Cosmi Corporation
Cosmi Corporation (COSMI) was an American computer software company based in Carson, California. It sold low-cost software directly to consumers in large retail outlets, computer stores, and drug, hardware, and grocery stores. It had two major imprints: Celery Software, and Swift Software/Swift Jewel.[1]
Platforms it has published for include: Atari 8-bit computers,[2] Atari 16-bit computers, the VIC-20, Commodore 64,[3] Commodore 128, and Amiga, Apple II computers, IBM[3] and Tandy compatibles, Windows, Palm OS, and PocketPC.
Origin
[edit]Cosmi Corporation was founded in 1982 by George Johnson. Its business model was of vertical integration, rapidly pivoting into trendy or popular product niches, and maintaining low prices.[4] It published and distributed software for personal computer systems.
Products
[edit]Cosmi products included games, such as Forbidden Forest, The President Is Missing, and Aztec Challenge. It also published utility software including a database, word processor, spreadsheet, street maps, vacation planners, and a 3D World Atlas.[5][6][3]
Further examples include:[3]
- Print Perfect Scrapbook Deluxe - Creates memorable scrapbook layouts, templates, designs, decorative artwork, and photo editing tools.
- mySkins iPod Video - Styles and protects the surface of the iPod.
- Website Promoter - Contains tools that will drive traffic to a website, optimise rankings in key search engines, and boost site's popularity.
- Perfect Website Creator[7]
- Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software, a version of OpenOffice.org[8]
Shovelware
[edit]In 2001, Cosmi began publishing shovelware, which was sold at Best Buy and Office Depot.[9][10]
Examples from this era include:
- 20,000 Recipes
- 3D Bubble Burst
- 3D Bug Attack
- 3D Frog Frenzy
- 3D Pinball Express
- 3D Missile Madness
- 3D Virtual Reality Landscaper
- Amazing Calendar Marker
- Amazing Flow Chart Maker
- Board Games
- Brochure Magic
- Business Card Maker
- Card Games
- Desktop Publisher
- Forms Maker and Filler
- Free Financial Calculator
- Free Fonts and Dingbats
- Free Fractal Chaos Screen Savers
- Free Game Run Away Train
- Free Wind Power Screen Saver
- Guide to the Galaxy
- Herbert + The Underwater Pyramid
- Label Publisher
- Las Vegas Super Casino
- Mah Jongg Magic
- PC Attorney
- Photo Editor Plus
- Professional Resume Plus
- SAT ACT Prep
- Stationery Maker
- Talking Flash Cards
- Top 20 Solid Gold
- Top 50 Blazing Games
All of which were published on the same disk. The installer would ask which one was being installed and then ask for a specific word on a specific page of the manual of the selected product, as a form of rudimentary DRM.
Mergers and Dissolution
[edit]In 2012, Cosmi acquired ValuSoft from the now-defunct video game publisher THQ for an undisclosed sum.[11] The company was renamed to ValuSoft Cosmi.
In 2018, ValuSoft Cosmi was renamed Play Hard Games.[12]
In 2020, Play Hard Games was acquired, and then dissolved, by Ziggurat Interactive. As of 2024, some of its games are still sold under the ValuSoft Cosmi brand.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.mobygames.com/company/1522/cosmi-corporation/ [bare URL]
- ^ "Cosmi Corporation". Moby Games. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Associates, K. L. (2007-10-05). "Phoenix Software lands distributor status for Cosmi Corporation". ITWeb. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ "Success Through Imitation, Not Innovation". Los Angeles Times. 2000-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ Dan Rose. "Screen Shot Gallery -- Commodore 64/128". Dan's 20th Century Abandonware. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Larry Grosskopf (June 2002). "Software Review of: Street Maps USA with USA Vacation Planner". PC Alamode Magazine. Archived from the original on August 28, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ various reviewers. "Customer Reviews, Perfect Website Creator". amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ J. McNally. "Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software (mailing list thread)". openoffice.org. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Hotelguide.com Announces Distribution Partnership With Software Giant, Cosmi". hospitality.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Jane Applegate (March 2002). "Pricing Your Product to Sell". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ "Cosmi Software Acquires ValuSoft Division of THQ Inc". ValuSoft. April 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
- ^ https://asecretarea.com/2012/01/08/elite-forces-wwii-iwo-jima-windows/ [bare URL]
- ^ https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38030948-Cosmi-Valusoft/ [bare URL]
External links
[edit]
- Video game companies established in 1982
- Software companies established in 1982
- 1982 establishments in California
- Software companies based in California
- Organizations based in Carson, California
- Companies based in Los Angeles County, California
- Video game companies of the United States
- Defunct software companies of the United States
- United States software company stubs