
*''The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition'' (1997)
*'' Amazon Trail 3rd Edition'' (1998)
*'' The Oregon Trail 4th Edition'' (1999)
*''The Oregon Trail 5th Edition'' (2001)

''Zoombinis'' series

*'' Zoombinis Logical Journey'' (1996; remade 2015)
*''Zoombinis Mountain Rescue'' (2001)
*'' Zoombinis Island Odyssey'' (2002)

Other games

*''Explore Yellowstone'' (1997)
* ''The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo's Clone Zone''
*''Prince of Persia 3D'' (1999)
*''Soul Fighter'' (1999)
*''SpongeBob SquarePants Typing'' (2004)
*''Vlad Tepes Dracula'' (1997)
*Real World series
**''Operation Neptune'' (1991)
***Note: This game was eventually added to the ''Super Solvers'' series.
**''Time Riders in American History''
**''Math For The Real World''
**''PokéROM''
*Adventure/puzzle games
**''Rocky's Boots'' (1982)
**''Gertrude's Secrets'' (1984)
**'' Gertrude's Puzzles'' (1984)
**''Robot Odyssey'' (1984)
**'' Think Quick!'' (1987)
**''Logic Quest 3D'' (1996)
**''Road Adventures USA''
*Achieve! games
**''Achieve! Math & Science: Grades 1–3''
**''Achieve! Phonics, Reading & Writing: Grades 1–3''
**''Achieve! Math & Science: Grades 3–6''
**''Achieve! Writing & Language Arts Grades 3–6''
*PBS Kids tie-in games
**''Caillou's Magic Playhouse''
**''Caillou's Four Seasons of Fun''
**''Caillou's Party Fun and Games''
**''Zoboomafoo Animal Alphabet''
**''Zoboomafoo Creature Quest''
**''Arthur:Ready to Race''
**''Jay Jay the Jet Plane: Jay Jay Earns his Wings''
**''Jay Jay the Jet Plane: Sky Heroes to the Rescue''
**''Cyberchase: Carnival Chaos''
**''Cyberchase: Castleblanca Quest''
**''Liberty's Kids''
**''Arthur's Absolutely Fun Day!'' (2000)
*Tools and other programs
**''All-Star Typing''
**'' The American Girls Premiere''
**''Read, Write, and Type''
**''MetroGnomes' Music''
**''The Children's Writing & Publishing Center''
**''The Writing Center''
**''Student Writing Center''
*Other early educational programs
**''Magic Spells''
**''Bumble Games''
**''Bumble Plot''
**''Moptown Hotel''
**''Moptown Parade''
**''Wordspinner''
**''Juggles' Butterfly''
**''Juggles' Rainbow''
**''Juggles' House''
**''Ultimate Children's Encyclopedia''

References

External links

* (archived)
''The Learning Company''
at MobyGames

{{DEFAULTSORT:Learning Company
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Companies based in San Francisco
Video game companies established in 1980
Video game companies disestablished in 2018
Software companies based in Iowa
Defunct educational software companies
Defunct video game companies of the United States
Video game development companies
Video game publishers

1999 mergers and acquisitions
2001 mergers and acquisitions
1980 establishments in California
Mattel